Technical sheet of the Honey Kist (cov) yellow flesh nectarine variety
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Fruit flesh color: Yellow
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Skin color: Dark shiny red
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Size and shape: Large caliber (approximately 8 cm in diameter), round in shape
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Fruit Maturity: Approximately 5 days after the Big Top® variety
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Fruit taste: Very sweet, aromatic, with low acidity. Exceptional taste quality.
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Earliness of the variety: Seasonal
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Fruiting period Late July to early August
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Disease resistance and storage: Good resistance to leaf curl. Fruits keep very well after harvest, remaining firm for several weeks on the tree.
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Variety Yield: Very productive with high yield potential.
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Is this variety self-fertile? Yes
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Commercial use: Very good fruit retention, suitable for all production areas.
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Is this a COV variety? Yes
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Comments: Variety part of the Honey Zee® range developed by Zaiger Genetics. Requires approximately 500 hours of cold. The fruits have a very attractive appearance with a dark red skin.
Quick read / the essentials on Nectarinier Honey Kist®
Honey Kist® , a yellow-fleshed nectarine variety from the Zaiger Genetics selection, is distinguished by its sweet, firm, high-quality fruit, perfectly suited to fresh consumption. This very large fruit (A/2A), with shiny dark red skin and juicy yellow flesh, is characterized by a marked sweetness (12° Brix) and low acidity. Its good shelf life on the tree and post-harvest (up to two weeks) makes it a reliable and flexible logistics solution for professional producers.
At Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , we offer Honey Kist® as a strategic mid-season variety, with harvesting around the end of July to the beginning of August. It ideally complements the calendar after Big Top® while maintaining a very high taste quality. The tree, vigorous, with a semi-erect habit, is easy to manage in an intensive or semi-intensive orchard. In addition, Honey Kist® is self-fertile , which facilitates the design of single-variety orchards.
Buying Honey Kist® nectarine plants from Arboriverse means securing your orchard with certified plants, adapted to your soil and climate conditions thanks to a rigorous choice of rootstocks (GF 677, Rubira, Montclar, Saint Julien). As a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , we support arborists in their cultivation process, in particular to fully promote this leaf curl-resistant variety, ideal for HVE or organic farming approaches. Buying Honey Kist® nectarine plants means choosing premium, sustainable and profitable production.
Origin and status of the variety
Honey Kist® is a yellow-fleshed nectarine variety bred by Zaiger Genetics in California, USA. It is protected by a Plant Variety Certificate (PVC) , which implies reserved propagation rights. In France, its distribution is supervised by International Plant Selection (IPS) , which is responsible for its publication.
Fruit characteristics
Honey Kist® fruits are distinguished by their large size , classified A/2A , with an average diameter of around 8 cm . Their shape is round , and their dark red, shiny skin is particularly attractive for fresh sale. The skin is smooth, a deep dark red covering the fruit.
The yellow flesh is very sweet, fragrant, juicy and has a low acidity level , which contributes to a mild and pronounced flavor . The Brix degree is estimated at 12° , a high level for a nectarine, appreciated by consumers. The taste quality is considered excellent , which makes it a premium fruit in the fresh segment.
Maintenance and conservation
Honey Kist® has excellent firmness . The fruit remains firm on the tree for several weeks after maturity, allowing for great harvest flexibility. It also retains good post-harvest stability , for up to two weeks , which facilitates transport and marketing.
Harvest Precocity and Calendar
This is a mid-season variety, with an estimated maturity of about 5 days after Big Top® , which is generally between late July and early August in France . In central California, it is harvested around late June/early July. This positioning allows it to effectively complement the production calendar by providing a quality offer during a period of high demand.
Tree characteristics
Honey Kist® has medium to strong vigor , with a semi-erect habit that facilitates cultivation. Although the adult size is not specified in the sources, nectarine trees generally reach 3 to 4 meters in height at maturity.
Staking is not systematically required, but may be recommended in the first few years, particularly in high-density orchards or windy areas.
Fertility and pollination
The variety is self-fertile , which simplifies orchard design. It can therefore produce without a pollinator tree. However, the presence of other nectarine or peach varieties nearby can improve cross-pollination and optimize yields.
Resistance to diseases and pests
One of the major advantages of Honey Kist® is its good resistance to peach leaf curl (Taphrina deformans) , which makes it suitable for low-input cultivation practices , or even for organic production . This reduces treatment costs and increases crop sustainability.
Information on other diseases and pests is limited. However, as with all nectarine trees, vigilance is required for aphids, mites, and thrips . Regular health monitoring is recommended.
Resistance to abiotic stresses
No specific data are available regarding drought or lime resistance for Honey Kist®. However, nectarine trees in general require well-drained soils and do not tolerate root asphyxiation . Regular water supply is also crucial during the fruit development phase.
Rootstocks recommended in France
Honey Kist® is compatible with the rootstocks commonly used in French orchards:
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GF 677 : suitable for calcareous, dry and poor soils. Offers excellent vigor.
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Rubira : appreciated for its resistance to bacterial disease and its good affinity.
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Montclar : moderate to strong vigor, suitable for deep, non-calcareous soils.
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Saint Julien GF655/2 : ideal for heavy or asphyxiating soils.
The choice of rootstock must be made according to the characteristics of the soil and the type of orchard management (open ground, high density, irrigation).
Performance and commercial valuation
The yield per tree has not been specified in the sources. However, Honey Kist® is described as a productive and consistent variety , which suggests a yield of up to 30 to 40 kg per mature tree under optimal conditions.
The target market is clearly fresh consumption , thanks to its visual appearance, its stability, its size and its sweet flavor . Its resistance to blistering constitutes a strategic advantage for producers wishing to differentiate themselves in high added value markets or engaged in environmental initiatives.
Conclusion and recommendations
Honey Kist® is positioned as a high-performance variety for the production of yellow-fleshed nectarines in France. Its size, exceptional sweetness, good shelf life , and natural resistance to leaf curl make it a valuable asset in a context of reduced inputs and demanding market quality.
It fits ideally into a mid-season varietal diversification strategy , offering a harvest after Big Top®, while benefiting from a favorable commercial niche .
Producers are recommended to:
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Properly adapt the rootstock to the soil type to secure the establishment.
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Monitor for common pests as with any nectarine crop.
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Considering a short or organic sector recovery , thanks to its resistance to blistering.
To summarize: Nectarine Honey Kist®
Honey Kist® is a mid-season, yellow-fleshed nectarine variety that combines large size, excellent shelf life, pronounced sweetness and resistance to leaf curl . Its A/2A category fruit, with shiny dark red skin, offers a highly sought-after taste quality, with a Brix level of 12. Harvesting takes place approximately five days after Big Top®, positioning this variety as a key link in a balanced production schedule. Its conservation on the tree and after harvest allows great flexibility for organizing picking and marketing.
Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , recommends Honey Kist® for producers aiming for fresh value, particularly in local premium markets or in organic sectors. Thanks to its self-fertility, controlled vigor and good natural health, it fits perfectly into low-input orchards. The choice of rootstock (GF 677, Rubira, Montclar, etc.) will allow you to adapt the planting to your soil and training system, with a yield potential of between 30 and 40 kg per adult tree.
Buying Honey Kist® nectarine plants from a specialist nectarine plant wholesaler like Arboriverse guarantees access to a certified, productive and distinctive variety. Thanks to our technical expertise, we help you optimize your orchard and promote this sweet and resistant nectarine to consumers looking for taste and naturalness. Buying Honey Kist® nectarine plants means investing in a reliable product, appreciated by the market and adapted to the current challenges of arboriculture.
