Feeling Peachy Keen?
Although peaches are native to China, they have become one of the most popular fruits in the world for fruit growers to plant. In fact, California produces more than 50% of the peaches in the United States (and grows 175 different varieties). Not only are juicy peaches a must-have in the summertime to stay cool; but they are a fantastic fruit to use in cooking and baking (Peach Cobbler = YUM) creating over 100 different recipes.
In honor of #PeachMonth in August, we are sharing information on how to grow peaches and tips to start a backyard orchard.
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How to Grow Peaches Peach trees can grow in USDA Zones 5 to 8; but are perfect-tasting in Zones 6 and 7. (The best time to plant tree seedlings is in the fall.) As with any fruit garden, growing peaches requires the proper care in order to yield a full harvest of peaches for the next 15-20 years. Growers usually see fruit after year two of planting and a full crop after year five. This equates to about 40-50 pounds of fruit! Here are tips to begin a backyard orchard. Peach Tree Planting 1) Choose a site where you can plant peaches in full sunlight and avoid low areas where frost may occur. 2) Growers start with container peach tree seedlings or grafted trees [which are more expensive than seedlings; but will produce fruit sooner]. For container trees, remove the plant from the pot and shear any roots. For grafted trees, position the curves away from the sun when planting. 3) Dig a hole and set the tree on top of a small mound of well-drained soil. Spread roots away from the trunk without bending them. 4) Space larger fruit trees 15-20 feet apart. (Smaller trees can plant 10-12 feet apart.) Do not plant closely or else fruit trees will compete for nutrition. |
Caring for Peach Trees
Many fruit gardeners may think that caring for peaches in home landscapes require spraying pesticides; but there are other methods to successfully grow peaches without the need for added chemicals.
Add 3/4 pounds of fertilizer once in spring and once in summertime after the second year of production. Do not fertilize the trees within two months of the first fall frost. Be sure to prune fruit trees regularly to avoid pest damage and plant diseases including Brown Rot, Leaf Curl and common Mosaic Viruses.
When fruit trees are young, fruit growers can use tree wraps to keep deer away from budding fruits. Tree guards will also stop deer from rubbing antlers on the tree bark and ruining the look of trees. Once trees mature, peach growers should build deer fence around fruit gardens to block attempts from wildlife to reach fruit, keeping in-mind that the recommended height of deer fence is 7.5-8' feet high. For bird control, fruit gardeners can drape bird nets over trees and apply repellents around the farm.