Technical sheet of the Honey Fire yellow flesh nectarine variety (cov)
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Fruit flesh color: Yellow
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Skin color: Bright, attractive dark red
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Size and shape: Large size (2A/A), round, regular shape, with a slight cup at the top.
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Tree size: Vigorous, semi-erect habit.
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Fruit maturity: Approximately 5 days after the Honey Blaze variety, generally late July to early August depending on the region.
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Fruit taste: Excellent taste quality, sweet, aromatic, with a sugar level (Brix degree) of around 12°.
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Earliness of the variety: Early.
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Fruiting period End of July to beginning of August depending on the region.
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Disease resistance and storage: Good firmness and slow evolution after harvest.
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Variety yield: Very good, production potential of around 35 tonnes/hectare.
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Is this variety self-fertile? Yes.
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Commercial use: Mainly for fresh consumption.
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Is this a COV variety? Yes, breeder Zaiger Genetics, publisher International Plant Selection (IPS).
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Comments: Variety with very high caliber potential and exceptional presentation. Well suited to southern production areas. It is recommended not to prune too close to maturity to avoid burns. Part of the Honey series.
Quick read / the essentials on Honey Fire® Nectarine
Honey Fire® is a yellow-fleshed nectarine variety selected by Zaiger Genetics, known for its premium visual and taste qualities. It belongs to the prestigious Honey Zee® range, acclaimed for its sweet, firm, and aromatic fruits. The fruit is distinguished by its 2A/A size (up to 300 g), its glossy dark red skin, and its bright yellow, firm, and juicy flesh. With a high sugar content (12° Brix), it perfectly meets the demands of the high-end fresh consumption market. Harvest takes place between late June and early July in the south of France, which positions Honey Fire® among the most valuable early varieties.
At Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , we offer this variety under COV license, aimed at producers looking for performance and commercial attractiveness. The tree, vigorous and with a semi-erect habit, offers a good balance between growth and production, with an estimated yield potential of 35 T/ha. Thanks to its good post-harvest performance, Honey Fire® meets both logistical requirements and the expectations of local or export markets.
Buying Honey Fire® nectarine plants from Arboriverse means benefiting from expert technical support, a selection of suitable rootstocks (GF 677, Montclar, Myrobalan) and certified plants for controlled establishment. As a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , we guide you in the success of your orchard. Buying Honey Fire® nectarine plants means choosing a strategic variety, with high added value and perfectly integrated into an early summer production dynamic.
Introducing the Honey Fire® Yellow Flesh Nectarine Variety (cov)
Honey Fire® is a yellow-fleshed nectarine variety bred by Zaiger Genetics in California, USA, a recognized leader in stone fruit breeding. It belongs to the Honey Zee® series, known for its sweet, firm, and aromatic fruit. This variety is protected by a Plant Variety Certificate (PVC), which entails regulated commercial exploitation rights. In Europe, its publisher is International Plant Selection (IPS).
Description of the fruit
Honey Fire® fruits are distinguished by their excellent size, classified 2A/A, with high potential for very large fruit diameters. Their shape is round and regular, with a slight apical depression. The epidermis, of medium thickness, has a bright, uniform and attractive dark red color, almost completely covering. Some discreet punctuations may appear at the top.
The flesh is bright yellow, very firm, juicy, and has a sweet flavor, characterized by a high sugar level, measured at 12° Brix. These organoleptic qualities allow it to meet the expectations of the most demanding markets, particularly for fresh consumption.
The good firmness of the fruits and their slow evolution after harvest offer good resistance to storage, transport and on the shelf, without precise conservation figures being mentioned.
Harvest period and earliness
Honey Fire® is an early variety. It ripens about five days after Honey Blaze®, which places it around late June to early July in the south of France, and late July to early August in more temperate regions. This precocity allows for a broader summer production range and early market access.
Its flowering is early, which requires increased vigilance in the event of a risk of spring frost, particularly in sensitive areas.
Tree vigor and growth
The Honey Fire® tree is vigorous, with a semi-erect habit. It generally reaches between 3 and 4 meters in height at maturity. This vegetative architecture allows for easy management in the orchard while ensuring good fruiting capacity.
Although the need for staking is not specifically documented, initial staking for the first two to three years is recommended to provide solid structure to the trunk and ensure balanced development of the framework.
Self-fertility and pollination behavior
Honey Fire® is self-fertile, meaning it does not require other varieties for pollination. However, as with most fruit varieties, natural cross-pollination with neighboring varieties can sometimes improve yield.
Resistance to diseases and parasites
Available data on disease resistance are limited. No specific tolerance is claimed against major diseases such as leaf curl, powdery mildew, or brown rot. Preventive plant protection is therefore still recommended, in accordance with standard cultivation practices for nectarines.
Similarly, there is no data on its susceptibility to pests such as aphids or thrips. It is therefore prudent to plan a reasoned monitoring and intervention strategy.
Adaptability and pedoclimatic requirements
Honey Fire® is well-adapted to southern France thanks to its moderate cold requirements and good tolerance of hot, dry summer conditions. It thrives in well-drained, low-asphyxiation soils. Its sensitivity to limestone and drought is not documented, but it can be favorably influenced by the choice of rootstock.
Recommended rootstocks
For cultivation in France, several rootstocks are compatible with Honey Fire®:
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GF677 : peach x almond hybrid, adapted to calcareous and dry soils, provides high vigor.
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Montclar : peach tree suitable for well-filtering soils.
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Myrobalan Plum : suitable for heavier or hydromorphic soils.
The choice of rootstock must be adjusted according to the soil and climate context of the plot and the producer's cultural objectives.
Performance potential and commercial use
Honey Fire® has a high potential yield, estimated at around 35 tonnes per hectare, or a yield per adult tree of 35 to 40 kg depending on planting density and growing conditions.
The fruit's neat presentation, good post-harvest stability, firmness and mild flavour make it a prime product for fresh consumption. It is particularly suited to short supply chains, specialist markets and exports in the premium segment.
Cultural recommendations
It is recommended to avoid pruning too close to the ripening period to limit the risk of burning exposed fruit. Regular pruning helps structure the tree and manage vigor while ensuring good sunlight for the fruit.
Like the majority of nectarine trees, Honey Fire® requires particular attention to spring climatic conditions (risk of frost) and rigorous phytosanitary monitoring in the event of fungal pressure.
Conclusion
Honey Fire® is a promising variety, combining earliness, good size, firmness, attractive color, and mild flavor. It is an excellent choice for professional growers targeting high-end fresh consumption markets. Thanks to its good agronomic behavior and neat commercial presentation, it fits effectively into an early production itinerary in the southern region.
To summarize: Honey Fire® Nectarine
Honey Fire® is a yellow-fleshed nectarine variety that is both early productive , visually very attractive and of high quality . Its fruit, with sweet flesh (12° Brix), firm and juicy, of size 2A/A, appeals to the most demanding fresh consumer markets. Its uniform dark red skin and good transport resistance make it a reference for specialized circuits and export. The early maturity (early July in the southern zone) allows it to capture strong demand from the first summer weeks, thus strengthening the competitiveness of producers.
Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , recommends Honey Fire® for its compatibility with intensive training systems, its moderate vigor and its ability to adapt to hot areas. The choice of rootstock – whether GF 677 for dry soils, Montclar for well-drained soils or Myrobalan for more humid areas – allows for planting adapted to each terroir. Its self-fertility simplifies orchard management, while appropriate phytosanitary monitoring helps secure the yield potential, estimated at up to 35-40 kg per adult tree.
Buying Honey Fire® nectarine plants from a specialist nectarine plant wholesaler like Arboriverse guarantees genetic quality, compliance with VOCs, and benefits from dedicated support to help you succeed in your technical itinerary. Buying Honey Fire® nectarine plants means choosing an early and profitable nectarine, pruned to meet the demands of the modern fresh market.
