DIY Network

Pruning and Care What every peach grower needs to know about caring for a crop From "Fresh From the Orchard" episode DFFO-106

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Proper fertilization and pest control are essential to a healthy peach harvest. Here are some tips to help you have a vigorous and prolific harvest.

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Fertilization

Figure F

Young peach trees should grow about 12" to 18" per year (figure F). You can use this measure to gauge how your fertilization program is working. If the growth is less than 12", apply a bit more fertilizer the next year; if the growth is more than 18", apply less fertilizer.

A common recommendation is to fertilize two or three times a year, applying 10-10-10 or 5-10-10.

Amounts of fertilizer required and the timing will depend on many factors, including the type of soil (sandy soils need more frequent applications of fertilizer than do clay soils) and the climate. It's best to go by a soil test or by recommendations of the county extension service.

You want to apply fertilizer around the drip line. It's important never to let fertilizer touch the trunk of the tree because it can burn the tree.

Avoid fertilizing with nitrogen in late summer or fall. Excess nitrogen at this point can delay the onset of dormancy and increase the tree's susceptibility to winter cold damage.

Weed Control

Weeds and grass compete with the trees for water and nutrients, so it's best to keep weeds well away from fruit trees. As a general rule of thumb, maintain a weed- and grass-free zone about 3' in diameter around the base of a tree.

Mulches can be used to help with weed control, but be sure that the mulch does not touch the trunk of the tree itself. Mulch that touches a tree trunk can cause rot and encourage voles and other small rodents to chew on the base of the tree.

Peach expert Dr. Kathy Taylor gives a hands-on demonstration of how to prune a young peach tree so it will develop into a well-branched and well-formed tree in maturity. She explains the importance of maintaining good sanitation practices in an orchard by removing "mummies" and shows how to know when a peach is ripe and ready for harvesting.

Protecting Trees From Bird Damage

Birds peck holes in peaches as the fruit begins to ripen. One solution is to use bird netting; another is to hang used compact discs from the branches of the tree (the CDs will sway and twirl in the wind and help keep the birds at bay).

Insects and Diseases

Peaches are very susceptible to diseases and pests. Selecting disease-resistant cultivars can help minimize potential problems, but in almost all cases some spraying will be required if you want a good crop. Spray schedules for insecticides and fungicides are available from your local cooperative extension service.

Sanitation is also important in controlling diseases. Any infected plant materials should be cut off and destroyed, and the cuts should be made with pruning shears that have been dipped in an alcohol or 10 percent bleach solution. Mummified fruits, or mummies, that have fallen on the ground should be picked up and removed from the yard.

Diseased peach

Peach with insect infestation

Mummy

Harvesting

Most peaches ripen in midsummer. It's best to harvest peaches in the early morning or in the late afternoon when temperatures are cooler. This allows the peaches to be stored for a longer time.

To determine whether peaches are ripe, look at the background color. (Don't pay attention to the red overblush [figure G], which is not an indication of ripeness but rather an indication of how much sun the fruit has been getting.) When the background color turns from green to yellow, the peach is ripe (figure H). You can also check for ripeness by pressing the fruit with your thumb; if you get a bit of a depression, it's ready to eat.

Figure G

Figure H

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