Fantasia Nectarine Tree

The Fantasia nectarine is one of the most popular yellow nectarines planted in the United States. Rich traditional nectarine flavor with a real acid bite that compliments the fruits flavor perfectly. Widely adapted to cold and warm zones, the Fantasia produces in zones 5 through 9. The Fantasia as well as the Flavortop Nectarine come by way of John H Weinberger, a brilliant USDA breeder working out of the USDA-ARS Horticultural Crop Research Laboratory in Fresno California in the mid 1900’s. This research group is responsible for developing some of the top Nectarine and Peach varieties know in the country. , in 1937 he was assigned to the ARS laboratory at Fort Valley, Ga working on developing new peach varieties and rootstocks. In 1954 he is transferred to ARS Fresno California to continue his work in the broader field of stone fruit breeding along with some rewarding work with grapes. The Fantasia and Flavortop Nectarines are two examples of Weinberger’s enormous contribution, arguably both are the most popular varieties with the widest range of adaption planted today. Both introduced in 1969, Fantasia was the result of a cross of Gold King and a numbered selection made in 1961. Flavortop was a cross of the peach Fairtime with a seedling of Independence nectarine (Red King). Although Fantasia and Flavortop look similar they are much different in flavor and ripening time. Flavortop being the earlier of the two. Both have been recognized in taste tests around the country as top flavored varieties for many years. For the Fantasia Nectarine John H. Weinberger was awarded The Outstanding Fruit Cultivar Award presented by the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) for noteworthy new fruits released in the previous 35 years.