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Nectarine variety

Mericrest

The short answer

Mericrest requires 800 chill hours[1]. It is self-fertile[1].

Growing facts

Mericrest growing facts
Chill requirement800 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessNot published for this variety
PollinationSelf-fertile[1]
Harvest windowJuly[1]
Years to bearingNot published
Mericrest nectarineSpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Notes

  • High-chill (about 800 hr), cold-hardy yellow freestone nectarine ripening mid-July.[1]
  • Moderate resistance to bacterial spot, useful in the humid East where nectarines are typically susceptible.[2]
  • Self-fruitful.[1]

A year with your Mericrest

When the work happens for a nectarine in USDA zone 6, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Nectarine in zone 6
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune——————————
Thin———————————
Spray timing——————
Harvest————————
Care———————————

See the full month-by-month nectarine calendar for zone 6 →

Can I grow Mericrest where I live?

Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:

Growing a Mericrest? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.

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Questions

How many chill hours does Mericrest need?
Mericrest needs 800 chill hours.
Is Mericrest self-pollinating?
Mericrest is self-fertile, though a pollination partner can improve cropping.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Nectarines — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] Michigan State University Extension. Management of bacterial spot on peaches and nectarines — accessed July 2026