The sweetest and juiciest peach youll ever taste can be picked from your own tree.
Learn how to plant peach trees so they grow and produce delicious fruit.
Choose a variety that fits both your taste and yard space.
Where to Plant a Peach Tree
Find a location in full sun for your peach tree.
The soil should be rich in organic matter and well-drained with aslightly acidic to neutral pH.
Plant the tree at an ample distance from other trees so the roots dont compete.
The distance depends on the mature size of the tree.
Also, the tree should be planted as far away from sewer pipes and water lines as possible.
Light is essential to fruit-set.
It is often dark brown or black in color, indicating plenty of organic matter.
The pH should be between 6.5 and 7.
Newly planted trees need to be watered regularly so the soil is constantly moist.
Water slowly but deeply to soak the soil about 18 inches deep.
Water established trees every 7 to 14 days if there is no rain.
Temperature and Humidity
Peach trees have specific requirements both for cold and hot temperatures.
Humid conditions foster the spread of fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
A specially formulated complete fruit treefertilizer that is high in nitrogenis best for peach trees.
Late fertilization prompts the tree to produce lots of new growth, which is susceptible to frost damage.
Peach trees are most productive when pruned annually.Prune peach treesin late winter.
Trim away any damaged or rubbing branches.
Prune branches back to an outward-facing bud to stimulate new growth.
Prune back exceedingly fast-growing shoots and branches that lend the tree an odd shape.
Each year, cut out a portion of the older fruiting wood to rejuvenate the tree.
Peach trees have a tendency to produce more fruit than can ripen during the season.
Much of this fruit is naturally thinned, or shed, by the tree.
Home gardeners can easily thin peach trees by hand.
Select a dwarf variety or columnar throw in for a potted tree.
Plant the tree in a5-gallon containerwith large drainage holes when it is still small.
Place a layer of gravel or small rocks at the bottom to add weight and ensure proper drainage.
Fill the container around the sapling with soil and tamp it down.
Check to double-check that the graft line is in the proper location and not buried.
If it is too high, add a little more soil around the base.
Water slowly and thoroughly until water comes out of the drainage holes.
Remember that container plants need more frequent watering and fertilizer than plants in the landscape.
The most destructive pest found on peach trees is usually peach tree borer.Japanese beetlesalso attack them.
Harvesting
Peach trees bear fruit two to three years after planting.
Fruits ripen in midsummer to midfall, depending on the cultivar and zone.
Pick peaches when all green coloration is gone.
Ripe fruits easily come off the tree with a slight upward twist.
Always handle them gently because they bruise easily.
Peaches ripen after being picked.
Check them daily because they can go from ripe to overripe very quickly.
Store ripe fruits in the refrigerator for a few days.
Types of Peach
Babcock
This is a white peach variety for warm climates.
The fruit of this variety is medium-sized, freestone, and low in acid.
The peaches are medium-large with yellow flesh and freestone.
Zone 4-8
Donut
These white-fleshed peaches are an heirloom variety shaped like a donut.
They are also called saucer, peento, or flat peach.
A popular cultivar is Stark Saturn, a freestone peach.
The peaches are large and freestone with yellow flesh.
Zone 5-8
Redheaven
The peaches from this cultivar are yellow-fleshed, medium-sized, and freestone.
They are almost fuzzless.
Zone 4-8
Frequently Asked Questions
They grow moderately fast, about 1 to 2 feet per year.
