Peach Essentials
by National Gardening Association Editors
Planning
- Plant peach trees in the spring.
- Plant large, vigorous 1 year-olds. Standard-size trees will bear fruits at 3 years of age, dwarfs at 1 to 2 years.
- Most varieties are self-fertile, so it is not necessary to plant more than one tree.
- Choose varieties that are right for your area and resistant to disease.
- A standard-size peach tree will stand 15 feet at maturity if kept pruned, 25 feet if left unpruned. Dwarf trees reach 6 feet in height.
Preparation
- Choose a site with well-drained, sandy soil. Avoid low-lying areas that can become frost pockets.
Planting
- Plant standard-size trees 15 to 20 feet apart, dwarf trees 10 to 12 feet apart.
Care
- Fertilize young trees with nitrogen in early spring and early summer. Fertilize older trees at a rate of 1 pound of actual nitrogen per year. Do not fertilize within 2 months of the average first fall frost date or when fruits are maturing.
- Prune trees to an open center shape.
- Thin fruits to 6 to 8 inches apart 4 to 6 weeks after bloom.
- See our article Fruit Pests and Diseases for controls of common peach pests such as peach tree borer, plum curculio, brown rot, and peach leaf curl.
- Prune trees, thin fruit, and pick fruit when ripe to increase resistance to fruit diseases.
Harvest
- Pick peaches when fully ripe. There should be no green on the fruit, and fruit should come off the branch with a slight twist.
- Store peaches in a cool place.
| Table of Contents Food Gardening Guide Home |
Planning for Peaches |