Mmmm … peaches picked at their peak are pure perfection! Here’s how to plant, grow, and harvest peaches at the right time. Plus, we have some delicious peach recipes to try with your bounty!
To grow peaches, the trick is to choose a type that will fit with your climate. Peach trees can be grown in USDA Zones 4 to 9, but do especially well in Zones 6 to 8. If you live in one of these latter zones, you can focus on choosing a variety based on its flavor and harvest-time. If you live in colder regions, there are some varieties that are more cold tolerant that you should choose instead.
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Peaches for the birds and squirrels
I have two peach trees that produce amazing fruit and a large abundance of it! Last year we were overrun with worms and did not harvest any edible fruit. This year we had another amazing crop and we won the war on worms. But we did not get any fruit due to birds and squirrels! Frustrated, your help is always appreciated. You all do an amazing job!
Thank you!
squirrels in peach trees
Thanks for your praise; this response might fall short. ;-)
Once squirrels discover a peach tree, it seems very hard to keep them out of it. (An editor here had a similar experience…and she is giving up.)
You might try caging the trees…or caging the squirrels.
I was told that in order to
I was told that in order to get a good fruit crop for the next year, this year I need to pinch off half of the fruits that begin to grow. It's true?
Elberta Peach SAVE/OR NOT SAVE
This is 6 year old tree. It grew well the first 4 years, but the 5th year started with abundant numbers of peaches, even after thinning appropriately, the tree began to lose vigor until we had only a few poorly developed fruit by harvest time. This spring it has only minimal leaves and after blossoming the fruit began to develop. After examining the tree today I could find no fruit developing. I have pruned it every year and treated for bores. Upon further examination I discovered 2 inches below the base of the tree the remnants of the b-and-b fabric girdling the main root shaft. Other roots have grown above the strangle line so its not completely without nourishment. I could only remove part of the embedded mesh since the root bark has grown over much of it. MY CONCERN IS THIS: SHOULD I TRY AND SAVE THE TREE OR REPLACE IT? Please Advise
Saving Peach Tree
Hi Donald,
That is frustrating! It sounds like the frabric girdling the roots is the problem for sure. We would recommend trying to save the tree. Trees can be surprisingly resilient if given the proper care. Cut as much of the fabric away as you can and continue to care for the tree as you have already. It may take a couple of years until normal fruit production resumes. We hope this helps!
2 dwarft peach trees
I planted a dewarft redhaven peach tree last year and an alberta dewarth peach tree . They both are about 3 1/2 inches high from ground to top of limb. They are starting to blossom, here in southwest michigan. They both have large shoots coming from the top of main root of the trees. should I cut this off? It has buds on them also. They also have some black spots on some limbs. Please help and advise as to what to do for them
homegrown peaches
There is nothing quite like homegrown peaches—the implication being double edged. The black spots do not sound good; you should have someone look at the tree. Contact the local Cooperative Extension; this will help you find them: https://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services It could be indications of brown rot, a fungal problem that will cause your peaches to rot and dry up on the branch. (This is a heart-breaking outcome.) Brown rot can be prevented but not cured, as we understand it.
Also, take some time to read the pruning guidance above. And here’s more: https://www.almanac.com/content/pruning-guide-trees-shrubs (Ask your extension contact for his/her thoughts on this, too.)
There is some good news: First, this is a hunch, not diagnosis. And, even if … the petals on the flowers that bloom on peach trees are delightful and edible—so, a feast for the eyes and garnish for the plate.
Grow Peaches in hot climate
I would like to know that if Peaches can be grown and produced good fruits in Punjab where the temperature goes up to 45 degree concentrate in June and July
Peach trees grown from a pit
several years ago I grew 2 trees from one pit. they both have thrived and product fruit each year. I have gooten to the point of feeling comfortable pruning the trees but the fruits seem to grown in clusters and if I am not consistent with pruning those, they tocu each other and start to rot. also, these trees seem to attract ants. Any advice will be appreciated.
Just received a tree
Hello, we just got a peach tree as a gift and we live in New England. It is too late to plant the tree and if so how can we make sure it survives being pot bound this winter. Thank you.
Leaving a comment
I want to thank you for all you do for us. I always come to your page. your so helpful.
Thank you
Donna
Peach Care
Hello, I'm new to peach tree harvesting//care. When we moved into our home they had an established peach tree growing. This was the first year it bore fruit, so we were excited. But when we went to check there were already bugs//animals feasting before they were even ripe. So we weren't lucky enough to enjoy them this year. How can we we prevent this next year? I got to taste a slice of one good one, and it was delicious! I'd love to make peach cobbler next year!!
Thanks.
Can this peach tree be saved
As a housewarming present we were gifted two Redhaven peach trees 3 years ago in early summer, and had no idea how to care for it. But we followed instructions on the tag and planted it. The deer gnawed them down severely in winter 2016-2017 but a few branches regrew. Last year (2018) one of two sprouted a couple more scraggly branches and we erected a deer fence. We had a brutal winter so one branch died. This year three branches have reached about 8 feet high, on both trees and just one bore a lot of peaches so we thinned the fruits in mid-June. The peaches remaining were picked last week, and are tasty (about 20), but small (about twice the size of a golf ball). As there are only three branches on the fruiting tree and two on the non-fruiting I am wondering if to prune them I just whack the branches down to 5-6 feet high? As I have so few branches I don't really have any other choice for thinning and hopefully promoting new wood so I will get peaches again next year. I hope by doing so, branches will sprout from the pruned branches. Also, I read that fertilization should happen in spring and early summer but not during fruiting. But in our zone (6B) they bloomed in April so were growing fruit in early summer (June). Is it okay to fertilize now (late July)? I hope we can save these trees....
Thinning Peaches in Zone 7B
It is now April in my zone 7B. My red-haven Peaches started to produce fruit . my question is which month do i thin them?
Thinning Fruit
Thin peaches about 4–6 weeks after they flower, while the peaches are still small.
When to plant peach trees in zone 7b
Hello
I live in Charlotte, NC and it is zone 7b here. The article mentioned that peach trees should be planted in the spring. Since we have a milder climate, I have heard that fall is the best time. What is your recommendation for this zone?
Thank you!
Peach tree growing
You have written in your article that it is a spring season suitable for planting. But after reading your article I am curious to plant peach trees. Can not I put the grafted tree in this season, or I will have to wait till the spring season..
Planting Peach Trees
Yes, you can plant a potted peach tree during summer or fall, too. However, you should not plant during the hottest part of summer, as this will cause too much stress on the tree. If you live in a mild climate, mid- to late August will likely be a good time to plant.
Peach tree
I live in downstate NY. I have a very healthy 14-foot donut peach tree. it produces hundreds of peaches. I net a few branches to fend off the squirrels, but the ones left never seem to get to maturity. Do you think my area is too cold? Do I need to water more?
donut peaches
Downstate NY, such as around NYC or Long Island, is in Zones 6 and 7. Other southern regions of NY state, such as in the Binghamton area, are more in Zone 5. The donut peach has been bred to grow as far north as Zone 5, but sometimes has difficulty in the coldest zone. But Zones 6 and warmer should be OK. Make sure that the peach tree is receiving full sun. Ideally, peaches like moist, well-drained, sandy loam. Check for diseases such as peach leaf curl. You can ripen peaches that have already been picked by placing them in a paper bag on a counter, and storing them for a few days at room temperature (putting them in the refrigerator will stop ripening). Hope this helps!
Weather
Wrong advice. I'm in Zone 7B and the temps are in the high 80s, 90s and low 100s. I tried starting herbs, IN THE SHADE and they wouldn't germinate. Too hot, so young peach trees will have to wait 'til late September/early October, for cool weather.
My eggplants, bush string beans and tomatillas are doing great, though :-)
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planting
I'm going to plant a peach tree. I was told you need to plant at least two so they pollinate. Is this true?
Peach tree pollination
Peach trees, unlike apple and pear and plum trees, do not require a pollinator. They are self-pollinating. That said, most expert still recommend planting another variety in your yard for optimum fruit production. Make sure you ask a tree nursery which types of peach trees pollinate each other.
And remember that climate is the most important factor. Make sure that the tree is recommended for your hardiness zone. Peach trees tend to grow best in zones 5 to 8, but there are also cold-hardy types for the cooler climates in parts of the north (Zone 4) and heat-tolerant varieties for the warmer climates in parts of the south and west (Zone 9).
Tree dropping leaves
We have a peach tree in a large container, really it's a garden pool. We planted a dwarf type because we intended to keep it on our fenced patio. I keep it watered and fertilized using your guide. But...it is dropping it's leaves, only a few at the time but consistently. The leave turn yellow and drop. Is this normal? Our winter was cold for this area but the tree did not get burned and started out really well. This is its second spring.
Peach problems
Most container plants need protection in winter—indoors, even if it’s a garage. Roots (on anything) in a container have greater exposure than those in the ground. And size is container size is relative; usually a 5-gallon container is minimum recommended, but a 15- to 20-gallon container is better.
Your local cooperative extension may be able to give you better/more specific advice re the local weather, your container, and the variety of peach. Find your state and then the service here: https://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services
Leaf dropping and how to seep squirrels off of the tree.
Our leaves started turning yellow and dropping in the last couple of weeks. The tree is planted in the ground, and is four years old. Also, last year, the squirrels ate all but two peaches. Is there a way to keep them off of the tree?
watering peach trees and squirrels
For yellow leaves that are falling off, this indicates you need more water applied each time you water.
If the soil is covered with a 3 to 4-inch layer of mulch on the surface, then you should be able to squeeze two to three days between irrigations, provided enough water is applied.
Make sure the applied water is wetting the soil 18 to 24 inches deep. Use a metal rod, rebar or long screwdriver to judge the depth of the watering. Push it into the soil after watering and see when it is hard to push any more.
Peach trees that are 7 feet tall and 7 feet wide should receive about 90 gallons of water each week. This can be applied with drip irrigation or a level basin built around the tree about 6 feet in diameter and 4 inches deep.
It is virtually impossible to keep squirrels out of fruit trees because of their superb climbing and jumping ability. You can protect the crop by netting it. While squirrels can readily gnaw through the plastic netting, they may not persist if enough alternative food is easily available. Another idea is to leave one tree un-netted and sacrifice it to the squirrels who will avoid the other trees.
pethy/mealy/dry peaches
my peach tree always produces great crops. Fruit is good sized, color is beautiful but no matter when I harvest the fruit all the peaches are pethy/mealy. The texture is horrible, They are dry and the taste is horrible. What can I do to correct this situation? Or would it be best to just cut it down. I have no idea what kind it is except it was supposed to be a dwarf, self pollinating variety. It must be about 8 years old. Any suggestions? I live in Portland, OR and there are peach orchards all around me.
Peach Problems
We would recommend consulting your local Cooperative Extension service, who should know more about local conditions that may be causing subpar fruit. Here’s a link to the Oregon State University Extension Service, and another to the national directory.
Cold weather and fruit trees
I live in Saint Louis, Mo. I submitted a question before about the same topic and it was answered so this is more or less a followup question. The winter of 2016-2017 was too mild to produce fruit for either my apple or peach tree. Beginning around christmas of 2017 the temperature plunged into sub-zero wind chill factors for well over eleven days. I am to understand that a fruit tree needs a good freeze to produce fruit. Is it safe to assume that in the summer of 2018 I will be eating fruit off of both trees due to the winter deep freeze we are currently experiencing? Please tell me what you think. And also my apple tree is three years old but has yet to produce fruit. Is there something that I am doing wrong by only watering it? My peach tree is the same age but is producing fruit. Thanks.
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