Fantasia Nectarine

Prunus persica var. nucipersica 'Fantasia'

fruit

Fantasia is a large freestone yellow nectarine bred in California, with deep red skin, golden-yellow firm flesh, and a sweet-tart flavor that gets sweeter the longer the fruit hangs on the tree. The variety is a mid to late season producer ripening in late July, with bright pink spring blossoms that bring early color to the orchard.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Chives — Repels aphids and may suppress peach leaf curl
• Comfrey — Chop-and-drop mulch returns potassium and calcium
• Garlic — Sulfur compounds discourage borers around the trunk
• Yarrow — Hosts parasitic wasps and hoverflies

❌ Keep away from

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Peach leaf curl →

  Apply copper or chlorothalonil fungicide in late autumn after leaf drop and again in spring before bud swell

• Brown rot →

  Prune for airflow, remove mummies in dormant season, harvest before fruit softens

• Peach tree borers →

  Keep trunk base clear of mulch; paint with white latex to reflect heat; inspect for gummy ooze

• Plum curculio →

  Kaolin clay at petal fall; remove early drops weekly

🌾 Harvest & storage

Fantasia ripens late July. Pick when the background color shifts from green to yellow under the deep red blush and the fruit yields slightly to gentle thumb pressure near the stem. The pit lifts free of the flesh when fully ripe; if pits cling, leave fruit on the tree another day or two. Fantasia keeps developing sweetness the longer it hangs, so leave fruit on the tree as long as possible.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

About 44 calories per 100 g with 1.7 g fiber, 5.4 mg vitamin C, 201 mg potassium, and 332 IU vitamin A. Nectarines have notably more vitamin C and beta-carotene than peaches, and the smooth skin (which is fully edible) carries the most antioxidants.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

Eat the flesh, not the pit. The kernel inside the pit contains amygdalin, a cyanide-releasing compound - discard the pits and never eat or crush the seeds inside.