Nectarine ‘Lord Napier’

‘Lord Napier’ is one of the classic English nectarines, self-fertile and reliable. Medium-large smooth-skinned fruits ripen in late July to early August, with red-flushed yellow skin and juicy fine-textured white flesh of rich sweet flavour.

Blossom opens early in spring, so frost protection is worth considering. Trees are vigorous and benefit from fan-training against a warm sunny wall, the traditional way to grow peaches and nectarines in the UK.

Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun against a south-facing wall. Cover blossom with fleece in cold nights. Prune in summer to remove old fruiting wood and train replacement growth. Protect from peach leaf curl in spring.

A proper wall-trained classic for a sunny garden wall or a conservatory.