Fruitless Nectrines

I have a nectarine tree that started as a thin twig and is supposed to be self-fertile. Its a tree now and bears many pink blossoms each year but the fruit is only about an inch in diameter and doesn't ripen. Its in a nice sunny position and doesn't seem to get any diseases. Do I need a specific feed for it? Is there another problem? Would be very pleased to hear any ideas or advice. Thank You.

 

Once the flowers start blossoming give it a high potash liquid feed every 10 days until the fruit begin to ripen.

 

Where is it growing and how big is it?
Is it in a pot?

 

Thanks Kazzawazza. Do you have a source of organic potash you can recommend?

 

Hi Pete
The nectarine tree is bout 10 feet tall and growing in the garden. Unfortunately, I can't get the picture to load.

 

I wonder if you need to thin the fruits out once they are set?

Steve...

 

Where in the country are you? I looked into it but Oxfordshire is too cold to make it worth the effort.
They are best grown as a fan against the warmth of a south facing wall. They also dislike dry soils.

 

Are you sure its a nectarine ?
Just asking
Remember someone posting years ago about a peach tree where the fruit didn't get very big.

Turned out it was an almond,

Does the fruit fall off prematurely, or does it stay on until sept, but still only very small ?

 

Easy mistake as they're the same genus

This bit was puzzling as to the best of my knowledge all peaches are self fertile...........

Makes you wonder about the quality of the supplier.

 

Which is why I was wondering at what time the fruit are falling, it might just be a pollination problem.
Although self fertile, they flower very early, before a lot of pollinating insects are around.

 

And still within the season of frost around here.

 

Yep, my peach trees often flowered well within the late frost period but I can never remember frost ever being a problem for 25 yrs or more.
I think the blossom is hardier than say apple or pear, but maybe not immune.

If frost was the problem I doubt the fruit would actually even start to form, the flowers would just drop.
Frost after the fruit set could however be a problem.

 

This is giving me a lot to think about. I hadn't noticed the fruit before as they were small and there were plenty of leaves. At least some of the tiny unripe fruits seem to stay on over winter because they remain on the bare tree and the magpies sometimes eat them. I've had the tree for many years now and, as it came as a nectarine, I didn't doubt it. Its not an almond or any other nut. The fruit don't fall. They just stay on the tree small and unripe. I'm in London and the tree is in warm sheltered place. Its far to big now to be trained as fan. I've been living abroad and am now back but handicapped so I suspect it hasn't been fed enough as Kazzawazza suggests. Thank you everyone so much.

 

If the tree grows well, has good coloured leaves in summer and basically looks healthy, personally I would doubt its a feeding problem, especially as its an established tree.

 

This looks like its going to remain a conundrum for now. I'll feed it and keep an eye out and see what happens. Thank you all for your advice.