Harko Nectarine Tree

Harko is a Canadian nectarine introduced in 1974 and valued for cold hardiness. It bears showy pink blossoms and yellow-fleshed fruit with red skin; the pit is almost free from the flesh. ## Flowers and fruit The spreading tree flowers in spring and ripens its crop about three weeks before Elberta in the Foundation Plant Services comparison. Harko fruit is oval, moderately firm and melting, with a sweet, good-quality flavor. It is self-fertile and can set a crop without a second nectarine cultivar. ## Growing conditions Plant in full sun or at least a half day of sun in well-drained soil. The cultivar is listed for USDA zones 5–9. Rootstock affects mature size, cold hardiness and soil adaptation, so check the rootstock offered for your site. ## Maintenance Water deeply through establishment and during prolonged dry spells. Keep the graft union above soil, maintain an open canopy with dormant pruning, and thin a heavy crop to limit limb strain and improve fruit size. Watch for peach leaf curl and oriental fruit moth; the tree is susceptible to both. See [UC Davis Foundation Plant Services](https://fps.ucdavis.edu/treedetails.cfm?v=6214), [One Green World](https://onegreenworld.com/product/harko-nectarine/), and [Utah State Extension](https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/peaches-in-the-garden).