Fruit tree polination

[Gemma]

So unfortunately my 3yr old Peach tree died this year, leaving my nectarine tree without a companion for pollination.
My nectarine tree is self fertile, but the nursery advised me on adding a "companion tree" and that was the peach tree that died.
I started researching for replacing the dead tree but as usual I ran into a wall of contradictions.
Some articles say all my self fertile tree needs are other plants that attract pollinators. It clearly states that a plum tree or a lavender plant even, can be paired with my Nectarine due to the fact that it is self fertile, other articles say it must be another variety of the same species.
Then there is the blooming time to consider and even here no one seems to agree, some say to choose a tree that blooms at the same time (make sense to me) other advise to chose staggering bloom time to prolong pollinators attraction.

So in all my reading I came to the conclusion that the difference in opinion is because one side believes that to properly pollinate a "self fertile" tree, a pollinator has to go from the blooms of one tree, to the blooms of the other tree and mix pollen, I believe that's true for "non self fertile " trees, and the other side believes pollinators has to jump from one bloom to another of the same tree, if that's the case I do not need to add a second tree, cause of the other fruit trees near by....
What do you suggest I do?

 

[Meadowlark]

I don't have a nectarine tree but do have other "self-fertile" fruit trees. I can confidently say that every "self-fertile" tree I have ever grown benefits from a nearby companion tree that has like genetic characteristic....no matter what the "other side" claims.

I'm also convinced that for the companion tree to be most effective, its bloom cycle should overlap or better coincide with the host tree.

My suggestion: replace the peach tree with one that does this.

 

[DiggersJo]

Can't see why we would have such a thing as a self-fertile (self-pollinating) tree/plant if they didn't do just that. From what I understand they may be better producing with other peach trees around, but are okay without

 

[Meadowlark]

... From what I understand they may be better producing with other peach trees around, but are okay without

It all depends on what you want.

If you had a "self-fertile", and knew it would produce substantially more fruit with a pollinator, would you not plant a companion?

Some will not. I will every time because I've experienced the results.

 

[cpp gardener]

If it produces enough for your needs then you don't need a pollinator. If you want maximum production, plant another tree (peach or nectarine).

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Peaches and nectarines don't really grow well here, so I know little about them, but I wonder if they are of a size that artificial pollination is possible if you get to work with a feather?