Honey Blaze (cov) yellow flesh nectarine plant grafted GF677 and Mirab.29-C bare root 100-120 cm untreated

Technical sheet of the Honey Blaze yellow flesh nectarine variety (cov)

• Fruit flesh color: Yellow
• Skin color: Bright red, luminous and very attractive
• Size and Shape: Large size (2A/A), oval, regular shape, with a slight cup at the top
• Tree Size: High vigor, semi-erect habit
• Fruit maturity: Early season, approximately 10 days before the Big Top® control variety
• Fruit taste: Excellent taste quality, aromatic and sweet, high sugar content (Brix degree of 12)
• Earliness of the variety: Early
• Fruiting period In relation to its maturity, harvested approximately 10 days before Big Top®
• Disease resistance and storage: Good adaptation to all production areas. Very firm fruits, good post-harvest storage.
• Variety yield: Very good, yield potential of around 35 tonnes/hectare
• Is this variety self-fertile? Yes
• Commercial use: Fresh consumption (due to its beautiful presentation, firmness and taste quality).
• Is this a COV variety? Yes
• Comments: Variety from the Honey series developed by Zaiger Genetics. It is recommended to avoid post-harvest pruning in growing orchards, as the branches anticipate very easily.

Quick read / the essentials on Nectarine Honey Blaze®

Honey Blaze® , a yellow-fleshed nectarine variety selected by Zaiger Genetics, is positioned as a benchmark for producers looking for controlled precocity, a large size and remarkable taste quality. This large fruit (2A/A) has firm, juicy and sweet flesh, with a high sugar level (12° Brix), typical of the “Honey” series. Its bright, strong and uniform dark red skin guarantees a highly commercial presentation. Ripening around mid-July, Honey Blaze® provides access to early season markets with a visually and tastefully premium product.

At Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , we offer Honey Blaze® certified plants to professional growers looking to anticipate harvests while ensuring sustainable profitability. Thanks to its controlled vigor, semi-erect habit and compatibility with various training systems, this variety easily integrates into intensive or semi-intensive orchards. It is also self-fertile, simplifying pollination management.

Buying Honey Blaze® nectarine plants from Arboriverse means benefiting from technical and strategic support, with advice on choosing suitable rootstocks: GF 677 for calcareous soils, Garnem for areas with water or nematode stress, franc for deep soils. Our expertise as a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants ensures you personalized support, in line with your yield objectives and your terroir. Buying Honey Blaze® nectarine plants means anticipating success on the high-end nectarine markets.

Introducing the Honey Blaze® Yellow Flesh Nectarine Variety (cov)

The Honey Blaze® variety originates from the breeding programs of Zaiger Genetics, in California (USA), a breeder renowned for its varietal innovations in stone fruits. This yellow-fleshed nectarine variety is protected by a Plant Variety Certificate (PVC), which means that its propagation and commercialization require authorization. In Europe, it is published by International Plant Selection (IPS).

Description of the fruit

Honey Blaze® produces large, graded 2A/A fruits, weighing on average between 250 and 300 g. Their bright, dark red skin is very attractive, with a thick, slightly punctuated epidermis, making them easy to handle and pack. Their shape is oval and regular, with a slight apical cup.

The flesh, yellow in color, is firm, juicy and fragrant. It has a mild and sweet taste profile with a high sugar content, estimated at 12° Brix. These organoleptic qualities make it a very popular variety for fresh consumption.

No direct data are available on storage time, but good firmness and resistance to cracking suggest good post-harvest storage suitability.

Harvest period and earliness

Honey Blaze® is an early season variety. It ripens approximately 10 days before the Big Top® variety, which places harvest around mid-July in temperate regions, or as early as late June in the south of France. This early maturity constitutes a strategic advantage for accessing early-season markets.

Flowering is early to semi-early, which may expose the variety to the risk of spring frost in some regions. It is therefore recommended to carefully assess local climatic conditions before planting.

Tree characteristics

The Honey Blaze® nectarine tree is a medium to strong tree with a semi-erect to spreading growth habit. It reaches a mature size of 3 to 4 meters in height and 2 to 3 meters in width, making it suitable for intensive or semi-intensive cultivation systems.

Staking is recommended in the first few years after planting to support the growth of the main trunk and structure the tree, particularly in areas exposed to the wind.

Self-fertility and pollination

The variety is self-fertile, allowing production without the need for other varieties for pollination. However, the presence of other nectarine or peach varieties in the environment can promote cross-pollination and improve yield.

Resistance to diseases and parasites

Honey Blaze® has contrasting resistance to major diseases:

• Moderately susceptible to blistering.

• Susceptible to powdery mildew and monilia, requiring targeted preventative treatments, particularly in humid conditions.

Regarding pests, the variety shows moderate susceptibility to aphids and thrips. Regular monitoring is still recommended to maintain the health of the orchard.

Adaptability and cultural management

No direct information is available regarding its tolerance to drought, limestone, or root asphyxiation. The choice of rootstock is therefore essential to adapt the variety to local soil constraints.

Honey Blaze® is well-adapted to southern growing areas and can be grown up to moderate altitudes. The variety requires regular pruning to maintain the tree's shape and prevent excessive pre-harvest of branches, especially after harvest.

Compatible rootstocks

The rootstocks usually recommended for nectarine trees in France are also suitable for Honey Blaze®:

• GF 677 : widely used in calcareous and dry soils, provides vigor and good adaptation to water stress.

• Peach tree : suitable for healthy, low-calcareous and deep soils.

• Prunus Garnem : excellent for poor, dry and nematode-infested soils.

The choice of rootstock must be made according to the soil, climate and the planned cultivation system. Localized technical advice is always recommended.

Performance potential and commercial uses

The yield potential is estimated at around 35 tonnes per hectare, which places Honey Blaze® in the category of productive varieties. This represents, depending on the planting density, an average production per tree of up to 20 to 40 kg.

The main commercial use is fresh consumption. Its visual appearance, firmness, and sweetness profile make it particularly attractive for premium distribution channels and export markets. Its partial resistance to handling also enhances its logistical value.

Recommendations and perspectives

Honey Blaze® is a variety suitable for producers looking for a quality nectarine that is early, productive and visually attractive. However, its sensitivity to certain diseases (monilia, powdery mildew) requires rigorous cultivation management, with an appropriate phytosanitary program.

It is strongly recommended to contact the IPS publisher to validate the licensing conditions related to COV status and to obtain precise recommendations on the performance of the variety under French conditions.

Finally, a comparative analysis with other early season varieties such as June Glory®, Honey Top® or Earli May® would allow Honey Blaze® to be strategically positioned in a diversified harvest calendar.

To summarize: Honey Blaze® Nectarine

Honey Blaze® is a yellow-fleshed nectarine variety that combines size, taste quality, and earliness. With fruits weighing up to 300g, firm, sweet, and aromatic flesh (12° Brix), and a very attractive, glossy red skin, it is perfectly suited to fresh consumption in premium markets. Its early maturity (around mid-July) allows producers to access high-value channels from the start of the season. Its high yield, estimated at 35 T/ha, and its post-harvest stability further reinforce its economic interest.

Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , offers this variety under COV license, in an offer designed for demanding producers. Self-fertile, Honey Blaze® adapts to different cultivation systems, thanks to its moderate vigor and its compatibility with various rootstocks such as GF 677, Garnem or peach franc. Moderate sensitivity to certain diseases (monilia, powdery mildew) requires phytosanitary vigilance, but its many advantages – size, precocity, visual appeal – make it a safe bet for farms looking for a quality nectarine.

Buying Honey Blaze® nectarine plants from a specialist nectarine plant wholesaler like Arboriverse guarantees your orchard a safe, regulatory-compliant start, and optimized for commercial performance. Our expertise guides you in adapting to the terroir, choosing plant material, and cultivating your own varietal strategy. For a strong presence from the first weeks of the summer season, buying Honey Blaze® nectarine plants is an informed technical and economic decision.