Variety fit — Louisiana
Can I grow Mericrest nectarine in Louisiana?
The verdict
Not recommended
- Needs about 800 chill hours; your area averages 466 and tops out near 602.
Based on Louisiana’s main growing area (70801): zone 9a, ~466 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.
The numbers
| Mericrest chill requirement | 800 chill hours |
|---|---|
| Mericrest hardiness | USDA zones 5–9 |
| Louisiana average chill (70801) | 466 hours (236–602 across 10 winters) |
| Louisiana zone (70801) | USDA zone 9a |
Better nectarine choices for Louisiana
These meet Louisiana’s chill hours and zone comfortably:
Keep checking
Or the same verdict for another region:
Questions
- Can I grow Mericrest nectarine in Louisiana?
- Probably not — Needs about 800 chill hours; your area averages 466 and tops out near 602.
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
- [4] Dave Wilson Nursery. Mericrest — variety specifications — accessed October 2026