SIX YEARS OBSERVATIONS ON A MEADOW-ORCHARD OF SELF-ROOTED NECTARINES IN PROTECTED CULTURE

Experiments took place in 1975 with rooted cuttings of the "Sunred" nectarine, obtained by self-rooting, with the help of root promoting chemicals and of basal heating. The plants thus obtained were bedded out in autumn 1976 at Follonica (Grosseto, Italy) at 1.20 m x 0.90 m planting space, with a density per hectare of 9,260 plants.

During the six years from 1978 to 1983, the plants were covered with plastic film (polyethylene, PE), transparent, 0.2 mm thick. The same plants, since the first fruit-bearing in 1978, were subjected to annual post harvest pollarding (in midJune) to an average height of 50 cm from soil level.

Results obtained during the six years of experiments clearly indicate that the "Sunred" nectarine, grown in protected culture according to the meadow-orchard system, completely regenerate their fruitbearing canopy in the same year of pruning with a very high fertility index (0.6 flower buds per cm of branch). Flowering in the six years was very abundant with over 400 flowers per tree, while fruit-setting was also very high, with an average yield per tree of 4.5 Kg equal to more than 40 ton per hectare.

The average weight to the fruits was 63 g, the fruit being most attractive in shape and appearance. The anticipation of ripening in respect of the average field plants was 33 days.