Variety fit — Arizona
Can I grow Mericrest nectarine in Arizona?
The verdict
Not recommended
- Needs about 800 chill hours; your area averages 522 and tops out near 731.
Based on Arizona’s main growing area (85701): zone 9b, ~522 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.
The numbers
| Mericrest chill requirement | 800 chill hours |
|---|---|
| Arizona average chill (85701) | 522 hours (267–731 across 10 winters) |
| Arizona zone (85701) | USDA zone 9b |
Better nectarine choices for Arizona
These meet Arizona’s chill hours and zone comfortably:
Keep checking
Or the same verdict for another region:
Questions
- Can I grow Mericrest nectarine in Arizona?
- Probably not — Needs about 800 chill hours; your area averages 522 and tops out near 731.
Sources
- [1] Open-Meteo / Copernicus ERA5. Historical Weather API (hourly 2m temperature) — accessed July 2026
- [2] USDA / PRISM (Oregon State University). 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — accessed July 2026
- [3] Dave Wilson Nursery. Nectarines — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026