Peaches

Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Peaches

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Peaches are a well-known, delicious fruit that can be grown right at home. The trick to growing your very own peaches is to choose a type that will fit with your specific climate.

Planting

Peach trees can grow in USDA Zones 5 to 8, but do especially well in Zones 6 and 7.
If you live in one of these 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 can choose.
Choose a site with well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun. Be sure to avoid low areas because frost can more easily settle there and destroy your peaches.
Plant the trees in spring. It is best to plant the trees the day you get them (if possible). Pick a tree that is about 1 year old.
For container-grown trees, remove the plant from its pot and remove any circling roots by laying the root ball on its side and using shears to cut through the roots.
For grafted trees, position the inside of the curve of the graft union away from the sun when planting.
Dig a hole that is a few inches deeper and wider than the spread of the roots. Set the tree on top of a small mound of soil in the middle of the hole. Be sure to spread the roots away from the trunk without excessively bending them.
If you are planting standard-size trees, space them 15 to 20 feet apart. Space dwarf trees 10 to 12 feet apart. However, most types of peach trees are self-fertile, so planting one tree at a time is fine.

An Alternative Planting Method

If your circumstances are suitable, you might want to try a technique practiced in England. It involves planting a peach tree—ideally a dwarf variety—on the south side of the home or other building, under the eaves of the it. Over time, the gardener prunes and trains the peach tree to espalier in a fan-shape against or very near to the wall of the house. Plastic sheeting is attached to the eaves and draped to cover but not touch the tree, similar to a lean-to. This keeps the tree dry in winter, and the tree enjoys the warms of the sun, directly and as reflected off the house, year round. The plastic should be opened or lifted during bloom time to welcome pollinating insects and on hot, sunny days to ventilate the tree and prevent foliage burn.

Care

About 6 weeks after planting, fertilize the young trees with 1 pound of a nitrogen fertilizer.
During the second year, add ¾ pound of nitrogen fertilizer once in the spring and once in the early summer.
After the third year, add about 1 pound of actual nitrogen per year to the mature trees in the spring.
To help make the tree hardier, do not fertilize it within 2 months of the first fall frost date or when the fruits are maturing.
Be sure to prune the tree to an open center shape. In the summer of the first year, cut the vigorous shoots that form on the top of the tree by two or three buds. After about a month, check the tree. As soon as you have three wide-angled branches, spaced equally apart, cut back any other branches so that these three are the main branches. In the early summer of the second year, cut back the branches in the middle of the tree to short stubs and prune any shoots developing below the three main branches. After the third year, remove any shoots in the center of the tree to keep its shape.
Be sure to prune the tree annually to encourage production. Pruning is usually done mid to late April. Pinching the trees in the summer is also helpful.
Prune and fertilize to accomplish 10-18 inches of new growth each season.
Thin the fruits so that they are 6 to 8 inches apart on the branch after the tree blooms (about 4 to 6 weeks). This ensures that the fruits will be larger.
To help increase resistance to fruit diseases, be sure to prune the trees, thin the fruit, and pick the fruit when it is ripe.

Pests/Diseases

Borers
Aphids
Japanese beetles
Leaf hoppers
Brown rot
Powdery mildew
Leaf curl
Mosaic viruses

Harvest/Storage

Harvest your peaches when they are fully ripe, meaning that there is no green left on the fruit. They should come off the tree with only a slight twist. The fruits found on the top and outside of the tree usually ripen first.
Be careful when picking your peaches because some varieties bruise very easily.
You can store peaches in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. They should keep for about 5 days.
You can also store peaches by making jam or by making pickled peaches.
Peaches can also be canned or kept frozen for storage.

Recommended Varieties

‘Redhaven’, which is the standard and most popular choice. These peaches are medium-size, but can be small if the tree is not properly thinned. Its skin is tough and firm and red in color.
‘Reliance’, which is a hardy variety. It produces small and soft fruits.
‘Harmony’ (‘Canadian Harmony’), which is winter hardy and moderately resistant to bacterial leaf spot. It produces medium to large fruit and freezes well.
Some zone favorites are:

4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Hale	Madison	Saturn	Contender	Frost	Topaz	Florida Beauty

Wit & Wisdom

Although peaches are native to the Chinese countryside, the peach was brought to the western world from Iran.

Peaches ripen faster in a closed paper bag at room temperature.

Test buds of peaches and other sensitive fruits for freeze damage. Bring in a few twigs cut from the trees and place them in a vase of water. If the twigs bloom in a week or two, expect blossoms in the spring and a crop the following fall.

Recipes

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Reader Comments

Young Peach tree from pit !

I left a peach pit (from a peach stand in South Carolina) in the freezer all winter, took it out early spring and gently got the seed from it and planted it in a small,then medium then large now extra large planting pot !
My question is when is the best time to plant it in the yard (I live around Myrtle beach SC area)
& when can I prune some branches and which ones to cut , as you guessed I'm a newbie at this! HELP! It is September almost October and we still have 80 to 90 degree days left , a few leaves have dropped off, I believe because it's getting cooler at night , Thank you in advance

PEACHES

What makes some peaches pethy? They may look beautiful but when cut there is no juice and is very yucky in texture and taste.

unusually warm winter

Hello everyone. I live in Saint Louis, Mo. I planted a peach tree two years ago. Last year I got seven small peaches from it. We had a normal winter last year as well (2015-2016). This year (2016-2017) it was unusually warm. The entire winter I think we had a total of three weeks at best where the temperature went below twenty degrees. Thats fourteen days out of the entire winter that I am talking about here. Will this warm winter effect my peach tree? I water my tree every other day as well as my apple tree and noticed that the leaves are not shriveling up like they were before I started watering them. Am I hurting the trees by watering them that much? Please advise. This is my first house and my first stab at planting anything. Thanks.

Watering Peach Trees

Hi Hubert,

If the leaves on your peach tree are not shriveling up anymore, that is a good thing. It’s hard to say if the warm winter will affect your peach tree. It’s true that most fruit trees need a set chilling period of dormancy, but the warmer winters that are occurring have not been happening long enough for anything more than guesswork. As for watering, your peach tree needs around 30 to 40 gallons of water a day during July and August, though combine that with rainfall and the amount you have been giving is probably close to what it needs. Continue with what you are doing.

Peachtree fruit problems

Hi, we live in Visalia, California, near Fresno. We have two peachtrees,about 7 years old. We prune them in Jan. or Feb.Fertilize with tripple 16 and spray them with a sulfer/copper oil, when buds begin and fungacide when pests are visible. We had beautiful fruit 2 or 3 years ago, but nothing good since. This year they bloomed very nice and set on enough, where I did not have to cull them The peaches grew to a little bigger than golfball size, and now are falling off. I can't see anything wrong with the falling peaches. What can I do ? Please help.

why are peaches dropping?

There are a number of reasons why this might be happening; scientists do not know for certain.
Here are a few theories:

• cultural/environmental factors that effect pollination, flower fertilization and fruit set.

• foliage damaged by diseases (scab, for example) and/or insects (stink bug or curculio have been suggested)

• fruit drop can be heavier on young, vigorous trees

• rainfall, esp after a dry period can cause fruit drop

• some scientists think competition for water and nutrients causes fruit drop (are they getting enough?)

You might want to contact your local cooperative extension service (find it here: http://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services ). These folks are quite knowledgeable and may have experience with this or know someone who has…and can provide more insight.

Peach tree

We planted a peach tree last year and so far successful . Blossomed beautify and full. We then aHad a very large number is small peaches sine of a ping pong ball . Watched them for about a WEEK OR SO AND WAS READY TO THIN THEM......... No more peaches not one on the ground. I'm guessing the squirrels had a feast. Should I have placed a net over the tree?

Peach Tree Fruit Problems

Peach trees experience something called “June drop,” which is when they naturally thin our their fruits and drop most of the weakest ones in late spring or early summer. However, if your peach tree dropped all of its fruit, it could be due to a weak pollinating season, lack of water or nutrients, a late frost, or some sort of pest or disease. Or, like you said, it could have been squirrels and birds! It’s hard to know for sure. Next year, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to place netting over the tree once fruits start developing.

Peach Tree

I may have made a mistake on the tree age, 5-6' at planting 10+ years ago. Tree now 20' (dwarf Alberta). Suspect typical West Texas red Clay-y soil was level and covered with 6-8" of top soil. Tree did have a black substance develop last year from first branches to crown (3'), treated with antifungal. Also had sap balls at first branches. Both conditions are now gone. Fertilized with tree and shrub (?ratio) at drip line last year and lawn is treated 3 times a year with southwest formulation (added iron and sulfur). Neighbor tree gets no fertilizers and no water except rainfall and has more greener, abundant leaves and more blooms. There is a concrete ring around the tree containing lava rock (away from crown 6-8"s) and 4-5"s deep. The peach tree that produced was in a different area. When I say tree produced earlier it had good blooming but freeze prevented fruit development. Will test soil if you still think it is necessary. I have Bradford pears in front yard which have a problem with pale green leaves also. The older had abundant blooms but the smaller (newer) is very slow growing. Both have been treated with foliage and drip line iron last year, no improvement. Thank you for your advice.

Peach Tree

I have a 6-7 year old Alberta Peach that has started to drop its leaves. The leaves are not as green as I think they should be and then turn yellow and fall. They have no black spots and no curling. This started last year. I sprayed twice with a disease spray. There was a ring developed around the tree about 18 inches from the trunk due to the lawn care taker edging. I have filled this with new soil and made sure the water can drain away from the trunk. The soil is an 8" layer of top soil over a very clayie West Texas soil. When I purchased the house 16 years ago there was a peach tree that produced very well. There was top soil added after this tree was planted leaving a well around it (previous owners). Since I watered the lawn for better grass growth it caused the tree to die from the water standing around it. The new tree I planted has the crown above the soil level. It produced a couple of years after I planted it. However, freezes have taken the last two years. This year it had a few blooms and I noticed a couple of small peaches. The tree next door has much thicker and greener leaves and no care, was even topped a couple years ago. Can you help me with the leaf drop. I know the freeze in February was before budding so shouldn't have been a problem. Thank you for any help.

Peachy Problems

Hi, Darrel: Thank you for such an extensive description of your situation! It sounds like you have a handle on the watering situation, which is not to. Even though your new tree is high in the ground, it is still basically sitting on a pan of clay, which will keep water around. But to us the key here is “it produced [for] a couple of years.” If you don’t have/can’t see any disease/pests and if there is not too much water, then this tells us that your soil may have become deficient, particularly in nitrogen and/or potassium. So get a soil test kit from your local home or garden supply store or your USDA county extension and test both at the base of the tree and about 4 feet out. If necessary, amend the soil slowly and carefully to bring it to what your peach needs (do online research on this). If your soil is OK, then it is still a water issue and deeper drainage solutions may be necessary. Remember that while unlikely, it is possible that the top of your clay-y subsoil layer is not horizontal. You could actually be watering a surface that is even with or sloping away from the tree, but at the same time the clay layer underneath could be sloping toward the tree. Complicated, but the key thing is that it did well once, so let’s hope that it’s the soil. Thanks for asking and good luck!

Peach tree not blooming and all buds look dry

We live in Katy,TX. We have a Red Baron peach tree that we planted about five years ago. It usually blooms early March and by late March early April it is full of leaves. This year it looks that it is still in dormancy until today, March 28. We had below freezing temperature for two days during the winter. When rubbing the outer bark of the small branches there is a geen layer inside. The buds seem dry, but when rubbing them out there is a green layer too. Do you think the tree is still alive and may grow some leaves later. THank you very much.

Just Peachy

Hi, George: Wow – we know somebody in Katy named George! Listen, it sounds as though your tree still has a chance, especially if you don’t see black or brown dead tissue. The buds are supposed to protect the green flower parts underneath, so hopefully this is exactly what they’ve done. Thanks for asking and good luck!

Young producing peach tree

I live in south central Texas. We planted our first peach tree a couple of months ago. It's about six feet tall, had a bunch of flowers already and is growing fruit. Is it good for young trees this size to be producing fruit this soon? Do we leave the fruit or should we remove them? And would they be edible if we let the fruit mature?

Pink colored gelatin zap

Help...pink colored gelatin like zap coming of the bark of my Georgia peach tree I've spray it with some gardeners bug spray but now apearse tobe dead.the branches seam tobe dry, dead and crunchy. I am located in Austin Texas. Any suggestions or idea of what could i do! Thank you.

pink sap in peach tree

Hi, Wendy, Rather than hazard a guess at this, we suggest you look for here “gumming” (the sap) on this page http://plantdiseasehandbook.tamu.edu/food-crops/fruit-crops/peach-aprico... it’s a more complicated matter than we can answer briefly here. BTW, that’s the Texas A&M site right there in Austin; you may be able to contact folks there who will know much better what’s going on with your peach tree. Click on “contact” here: http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/ Coop extension services are wonderfully helpful!

Several causes are suggested and you may have a better idea of what exactly is wrong with your tree as you read this and look at the tree closely. We hope this helps. Good luck!

dead peach tree

i have a dead Fl peach tree, 4' and now i have about 10 branches growing straight up from the roots, there about 10" tall, around the dead stick...do i leave them alone or is it baby trees . I don't want to kill it again. it will choce itself when it gets larger... what should i do.

Peach Tree

That is what is called sucker growth from the rootstock, which will not bear fruit. If you want fruit, you should dig it out of the ground (not just cut it) and plant a new tree.

Peach Tree Care

I planted a peach seed about 2 months ago. It grew very quickly and now stands over a foot tall. Most of it looks healthy. When it reached 6 inches, it stopped growing briefly and the five leaves at the very top of the plant became deformed and curled. They stayed a healthy green color and still are very green. A couple weeks later, it started growing two stalks from the top and has now more than doubled in size. No other leaves have curled. Just those few in the middle now. Those bad leaves have not grown or discolored or anything since. Should those leaves stay? Should I pull them off? Or should I just let the tree continue growing and doing whatever it's going to do? Just hope I have the start of a healthy tree.

peach tree two years old in pot

Second season and my peach tree has blossomed and every blossom has a small peach attached should I thin out?

Thinning

Yes, it is good idea to thin them out. Doing so encourages good air circulation (which helps prevent disease spores from getting a foothold) and allows room for fruit to grow to maturity.

Peach,plums,blue berry,olive,apricot and almond cultivation

Can we cultivate the subject plants in south India?

Transplanting a Peach tree

I have a Peach tree approx. 10' tall
that currently has fruit on it. It is leaning severely due to being located too close to a building. I live in Southeast Alabama and want to relocate it as soon as possible. Can anyone tell me is it safe to move it now or when should I relocate it? And to what depth and how far away from the base should I dig in order to safely remove it without damaging the root ball?

transplanting a peach tree

Transplanting mature trees is an involved operation, and causes much stress and risk to the tree. If your tree’s trunk (at 4 inches above the ground) is more than an inch in diameter, you’ll need to provide about 10 to 12 inches of diameter to the root ball for every inch of trunk diameter. For depth, one Cooperative Extension sites says that if the root ball is less than 20 inches in diameter, then depth would be 75% of that; for greater than 20 inches, but less than 30, about 66%. If more than 30 inches, 60% or more of the diameter. This can get very heavy, so you’ll need proper equipment or will need to call in a professional. (A ball 24 inches in diameter and 16 inches depth can weigh more than 200 pounds.)

To increase the chance of survival, it is recommended that for the first year, you root prune during very early spring, when the tree is still dormant, cutting into the soil with a flat spade at the diameter determined for the root ball, and to about 24 inches deep (but not under the plant). Mark where you have made your cuts. During the growing season, small roots will grow within the rootball zone, which will help with transplanting; water thoroughly after root pruning.

Transplanting is done when the tree is dormant – in colder climates, in late fall, when the leaves have fallen off the tree but the ground has not frozen. Or, in warmer areas, you can do this in winter when the plant is dormant. It is best to prepare the new hole with soil amendments a little beforehand–dig a hole 3 times as wide as the root ball and as deep as the rootball, and water it. Water around the tree the day before, to soften the soil. Dig a few inches out from where you want the rootball, so that you include the small roots formed during the growing season. Use loppers, shears, or a pruning saw to sever roots neatly to discourage disease. Wrap the rootball in burlap to transport it (when you get to the new site, remove the burlap before planting). Provide water and mulch after planting and pamper and monitor it closely during the first several weeks. It will take a while for the tree to recover from transplant shock.

How to take care of a peach tree

Hello, my subdivision court has an apple tree and a peach tree that thrive every year, except for the bugs who eat the fruit. Is there any way that I can spray the tree or protect it from being eaten. Can you please give me advice on how to keep the fruit from being nasty. Ex: Is there any cure for the thick skin on the fruit? Thank You So Much!

Protecting Fruit Trees from Pests

Hi Jack,

Many fruit trees benefit from applications of non-toxic horticultural and dormant oils in the late winter/early spring. They provide a barrier when pest larvae emerge and when other pests start to visit. There are a number of brand options on the market.

My neighbor is disabled and

My neighbor is disabled and can't care for his peach tree that is next to our driveway so I have been caring for it. I looked up how to prune it, and I did it, and they started out great about two months ago. I was so happy when I saw that it was growing "a lot" this year, however, they seemed to have stopped growing. They're about the size of a walnut and green and health looking. I just don't know if they should have fully developed already.
The tree is on the side of his house where it gets sunlight most of the day. I water it whenever I'm in town (twice a week). It's also got a lot of leafy regrowth. Should I cut some of that back or is it too late? Also some of the branches have about 15 to 20 peaches on them. Should I pull some off? If it is too late to save this years peaches, should I go ahead and prune it now?
Does pruning mean trimming it back while it's growing or is when you cut it back?

Thank you for any help you can offer.

Terry Pesek

Terry I thin my peaches so

Terry I thin my peaches so they are about 6 inches apart, that way I get a very nice peach. I'm not sure where you live so I don't know if that is too much or too little water. I live in eastern WA State and I put about 3/4 of an inch of water on mine twice a week. Do not trim the new growth as that is what will produce peaches for you next year. Good luck Dave

Caring for Peach Tree

Hi Terry,

What a nice neighbor you are! The amount of water needed is entirely weather-dependent, but a good, deep soaking is always preferable to frequent but shallow watering sessions. In terms of the fruit, yes go ahead and do some thinning, removing about 10 percent of the smallest peaches to make room for others to grow to full maturity. As for the new foliage, let it grow–it’s a good sign that your neighbor has a healthy tree.

Young Peach Tree Dropping Leaves

I planted a peach tree 2 weeks ago. Approx. 6 feet tall, about a 1" caliper. We put it in a fruit tree soil mix with some root stimulator formula. It is only partially shaded after 2 PM. It has not been watered excessively. Is it too soon to apply a general fertilizer? It is dropping a fair amount of leaves. They were solid yellow, no green veins (no curling). I see info about waiting 6-8 weeks to fertilize after planting. Please help, don't want to drop all the leaves!

Meant to say that I live in

Meant to say that I live in Houston, TX. It is a Floridaking peach appropriate for my zone

Florida King Peach Tree problems

Hi, Al, Almost any plant will suffer a shock during transplanting. Keep in mind that you planted this in its growing season; best tree planting times are fall and spring. What does “it has not been watered excessively” mean? Almost any transplant needs to have enough moisture to allow its roots to relax and spread. Fertilizer is not a miracle potion; There may be many things to consider, based on your information about the plant and its circumstances; we suggest that you consider the growing advice here (it champions this plant in Texas, too): http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/fruit/peach.html

Here is very good guidance on growing fruit trees in general; note the description of the hole and its preparation; did you do this?? http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/8048.pdf

Another option is to contact the source from which you got the plant.

We hope this helps. There is nothing like homegrown peaches!

Thanks for the reply. We

Thanks for the reply. We planted it in a hole like they recommended. We have clayey soil, but I scored and penetrated it as shown in the UC Davis link.

I think it might be excessive shock due to the heat down here. I applied a general balanced NPK fertilizer and watered deeply, but the yellowing has gotten worse. More leaf shriveling and drop now. Pretty much only the top leaves are left.

I'm not sure if heavy watering can revive it really. Late spring down here on the gulf is as hot as summer everywhere else when planting a tree. Any other ideas on how we might be able to salvage it? I've done tomatoes and okra but never fruit trees, I appreciate the advice. Thanks!

I guess I can try to replant another one in the fall and let is settle in during winter dormancy if needed.

Florida peach

I bought a peach tree and figured a good cross pollinator would be red haven. I live I. Florida now I'm thinking I made a mistake playing that as I live in zone 9. Ideas? Will it cross pollinate my current tree?

Red Haven

I live in NorCal in zone 9, I have a Red Haven peach and it grows just fine. I only have the one tree, but the area around here grows lots of peaches so I don't know if it needs another tree to pollinate.

Peach

Hi, we just bought our home in August and there was already a peach tree in the back. The previous people who lived there never bother to water or take care of it. I thought the tree was dead and then it sprout a few leaves but that's it. I've mulch it and water it but no new leaves have come out. Its probably at least 5-10 years old? What are you suggestions?

Save a Peach Tree

If the previous owners did not properly care for the peach tree, it is unlikely that it bloomed well for them or will produce fruit for you. You can try to save the peach tree with some extensive pruning and fertilization, but the best bet would probably be to cut it down and plant another. It is very hard to bring a peach tree back if it hasn’t been cared for.

I've killed two peach trees =(

I really want to have some peach trees, but I can't seem to keep any alive. I live in Northern Illinois and bought a 1 year old bare root reliance peach tree from two different sellers this year and last, both dropped their leaves just after showing their first leaves. I planted them both in the same spot, so I am thinking maybe there is something wrong with the soil? I don't know what else could be causing this.. Any ideas? Also, this year's tree still has one leaf clinging to it and the stem is still greenish, so it's still barely alive, do you think I might be able to move it to a different location and revive it? Or is it too late? =(

Hi Mike,

Peaches grow best in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun. Please see our planting and care information at the top of this page. If the tree is not too big you may have better luck growing it in a container with some high quality potting soil mixed with compost.

Fruit falling off

Hi, not sure what variety we have but our tree is a few years old and finally has fruit. But they are the size of grapes and all falling off the tree. What can we do?

Peach Tree Problems

This question is answered below. Lack of pollinators, cold weather and too much or too little water can cause fruit drop. Fertilize your trees in early spring and early summer with a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20 for example). If you haven’t pruned your trees lately you may want to open the trees to sunlight, as shaded branches won’t produce much fruit.

peach trees and birds

We have 2 peach trees in our back yard. Each year they are producing more peaches, but either a pest or birds are getting to the peaches before they are fully developed. What can we do to prevent this?

Peach Protection

Hi, Sharon: Great question! The first thing to do is really focus on identifying the culprits (it sounds like you are guessing mammals or birds), even if it means getting a motion-activated camera and/or camping out some night with a flashlight. Protecting peaches can be nightmarish. Organic pesticides might help. Some people put little booties on young fruit (do Web search). For squirrels and other rodents, a tree trunk barrier or baffle can sometimes work. For birds, netting. Sometimes all or most of the above are needed. It’s a peach of a challenge, to be sure. But put priority on figuring out what it is before worrying about what to do. Good luck!

Growing peach trees

What type of peach trees grow well in Oklahoma?

best peach varieties to grow

Here are best peach varieties that grow in Oklahoma. Contact your local cooperative extension for more detail as they all have different timings.

Yellow Fleshed:
Candor, Garnet Beauty, Sweethaven, Earliglo, Rubired, Sentinel, Redhaven, Clayton, Cullinan, Newhaven, Ranger, Glohaven, Bounty, Jayhaven, Loring, Cresthaven, Biscoe, Jefferson, Autumnglo, Ouachita Gold, Stark Encore, Parade, Flameprince, Fairtime.
White Fleshed: Erly-red-fre, Summer Pearl, Nectar, White Hale Nectarines, Earliblaze, Redchief, Cavalier, Sunglo, Redgold.

My husband and I purchased a

My husband and I purchased a home several months ago with a peach tree in the back yard. The tree now has tons and tons of tiny peaches growing on it. What do we need to do to ensure that the peaches develop good fruit? I have no idea how old the tree is but I would say at least several years.

Doin' Just Peachy

Hi, Danielle: Thanks for the great question! What you need to do is simply observe. Since you and the tree are new to each other, and we don’t know the age of the tree (although hopefully it does), the best thing to do is leave it alone. If it turns out that most fruit don’t develop well, then you may want to prune back some blossoms next year to help the tree focus its energy. But right now we wouldn’t do anything, as it sounds like it’s doin’ just peachy by itself. Thanks again!

peach tree

I PURCHASED A PEACH TREE FROM A NURSERY LAST SUMMER. THIS YEAR IT IS LOADED WITH BLOOMS. DO I NEED TO PICK THE BLOOMS OFF THIS YEAR?

You should remove most of the

You should remove most of the blooms from the tree this year to prevent fruiting or pull off most of the fruits that develop. You want the tree to grow this year and the fruit will draw energy away from that.

Peach tree Pollen

I have a peach tree and a nectarine tree in my garden in Holland. They are about 4 years old each, and last year each produced a few fruits, but very very few. Perhaps 3 or 4 each.

Yet there are many flower in the spring, now. However, there are few or no bees at this early time of year so I though I would hand pollinate them myself to get more fruit to develop.

But when I take a paint brush or cotton swab and brush it against the many stamen in the flowers, I see no pollen, no little yellow dust that I would expect to find. Nothing. Some of the flowers seem mature, others are just opening, but none show any pollen. Why? How can I hand pollinate them if there is no pollen?
The anthers seem to be just solid little oblong nobs at the end of the stamen which surround the pistil. When will those nobs open to release the pollen? What is wrong? This problems seems to be specific to peaches. How can you hand pollinate a flower if there is no pollen?

Peach tree question

Hi! I bought a peach tree sapling today that already has a few blooms. It's probably about 3 feet or so tall, so I was wondering about how old it may be and about how long they take to bear fruit. I'm very new to growing trees so any advice/input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch!

Just Peachy

Hi, Ann: It’s tough to tell without knowing your climate, type of tree, and so on, but we would guess that your sapling is perhaps a year old. Usually, peaches take 2 to 4 years to bear fruit, so you still have some drooling … er, waiting… ahead of you. Good luck!

peach tree

I bought a peach tree from a farm supply store its about 3 feet tall. I live in zone 6 in oklahoma when should i plant it.

If your tree is in a pot or

If your tree is in a pot or in burlap you can plant it as soon as the soil is workable. After planting the tree should be thoroughly watered. Also add a high-phosphorus fertilizer to help the roots become settled.

Peaches

I am a novice and have my first peach tree. Does it have a second fruiting in the one season? It's a bit too much when they all come at once!

Hi Judith,

Peaches usually only fruit once during the growing season. They bloom in spring and bear fruit in the summer.

The squirrels got all of my

The squirrels got all of my peaches from a 10 foot tree I inherited in a house I bought - all in one weekend. the were hard, smallish and reddish. ---Ennis, Texas south of Dallas. It hasn't been pruned. It's full, but just wilted like a person losing their muscle mass right after the peaches were taken. Not a limb was bent or broken. It's now almost September and it's 10 feet from a huge pecan tree. What do I do to help it. It's not center pruned.
Thanks
Mark

Yes you can. Plant it about

Yes you can. Plant it about 3-4 inches deep in good soil this fall, mulch it well, and with any luck it will germinate and begin to grow next spring. It will probably be nothing like the parent plant but it might be even better! We had a peach tree grow from a discarded pit that had the best peaches we ever ate.

When u buy peaches from a

When u buy peaches from a store can u plant the seed from the pit

John, Yes you can plant the

John, Yes you can plant the pit of a peach. Plant it about 3-4 inches deep in good soil this fall, mulch it well, and with any luck it will germinate and begin to grow next spring. It will probably be nothing like the parent plant but it might be even better! We had a peach tree grow from a discarded pit that had the best peaches we ever ate.

We have an elberta peach tree

We have an elberta peach tree about 5 years old. We live in Midway, Utah so we are a zone 5 . The tress growing really well and will produce fruit nothing I would say you can eat. They only get the size of a golf ball. But there is tons of them.
What is causing this? this tree is on an automatic drip system and gets plenty of water, we also fertilized this spring, and will give it a good soak every week.

I would really love some peaches!

It sounds like your peach

It sounds like your peach tree needs thinning. The best time for this chore is late February, or after the worst of the winter freeze has passed.

peaches

Are you pruning your trees? If you want larger fruit, you must prune and thin when the fruit sets and it's still little so you have fewer and the fruit grows larger. We have 5 peach trees and when we don't prune and thin, we have that same problem. Best of luck!

I was excited that the house

I was excited that the house we just moved into in Oct of 2014 had 4 or 5 very mature peach trees. I saw the fruit mid-May and it was about the size of a quarter, maybe a little bigger. Consulted a friend who had an orchard and since these trees were in a very unkept, brushy area I sprayed with Bonide fruit tree spray. My peaches haven't grown any since I discovered them- is this normal? None have fallen off, really. Just no growth. Anybody have any thoughts?

5 year old peach tree, good

5 year old peach tree, good peaches last year
this year mealy peaches with rotted pits. curly leaf in the spring not too bad. please what could be wrong.

Hi, Dennis: It's a little

Hi, Dennis: It's a little tough to tell, but obviously your tree has developed some disease, and most likely a fungus. It could be that the leaf curl was indeed more extensive and embedded than you thought. Regardless, the only thing to do is to start right away in removing anything that is diseased, and doing so very fastidiously (including anything on the ground) and thoroughly. In early fall, give what remains of the tree a very thorough application of an organic fungicide, preferably based on copper or sulfur. Do the same thing in early spring. Starting now and until next spring, remove anything, however small, that does not appear to be healthy. You can do it!

Thank you much! I will get

Thank you much! I will get started right away

Dennis

I PLANTED A PEACH FROM A

I PLANTED A PEACH FROM A PEACH PIT AND IT HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS BUT NO FRUIT. WHAT CAN I DO TO BEAR FRUIT

We don't have much

We don't have much information to go on, but here are some things that may help explain what happened. Did you plant the pit directly in the ground or did you let it germinate? Did you plant in the fall (preferred time to plant peach pits)? Sometimes removing the hull (outer pit) from the seed inside helps.

March 2014 we bought two

March 2014 we bought two Flordacrest trees at HOme Depot. By June the clingseed fruit was plentiful and delicious.

They grew well, had abundant fruit on the tree in May, but they began to get brown mildewy rot on the end of each peach. This quickly took over before they ripened. Some even looked ripe but were firm and not sweet or ripe. We pretty much lost the whole crop.

Any suggestions for next year?

Thanks so much for your help.

If the dark spots are big and

If the dark spots are big and increasing in size, it may be brown rot. If the dark spots are small, it may be some form of bacterial spot. They are fairly harmless, though they will affect the taste. You can apply a copper spray in fall and spring.
As peaches need an entire spray program to thrive, we would suggest you contact your local cooperative extension. Here is a list of offices so that you can find the one nearest you: http://www.almanac.com/content...

I live in a Houston suburb

I live in a Houston suburb and have a peach tree that was grown from a seed that has produced peaches with no fertilizer, chemicals, or special care. The peaches are small, but edible, especially in baked goods. I have had one good harvest. Two years in a row the peaches have just gotten to the point of picking when all of a sudden ALL of them have disappeared. There are no signs of them anywhere! Some have fallen off due to storms or natural windfall, but this has happened overnight. Any clue what may have happened (besides a band of wayward monkeys)?

Hi, L: How about a band of

Hi, L: How about a band of wayward squirrels? Or a neighbor who likes to bake? For the former (or any peach varmint)--and for a good neighborhood conversation starter-- try hanging some Christmas ornaments, and the sparklier, the better! Good luck!

Thank you! we had a peach

Thank you! we had a peach tree full of peaches almost ready to pick yesterday.. went out to check them today and all but 8 were gone.. only the seed remaining on the ground below the tree.. still moist. are there any specific animals besides squirrels (raccoons or deer for example) that would do that?

There is another critter that

There is another critter that will steal your peaches: a human. It happened to me. I went to bed one night with a tree full of peaches. Woke up the next day, and every single one was gone. No pits left behind. Years later I actually overheard a conversation in a car repair shop. This guy said he looks for trees bearing fruit just so he can steal them. I have a tree right now that's pretty loaded and its fairly close to the road. We'll see. I live in a different state now, but thieves are everywhere!

Hi! I have a new problem with

Hi! I have a new problem with one of my peach trees. I settled down this peach in spring this year. It was Flaming Fury. It issued leaves fast enough. Its branches increased about four inches during the month. But my tree began to wither two weeks ago. Some leaves became brown. I had thought anyone had ate its root. I thought Gryllotalpa ate the root of my peach. I poured the ground around the stem with Swiss pesticide named Aktara last Sunday. And today I poured around the stem a rooting stimulator. Then I saw Gryllotalpa that it come out from the soil. It was poisoned and was creeping slowly. Could you advise me whether I have a chance to save my peach? What do I have to do? It was the best of my new trees, and it continue wither now.

Hello all...I planted my Gala

Hello all...I planted my Gala Peach tree in early winter. I have found its not getting enough sun. When is a good safe time to move my "baby" I live in Marietta, Ga. Any advice is appreciated!

Spring is a good time to move

Spring is a good time to move your tree. Just be sure that you get all the root ball. Not only is sun important but a sheltered spot is also important. Ensure the soil has enough nutrients. Take a soil test to make sure the pH, or soil acidity, is between six and seven.

Hi! I'm glad to say to you

Hi! I'm glad to say to you that my peach tree Vinegold has issued a few leaves! What fertilizer can I give to my peach trees? I have sprinkled the potassium humate on leaves of my peaches. I'm afraid to add carbamide because I think it can kill my trees. Please advise me about fertilizer for my peaches.

Hi, Alex: Congratulations!

Hi, Alex: Congratulations! Your tree needs a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0. Do a soil test and adjust accordingly, if necessary. Otherwise, don't go overboard with messing around with its roots or leaves. A periodic light dressing on the ground with a 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer is fine, but don't worry about holding its hand too much unless you see or sense something wrong. And it sounds like things are going right!

I live in Ne last year we

I live in Ne last year we planted two peach trees they both produced a little fruit late in the fall, but it is June and neither of them has even bloomed.
Winter was a little mild but Spring has been very wet and overcast this year

2 years ago I planted bare

2 years ago I planted bare root peach tree. Had late freeze. Lost one tree. This tree grew from base of tree. Nicely filled out now but no blossoms or fruit. Since it was a grafted peach at time of planting, will I ever see blossoms or fruit?

Your tree is growing from the

Your tree is growing from the root stock and not knowing what variety it is you may or may not get blooms. If you by a chance get peaches on the tree they may not taste very good. Your options are to wait and see or graft a branch of a good tasting peach variety onto your root stock.

I just planted 4 peach trees

I just planted 4 peach trees and all of them have started wilting. Thay have been in a shady area from start now in full sunlight do you You think they will be alright

Hi, Marty: It's tough to tell

Hi, Marty: It's tough to tell if they will be all right. They need to be in full sun, but at the same time they need to have adequate water. That being said, overwatering or too much rain in ill-drained soil can also cause peach trees to wilt, so make sure that you have good drainage. Another possibility is some sort of nutrient deficiency. Test your soil and ask your local cooperative extension if anything is needed. Finally, if you have just transplanted them from shade to sun, they could just be in shock. In short, test your soil, but at the same time make sure they get Goldilocks water: not too little, not too much, but just right. And if there ever is any standing water, bail it out of there. Good luck!

Hi- I planted my peach tree 6

Hi- I planted my peach tree 6 years ago. Year 1 to 4 nothing happened. Year 5 we had a lot of peaches and during the spring of year 6, I noticed the leaves were culling, turning yellow then droppping. I sprayed the tree with Horticultural Spray Oil and fungal spray in November2014 and again just fungal spray in March 2015. It's May and I have not seen a single leaf. The small branches of the tree seem dry and yellow on the inside.It looks like the tree was budding but the buds dried off off. The trunk looks fine. Is the tree dying? Can I do anything to save it? I live in the northeast.

I would like to clarify my

I would like to clarify my last question. I planted four peach trees one month ago. Three of them let out leafage already. But one of my four peach trees, Vine Gold, has not issued any leafs yet at all. I am affraid it died, but its wood is not dry. How long does it take to my Vine Gold let out leafs?

Hi! I would like to ask you

Hi! I would like to ask you how much time does it take to the peach can settle down in a new place? I mean young peach tree which I bought in a nursery-garden. One month has been gone, but one of my new peach trees does not issue any greens. But its wood is not dry. This peach is Vine Gold.

It takes about two to four

It takes about two to four years for a peach tree to bear fruit. If the tree is planted in the spring, it should be established by winter. Be sure to fertilize and properly in the first two years.

Thanks you answered so fast.

Thanks you answered so fast. I would like to clarify my last question. I planted four peach trees one month ago. Three of them let out leafage already. But one of my four peach tree, Vine Gold, has not issued any leafs yet at all. I am affraid it died, but its wood is not dry. How long does it take to my Vine Gold let out leafs?

Vinegold is an early to

Vinegold is an early to mid-season ripening peach and should put out some leaves by now. If it is not growing by the end of the month you may want to contact the nursery where you bought the tree and see if you can get your money back or get a replacement tree.

We moved into a house with 2

We moved into a house with 2 old peach trees. Last spring the blossoms were damaged by a late frost.
This spring (it's May) and we've seen nothing. No blossoms, no leaves. Are they dead?

Not knowing where you live

Not knowing where you live it's hard to say if the trees are dead. In northern regions of the country fruit trees are starting to bud now, early to mid-May. You can cut a small branch off the tree and see if it is green on the inside or if it looks dead.

Just planted a 6 foot peach

Just planted a 6 foot peach tree in fall of last year. I have aphids and have been treating them for about 3 weeks now. I caughtthem late as im new to fruit trees and the leaves are stunted and bow downwards. Ever since treating I have seen no visible growth of new leaves or anything. I was wondering if the tree will be stunted this year or if it will grow out of it this season. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Coy, Depending on what

Hi Coy,
Depending on what type of spray you are using it may take a while for the tree to grow new leaves. We recommend using dormant or neem oil that doesn't hurt beneficial insects. You should also plant some herbs and flowers close to the tree to attract ladybugs for natural control. Cosmos, marigolds, and yarrow work well and herbs, such as cilantro, dill, caraway, and fennel will lure ladybugs to your garden.

I have 2 peach trees growing

I have 2 peach trees growing in pots. Last year I had a couple of flowers that gave me small peaches but they soon dropped off. Can the trees produce fruit growing in pots doing the same thing with fertilizer?

my guess is that they aren't

my guess is that they aren't getting pollinated.

Hello, I purchased small 5ft

Hello,

I purchased small 5ft maybe La Feliciana Prunus Persica peach tree from Lowe's a month ago. It was full of blooms and beautiful. When we removed from pot a piece of the root was cut as it grew outside hole of container. Planted tree almost per your instructions in Spring Texas. Just couple weeks later the tree looks like a Charlie Brown tree. It's almost completely bare. after reading your instructions on how to plant I know I did nothing with the roots but I did plant correct as far as soil and depth. Is there any hope for the tree? I would have to hire someone to replant if necessary because injured my back digging the hole. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Transplant shock is common

Transplant shock is common when planting trees. Watering is very important. The roots need to get established and the soil needs to be moist. Adding mulch around the tree will help keep the moisture in the soil. If the tree doesn't recover we suggest that you take it back to Lowe's for a refund.

I planted a Belle of Georgia

I planted a Belle of Georgia in NYC summer of 2014. that first year, the leaves slowly fell off and I saw very little growth. I kept a water schedule of every 3 days of deep watering. My location faces south and I have good irrigation. Spring of this year (2015) I had lots of buds and growth. I used a 10-10-10 fertilizer in the early spring (after the last frost). I already thinned out fruit to get bigger tastier crop this fall.

Only thing I wish I did this past winter was treat tree with copper spray. I have a little peach leaf curl, but trimmed away the bad leaves and hopefully the infection is limited. I know they says removing the curled leaves don't help, I have extra time on my hands. This year I am focusing on training the tree instead of acutal crop yield. Hope your tree is just experiencing shock of transplant and you have the same experience as me. just stick to a deep wateing schedule

I have 3 peach trees that

I have 3 peach trees that grow volunteer from seeds. They bloomed this spring and I wonder if they will bear fruits after blooming. I live in Georgia (zone 8).

Hi Arlee, If there are blooms

Hi Arlee,
If there are blooms you may get some fruit this year. But be aware that the trees may not produce fruit that looks like or taste like the parent tree. But a peach grown from seed does have a better chance to be tasty than many other fruits.

I bought two bare root

I bought two bare root ultra-dwarf red baron peach trees that I want to grow in containers. The tag on the tree says they will mature to a height of 6 feet and about 4 feet wide. My question is if the fruit yield of these trees will be compromised if grown in containers as compared to the ground. My goal is not to get a commercial level yield but I would be disappointed if I get something like 12-15 peaches from a container grown peach tree. Please advise. Thank you.

A tree planted in a container

A tree planted in a container won't produce as much fruit as a tree planted in the ground but they often bear fruit a year or two earlier. Make sure to plant the trees in big container as the roots need plenty of room to grow.

I planted a red heaven peach

I planted a red heaven peach potted tree on July. I'm doubting my self about my selection. I live in San diego and I have been reading that they are for zones 9, mine is 10. Should I pull it up and plant another variety? I don't want to put all that time and effort for nothing

Correct, The "Red Haven"

Correct, The "Red Haven" peach is not meant for your zone. We have never experimented with growing this variety in zone 10b. Consult your county extension to identify the right varieties for your garden. Begin by phoning your local Master Gardeners for advice.

I live in south africa. I

I live in south africa. I replanted a small peach tree in october, unfortunately I planted in a spot that became very hot! The leaves started falling of an now its only the stem thats left, the tree is about 15cm in height. Altough the stem is stil green, will it grow leaves again or should I give up, I replanted it in a bag and moved it to a shaded area 3 days after the leaves started to sag.

Two questions. I grew up

Two questions. I grew up growing orange trees in FL. I want to grow a couple of peach trees. I had an amazing peach a few weeks ago from the farmers market. Freestone w/ yellow flesh grown in GA. Exactly what I would like to grow but I have no idea what it was. I live just north of Atlanta now (7b). What are the best eating/growing varieties for this area? How many trees do I need for good pollination?

I have a new this year peach

I have a new this year peach tree, 3/4" diameter trunk. It bore so much fruit the trunk bent over and halfway cracked/broke. I straightened it out, thinned the fruit. A little late. Will the tree survive? Can I graft the upper part of the trunk to the lower ?

I live in No Cal, (Tehama

I live in No Cal, (Tehama couny) Im a zone 6-7, elevation 3500 ft... , Ive got 2 peach trees (in question), cling less. Ive never owned a fruit tree in my life before 3 years ago when I bought this house. The trees are between 10-15 years old... I feed, water, thin and the branches are still breaking off. I lost half of one of the oldest trees this year... What do I do? How do I prune correctly???

Annual pruning is very

Annual pruning is very important to keep older trees happy. See link below for pruning informaion. Read the section on Pruning Older Trees and Thinning Fruit.
www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic...

hi I have a peach tree that

hi I have a peach tree that produces awesome peaches for last two years but my question is I have two limbs that produce small peaches while the rest of tree has regular sized fruit should I cut off those two limbs

Annual pruning is important

Annual pruning is important to keep a peech tree healthy and producing. In late winter or early spring when the tree is dormant cut off about 1/3 of the branches that have small peaches and see if they will have bigger fruit next year.

After picking peaches which

After picking peaches which are riped they start to have brown areas, looks like bruising, do you know why this is happening? I also see it the peaches still hanging from the tree?

If the brown spots are only

If the brown spots are only on the peaches, not the leaves as well, it may be peach scab. If the spots are on both the leaves and the fruit, it sounds like it may be bacterial spot.

My two peach trees are two

My two peach trees are two years old and growing very well. No fruit yet but tree is growing at a very good rate. My question: why are my leaves turning yellow and dropping?

I planted a Florida Queen and

I planted a Florida Queen and another I can't remember the name, the nursery recommended both for my area and one has done very well but the Florida peach grew beautifully, then became covered with white mildew in a matter of a few days and died. I had mulched them for winter, should I not mulch them at all? I have a feeling the mulch caused the mildew.

Hello: Two yrs I planted a

Hello: Two yrs I planted a florida Peach tree in full sunshine it did very well for 2 years now it look like it is dead no leaves or blossoms appeared on it this spring I think its dead would like tosee your reply

Frank Twoey 2runningdeer@att.net

I purchased a peach grafted

I purchased a peach grafted bare root peach tree when they first came to stores. I have had no luck in getting any type of growth and looks dead (the small branches bend but only slightly). I have dug it up once after three months and noticed the roots had re twisted around themselves. I replanted but have still had no luck. The tree gets pleanty of sun as I live in Bakersfield and I have a drip system set up to water every day. Shiuld I give up on the tree or try replanting it one more time?

Hi, Ben: Try planting one

Hi, Ben: Try planting one more time, being careful to follow the tips above in Planting and Care. You are in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b, which may just be too cold for the variety that you have. If there are other people nearby with successful peach trees, pick their brains for ideas and variety types for next time, if needed. Good luck!

Should have been more

Should have been more spcific, I live Bakersfield California. Temp herehasnt been below 90 for months. Thanks for the advice though.

My peach tree produces

My peach tree produces hundreds of sweet small sized fruit. Many of them develop as siameese and sometimes even triplets. I go around and pinch the fruit. Do you know the cause of this and how to prevent it?

Peach trees take a LOT of

Peach trees take a LOT of thinning. This is nature. Remove all doubles (Siamese twins) and triplets. Thin the fruits so that they are 6 to 8 inches apart on the branch after the tree blooms (about 4 to 6 weeks). When you think, keep the biggest fruits. No shoots should carry more than a few peaches at the most.

first time with peach trees

first time with peach trees and wouldn't you know it we had a hard freeze and the tree appears to be dead but then there are now small shoots growing from the bottom. what should I do? leave it or chop it down and get another tree?

We think you should give your

We think you should give your peach tree a chance, but definitely remove the shoots from the bottom of the tree.

Is it okay to plant peach

Is it okay to plant peach trees indoors and keep them indoors for a year or two, or is it bad for them to not get any chilling hours for their first years?

Thanks!

The new peach trees died at

The new peach trees died at the top of the hill in northern lower Michigan. Was it the wind that killed them?

Lubbock Texas falls in USDA

Lubbock Texas falls in USDA Zone 7a. Can I grow peaches there. if yes which variety can be good. I do not see any peach around?
Thanks
Lakh

Peaches trees are very

Peaches trees are very popular in your area. They will grow in USDA zones 4 to 8; they do especially well in zones 6 and 7. However, you want a peach tree that fits your number of chilling hours or it will not fruit. We'd advise visiting a local tree nursery to explore the options.

hi i live in mississauga

hi i live in mississauga ontario in canada and i planted a peach tree about two weeks ago it was growing fine. it went from having few leaves to a lot of leves but now for some reason the leaves look like theyre dying and not looking firm please any help ?

Did you keep the new trees

Did you keep the new trees watered in? If they dried out then they will start to lose leaves first before they die. Young trees need about a gallons of water or more a week. It could be something else, but without pics that is the most obvious.

My father had gotten a

My father had gotten a redskin peach tree and he thinks its dead but isnt sure that it is. i found this site and it says peach trees only bloom in the summer. does this go for all peach trees??

Most peaches on outdoor trees

Most peaches on outdoor trees ripen in summer. We think peaches as one of the sweet and juicy fruits of late summer. There are some peaches that might grow in containers and/or mild winter climates, but they will need "chilling hours" to produce well.

I have a peach tree in my

I have a peach tree in my yard. If I plant a seed from the same tree will it bear fruit

The chances are that the tree

The chances are that the tree from seed will not grow good fruit. Most trees purchased are grafted onto stronger root stock so the fruit is uniform and healthy. That does not mean a seed from that same tree will have the same characteristics.

I have moved to a home where

I have moved to a home where someone planted a peach tree and they thought it had died. By the time we moved in, it had grown a tree from a side shoot. I have just let it grow for a few years now and it had fruit last year. We didn't notice it until it was to late. My question is will this tree ever be any good for fruit from the shoot or should I start over?

Hi, Peggo: It's a little

Hi, Peggo: It's a little unclear to us where the fruit is, where the shoot is, and whether there is shoot fruit or not, but it sounds to us like you need to get this tree under control through some regular and judicious pruning so that the tree's growth energy is more focused and productive. This should make the question of shoot fruit moot.

I have a volunteer peach

I have a volunteer peach tree. Didn't know what it was till it made fruit. What can I do about peach bores

I have 3 peach trees. One is

I have 3 peach trees. One is in it's second summer the others are four years old. They are loaded with peaches but the peaches never get mature before they start falling off. They get about the size of a golfball and then quit growing and fall off. What do I do to get them to mature?

It sounds like maybe you need

It sounds like maybe you need to pick a few of the small fruits off, like thinning vegetables in the garden, so that the tree can concentrate on the fruit remaining? I'm no expert, but I do have a peach tree & have read it can help..

I live in northeast Alabama

I live in northeast Alabama on land that has been in my family for about 160 years,and have two types of peach trees. All I know about the type of trees is what my father called them. He referred to one as "plum" seeded and the other as "clear" seeded. The leaves and bloom are slightly different on each type. The "clear" seeded I think is a free stone type but the "plum" is all but. These trees are growing several places on the farm close together and do not cross pollinate. I am wondering if it is possible to find out the true names of these trees. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi David, We hope to help you

Hi David, We hope to help you in your research! There are so many peach tree varieties that grow well in Alabama. Here's a list: http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/...
However, here is a shorter list with suggested varieties for home gardens:
http://www.aces.edu/dept/extco...
It might be best to contact your Alabama Cooperative Extension system and bring them a photo and sample. If you go this their site on http://www.aces.edu/ Under "Offices," you'll find "County Offices" and you can click on your county to get a phone number. I hope that these folks will be more familiar with peaches in your county, too. All the best, the OFA

Thanks for your help. I

Thanks for your help. I forgot to mention that I am sure this variety has been growing here for at least 100 of the 160 years that this place has been a farmstead. Maybe someone else out there knows something or has some similar. These may have originated in South Carolina where my ancestors moved here from in 1837.
David

I have a peach tree and it

I have a peach tree and it bloom every year but the flower never stay. How can you help

Unless you have frost issues,

Unless you have frost issues, it sounds as if your peach trees are not getting pollinated? If you want guaranteed fruit, pollinate the open blooms by hand using a soft brush.

I live in Kansas, and in the

I live in Kansas, and in the late Summer last year, the Colorado peaches arrived in town. They were the size of softballs and were absolutely the best fruit I remember having. I saved some of the seeds from these and kept them moist in some soil in my fridge over the Winter, and since removing them from the fridge and planting, I now have 5 beautiful little seedlings approximately 4-5 inches tall. Any idea what variety of peach this might be? I am also wondering the best way to introduce these little guys to the great outdoors? Right now, they are under a grow light in the basement, since our temperatures have fluctuated so much recently. I am also wondering at what point they will need transplanted into a bigger container? Each plant is now in a 6" square plastic pot. Any advice would be appreciated!

As for variety, we were

As for variety, we were thinking that it was 'Colorado'...
The recommended varieties (in general) for Colorado are Elberta, Haven, Polly, Reliance, Hale Haven, and Ranger. These do not need pollination (one tree will produce fruit).
Recommended varieties for Colorado that need cross-pollination include J.H. Hale, Earlihale, Hal-Berta, Candoka, and Mikado. You need another variety in the presence of one of these in order to get fruit, and most other varieties will pollinate these.
Perhaps when the Coloradan who sells peaches comes by again you can ask him which variety he grows.
Since a lot of advice re growing peaches from seed actually suggest starting in the ground, you're ahead of the game. As the season warms, introduce your plants to the world in their pots for a couple or a few hours each day, longer as time passes. By mid-summer, identify a place in the yard that they can call home and plant them for life. Tend them for a few years and maybe they will reward you with fruit.
Remember that the peaches you grow from seed may not look (or taste) like what you ate. (You don't look exactly like your parents, do you?)

I want to plant a peach tree

I want to plant a peach tree in my back yard. I live in grand terrace, ca. I have a fenced in yard, with an orange tree already back there. I have a sprinkler system and of course the southern Cali sun yr round. What kind if tree is the best.

Peaches usually require 600

Peaches usually require 600 to 900 hours of chilling which they would not get in Southern California, although I understand there are low-chill varieties that have been developed.

Peaches generally perform

Peaches generally perform better in cooler climates. According to University of California, however, some varieties have been adapted to the low latitudes of Southern California because they have low winter chilling requirements.
"Babcock" is a medium-size, freestone, low-chill variety with white flesh.
"Earligrande" is a semi-freestone, low-chill variety with yellow-red blush and excellent flavor.
Here's a full list of low-chill varieties:
August Pride, Babcock, Bonita, Desertgold, Early Amber, Earligrande, FlordaGrand, FlordaPrince, Midpride, Tropic-berta, TopicSweet.

There must be certain peach

There must be certain peach trees that are hardier than others. My question, which peach tree is the 'best' for the Delmarva Peninsular?

A couple of favorites are:

A couple of favorites are: Blushing Star Peach and Redhaven Peach. Check out an online nursery such as www.starkbros.com to learn more. Another good idea is to visit a local orchard and ask them about their on-the-ground experience.

I have a question that I just

I have a question that I just cannot find an answer to!! This will be the third season for my Freestone Tree. First year I got a tremendous crop, last year we had a late frost which killed all the blooms,so no peaches. This year looks to be a bumper crop, but almost every single peach is a twin fruit per bloom. Is there something I am doing wrong or can do to correct this, or does it really matter that almost every peach will be the twinster type?? I will thin to keep only the single fruits best as possible, but any input would be appreciated. Thanks and Happy Growing....

Hi David, We are stumped. The

Hi David,
We are stumped. The only thing we can suggest is to check for insect pests that may cause disfiguration of the fruit.
Contact your local cooperative extension service. They may have a better answer.
almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services

Hi David, I have a dwarf

Hi David, I have a dwarf peach tree in a container that I've had for a few years. This is my first year that it is fruiting and I have the same thing! From many of the blooms I have twin peaches growing, and in some cases three! If you happen to find out what is causing it, please let me know. I'm curious. I assume when it's time to thin the fruit I should one of the twins? Thanks.

I am commenting on this years

I am commenting on this years results for anyone who had the twin peach issue like myself??
I had a good harvest even after I broke off 1/2 of the twin. I was worried it might affect the remaining peach but it had minimal affect and the peaches are excellent. My watering habit changed since we have a serious drought here in California utilizing a drip system for my entire garden.
Growing Green and Water Smart..

I recently moved into a new

I recently moved into a new home in the Dallas/Ft Worth area that has a peach tree. The tree seems fairly large/mature (about 15 ft tall) and flowers starting blooming in the tree last week. Since I am new to this, what should I be doing at this point to have a healthy harvest this year? Is it too late for fertilizing, pesticide, or trimming? Any help for a first time peach tree owners would be great.

The previous owner said it bore fruit every year, but that the fruit was often spoiled/rotten or eaten by bugs/fruit flies before they could enjoy it!

Congrats on your peach tree!

Congrats on your peach tree! Once your peach tree flowers, you just want to make sure it's getting pollinated. It sounds as if this isn't a problem in your area, but many peach tree growers will carry out pollinating by hand if they want guaranteed fruit. Just press the bristles of a small paint brush into every bloom on a sunny afternoon or two; it doesn't take that long and is kind of fun.
Make sure the peach tree has plenty of water during periods of sunny, dry weather. Be consistent and don't over-water or the peach can split its skin.
If you want decent size fruit (not small), it is very important to thin the fruit when they're very small (the width of your finger nail). Remove the misshape fruit and get it down to one peach every six inches. You also want to thin fruit to avoid broken branches and keep the tree health long-term.
As you mentioned, the birds and pests show up when the fruit is ready, so you may need to have some protection.
In February each year, you need to fertilize. Talk to a tree nursery or garden center.
Hope this helps! There's nothing like a peach at its peak!

Friend gave us 3 peach trees

Friend gave us 3 peach trees they had purchased at Walmart. No idea the variety. We live in the hill country just north of San Antonio. We cannot plant the trees in ground until we get a fence up; b/c we have longhorns who eat everything. We had to keep the trees on front porch with dappled sunlight. They bloomed beautifully and now have tiny fruit - blooms brown/falling away. They are about 5' tall. We fixed our sunny back deck to be cow proof, and yesterday (3/24/14) we re-potted the trees into large containers on the cow-protected deck.
(We will transplant them into the ground once the fence is up)
Question #1: Best time of year to transplant?

They will be getting 6-8 hours of sun per day for now on the back deck. I've read that we should pinch off all the current fruit to let the plant adjust/spend energy on root system/recover from trauma of re-potting.
MORE Questions:
Should we do this?
Can we leave some to get fruit this year?
or will these fruits just fall off?
Will we get any fruit this year?

We plan to prune as we've read about here.
Last Question: When should we prune?
Many thanks for help :-)

Hi Susan, Your trees should

Hi Susan,
Your trees should do fine in the bigger containers. Just make sure to water so that they don't dry out. Remove fruit that is too close together. You can leave some fruit on the tree but remember that the branches are still weak and you don't want to overload them. Transplant your trees in the fall. Pruning is best done when the trees are dormant in the winter or early spring.

I have heard that peaches

I have heard that peaches need a quick freeze to 'SET' them. Can you please explain.

Peach buds go dormant in the

Peach buds go dormant in the winter and need chilling hours (hours where temperatures are 45 F or below) or they may not flower. Different peach tree varieties have different chilling requirements. If you contact mail-order sources for fruit trees, they can provide the chill hours for each peach tree and which grow well in your area.

My father, who has passed

My father, who has passed away recently, has left me with 3 peach trees, several black berry bushes, and grape vines that I know nothing about. Any suggestions on how to care for tree and plants that haven't been pruned in years, and how to spray and what to use?
Last year we produced an abundance of peaches, but the problem was they weighed the branches down completely to where some snapped in half. The peaches were nice in size but didn't spray in time due to dad's health issues. I do not know how old these trees are.
Thanks,
A hopeful producer!

You can find some good advice

You can find some good advice for pruning and caring for peach trees on this page. Also see the many comments below. Pruning is best done when the tree is dormant in early spring. Remove old, gray-colored branches and shoots. It's recommended to remove about 40 percent of the tree annually to stimulate new growth. It's also important to open the center of the tree so that the branches will get more sunlight. It's sounds like your trees are producing well. If the tree has too many peaches on a branch you need to remove some early on so that the weight of the fruit doesn't cause harm.

HELP!!! I'm growing a peach

HELP!!! I'm growing a peach tree in a container. It got very cold outside so to avoid freezing it I brought it inside. And now it's blooming. What can I do? It can't go back outside because it's still freezing in Charleston SC.
Thanks

Just keep it indoors until

Just keep it indoors until you can put it back outside. Enjoy the flowers and hope for spring to arrive soon.

We have one white peach tree

We have one white peach tree and one yellow peach tree - 7 years old.

The white peach tree bears fruits but since last three years- only half side of the tree -fruit ripens(are big/sweet/juicy) but the other half portion -fruit remains green/small!!

Since last two years-the yellow peach tree gets very tiny fruits-does not ripen-falls off.

Please help....

thanks,

Lack of pollinators, cold

Lack of pollinators, cold weather and too much or too little water can cause fruit drop. Fertilize your trees in early spring and early summer with a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20 for example). If you haven't pruned your trees lately you may want to open the trees to sunlight, as shaded branches won’t produce much fruit.

I am writing a Novel about a

I am writing a Novel about a man who inherits a huge peach orchard that has been left unattended for decades. Would they still be alive if they were ignored for countless years? More importantly could the orchard be rejuvenated and how long would it take to produce a thriving crop?
Thank you for your time.

Interesting question. I

Interesting question. I suppose peach trees can last 15 to 25 years, however their fruit life is probably long over. If you want a long-lasting tree, go for a pear tree that "could" last 100 years if not killed by blight. Or, go for an apple tree which could last 100 years. Cherry trees can have long lives, too. Peach is probably the most limited of the bunch.

I want to plant a peach tree

I want to plant a peach tree in Florida but need to know when fruit will ripen.. I head north the ladt of May, will the fruit ripen by then?

We would need to know where

We would need to know where in Florida you live--and which variety you are planting. Most varieties produce in early April until late May or early June in Florida, depending on the variety, location, and weather.
We would advise that you contact your University of Florida extension services for local knowledge. See this fact sheet for more information on growing peaches, especially different peach varieties suited to Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ac018

Couple Q's. do the roots go

Couple Q's. do the roots go mostly down, or outward? And how big is the rootball?

We're not clear about the

We're not clear about the context of your questions.
Upon planting, you'll spread the roots down and away without bending them too much. Young peach trees are generally shipped as a bare-root trees (without soil) with a trunk diameter that's about 1/2".

my wife purchased 20lbs of

my wife purchased 20lbs of peaches they are all yellow with a small section of reddy orange are these ripe? if not can we ripen them off the tree? the fruit is still fairly hard.

Yes, peaches ripen off the

Yes, peaches ripen off the tree as long as they are not green. The reddish bloom isn't always a sign of a ripe peach. Instead, look at the undercolor, which should be a deep yellow or creamy white.A mature peach will yield to gentle hand pressure.Never squeeze a peach; it will easily bruise. If you want your peaches to ripen more quickly, put them in a paper bag in a single layer (don't stack).

My tree is about 9 years old

My tree is about 9 years old it always full of fruit but they don't taste good . What can I do about this ?Please help

I habe 5 years old two peach

I habe 5 years old two peach tree on my yard. Every year produced a ton of peaches. But many peaches have some I think deases. One side of peach is yelow which is looks good and other side have sone dark spot. Please let me know what can I do?

If the dark spots are big and

If the dark spots are big and increasing in size, it may be brown rot. If the dark spots are small, it may be some form of bacterial spot. They are fairly harmless, though they will affect the taste. Most of the cures are preventative and there is not much you can do now. For example, you can apply a copper spray in fall and spring.
As peaches need an entire spray program to thrive, we would suggest you contact your local cooperative extension. Here is a list of offices so that you can find the one nearest you: http://www.almanac.com/content...

I have a 3-year old

I have a 3-year old "volunteer" peach tree. This year it has produced a ton of peaches. However, although they are pretty, the flesh inside is almost completely red and dry as a bone. It is a freestone variety, gets good water and sunlight. I don't want to cut the tree down if I can get it to give me good fruit. (I let it live 3 years waiting for production, so I have the patience to wait another season if there is a good solution.) Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Mealy (dry) fruit with

Mealy (dry) fruit with excessive red flesh (called bleeding) can be caused by a few factors:

Did you receive a spell of especially high heat before the peaches were ripening? If so, there are reports that this can cause more than the usual amount of red flesh in certain peaches, and possibly other problems to the fruit.

Mealy fruit can also be due to the variety. Also, after harvest, they can experience internal breakdown (which may include mealiness and bleeding) due to chilling injury--exposing peaches to room temperature for a few days after being in cold storage.

Before cutting the tree down, you might want to wait until next season. If the weather is normal for your climate over the winter through summer, see if your next crop improves.

My Secret for Juicy Succulent

My Secret for Juicy Succulent Peaches...
I cannot believe I am going to give my secret to you so freely, but here it is. Brown Paper Sacks on the Peaches. No. You are thinking wrong. Put the sacks on the Peaches when they are starting out, growing on the the trees. Peaches Ripen in sacks naturally. The Peaches themselves "Do NOT Need sunlight"; Only the TREE Needs sunlight. The Fruit will ripen and be Sweet and Juicy. Try it. What do you have to lose. Maybe your neighbors will laugh until you give them a bite of this Sweet, Succulent Fruit. Then they will want more. The Peaches grow Bigger too.
I got the idea on hearing about Peaches grown on the Isle of Greece. Orchard growers here in Missouri, laugh at me, but let them. I am opening an Orchard one day and I am going to charge PREMIUM for my Peaches. Try it, and let me know how they do.
PS-You may have to check and change the bags once a year, but it is so worth the trouble.

My mother planted a fruit

My mother planted a fruit tree a couple of years ago - the tree has some small peaches this year but they are hard like golf balls - what should we do? Michele

Other than just a normally

Other than just a normally developing fruit that is not ripe yet, small, hard fruit can be caused by a few things:

Peach fruit need thinning. If too many fruit are left on the branches, they will be small and hard, because the tree can not provide enough nutrients for every fruit. Consult your county's Cooperative Extension for advice on how to best thin peaches in your area (there are a few methods). For contact information, see:
http://www.almanac.com/content...

Another possibiity is that the tree did not receive enough chilling temperatures over the past winter, which affects fruit set/quality. In this case, fruits may be sparse, and small and misshapen--a disorder called buttoning. If you know the variety of peach that you have, check its chilling requirements to see if it is appropriate for your climate. Or, if you had a mild winter, that may have been the trouble.

We planted a peach tree about

We planted a peach tree about 3 years ago. I don't remember what kind it is but do know that it was supposed to be dwarf (it's now well over 10 feet tall and getting bigger). It really out did itself this year. Lots of peaches and some pretty good sized. We harvested them today. they all have great color and are really juicy. Problem is that they are all so mealy you can barely bite into them. This has been the situation each year. What is causing this? or is it just the kind of tree? It is watered daily, the weather has finally become great...sometimes into the 90's but cool into the 50's at night. There are orchards near us and they seem to be doing very well this year. Were did we go wrong? can we fix this problem?

You may have left the peaches

You may have left the peaches on the tree too long before harvesting. Or sometimes peaches turn mealy if stored incorrectly after harvest. Check with the orchards near you to see if they have any suggestions.

We just bought a house with a

We just bought a house with a peach tree. Previous tenants did NOTHING in terms of care for the tree. I want to do as much as I can now to get the tree ready for next growing season. It's in desperate need of pruning. Can I do this now, or will I have to wait until the spring? Also, how often will I need to fertilize?

Please see our pruning tips

Please see our pruning tips above.
A mature peach trees should be fertilized each March and May with a 10-10-10 fertilizer.

Do I have to treat the tree

Do I have to treat the tree with pesticides to eat the fruit? We just moved in last fall. Tree has many peaches, just not sure if its safe to eat the peaches?

It is a good thing if you

It is a good thing if you don't have to use pesticides and can grow a peach without them, though that is not typical. Just wash peaches under running water and dry with a paper towel. See references:
http://npic.orst.edu/capro/fru...
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/p...

How often I have to spray the

How often I have to spray the tree when the tree has fruits already ?

Peach trees usually have a

Peach trees usually have a pre-harvest spray that's 7 to 14 days before harvest and then there's a post-harvest spray. Here are examples of spray programs:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig075...
https://extension.unh.edu/reso...
However, we suggest you contact your local cooperative extension for the appropriate spray program in your area.

Our peach tree had blossoms

Our peach tree had blossoms all over in the spring-- but many fell off and only produced peaches on half the tree. We live in Northwest Ohio.

we planted our fruit trees

we planted our fruit trees last October. This summer only one peach and pear tree survived :(. The one peach tree bore 2 small peaches! My Oma told me to pick them or they would rot. Now something is eating all the leaves and I'm afaird it won't come back!

Peach trees do not bear fruit

Peach trees do not bear fruit until they are 3 or 4 years old. You may find this page helpful: http://www.uri.edu/ce/factshee...
We hate to say it, but peach trees generally need fungicides to control insect and disease problems and you need to follow a spray program.
Contact your local cooperative extension office to learn more about spray treatments approved in your area.

Last year an animal stripped

Last year an animal stripped my peach tree bare in one night. The peaches were still rock hard. Should I expect this yearly? From reading I need to keep the peaches on the tree until they are ripe. I have a have-a-heart trap I could set. Any other suggestions?

Oh, my, where do we start

Oh, my, where do we start with peach trees and pests? MANY love peaches, as do we. You need to be more specific: Which varmint? There are many tactics from predator urine to pruning to baffles to trapping. Pick peaches when 75% of the green ground color has become yellowish. Don't pick when immature--yuck. Let them get as ripe as possible as they don't store well off the tree but pick right away to avoid more pests. Biting into a peach is also a good way to know when it's ripe.

We have a peach tree in our

We have a peach tree in our backyard that is so full of fruit is bent over and has some parts of the fruit laying on the ground. is that what you mean by thinning is taking off the fruit and cutting the branches...we just moved in.

Yes, you need to thin to

Yes, you need to thin to avoid tree problems, get good fruit., and develop buds for next year. Normally, you want to thin before it gets to this stage. Next year, thin in spring when the fruit is just 1 inch in diameter (no earlier) and 3 to 5 inches apart on the branch. This will remove a lot of the fruit but it is how it's done! At this point, since the fruit is so heavy, we would space no less than 6 to 8 inches apart. Remove all the largest fruits and all damaged fruits.

I have a peach tree in my

I have a peach tree in my yard. I am renting the place and do not know what was done in prior years. It has borne fruit in previous years (according to my neighbor). It is almost July and the fruit has seemed to hit a deadlock in their growth. I've primed the tree and the fruit. They get watered daily. I live in Arizona so I have to water them early. Even my Apple tree seems to be struggling. What am I doing wrong?

Has your area experienced a

Has your area experienced a fluctuation in temperature (for example, hot then cold then hot) that may have confused and delayed the fruiting of your peach and apple trees? Was there a late spring frost? Too much fertilizer (especially nitrogen) can also delay fruiting, encouraging leaf growth instead. For fruit trees, keep up with proper pruning to maintain productivity. Check for signs of disease or insects.

Hi I planted a peach tree

Hi I planted a peach tree about a year and half ago and this year it is in full bloom. Lots of peaches already on our tree(not ripe yet). I am moving though in a month to a new house and would love to take my tree with me. Is that even possible? Will it transplant well or regrow?
Thanks,
H

Unfortunately, summer is one

Unfortunately, summer is one of the worst times to transplant a tree, due to the tree's seasonal cycle and the summer's heat. The plant is now putting its energy into flowering and developing fruit, and may not have enough to recover from transplant shock. It won't have as many roots as it did at its original site to help with life processes. Some people have had success, however--especially if the trees are young. If all goes well, trees may take several years to recover from transplant shock, although young trees will take less time.

If you want to take the risk, we'd recommend that you consult a local nursery or landscape company; they could recommend the proper method (such as the proper size root ball for your plant, or whether your plant is small enough to be transplanted bare-root), and might (for a fee) even be able to dig the plant up and properly ball-and-burlap the roots so that it will have the best chance of survival. It's best to have the largest root ball possible, to help the plant recover from transplant shock; keep in mind that root balls are usually very heavy and need to be disturbed as little as possible; to avoid injury to yourself or the tree, you might want to hire a professional to perform this task. A general rule of thumb is for every inch of tree diameter, provide at least 12 inches in diameter of root ball and 6 inches of depth. In summer, even larger would be good.

Read up online as to how to properly dig the tree, transport it (keep the root ball moist), choose a good new site, prepare the new hole, and introduce your tree to its new home. Make sure that it has plenty of water (but good drainage), while it is adjusting to its new environment. (Root pruning before transplanting helps trees to recover after transplanting, but this should be done a year ahead, or at least 3 to 6 months in advance, so it wouldn't help in your case.)

If this is a long-distance move, keep in mind that it is best for the tree not to have it carried by a professional moving company (if you are hiring one to transport your furniture) due to the conditions on the truck (such as heat); in fact, many companies do not allow plants in their moving vans.

Good luck!

We moved to Rice,Tx ...so of

We moved to Rice,Tx ...so of Dallas 6 yrs. ago & there was a mature peach tree on our lot. It always blooms, gets small immature frruit on it. Then the fruit turn black and eventually dry out. What's wrong with this tree? We are yet to enjoy one peach! Its about 20 ft. Tall & my husband did prune it one yr. To no avail! Thankyou!

I also have the same problem

I also have the same problem with my peach trees. We bought our place 10 years ago. Plenty of blooms, really small peachs that never grow or ripen. Not sure about pruning or any thing concerned with peach trees.I live in southeast georgia. Need help

Kay and Dave, Nothing good

Kay and Dave, Nothing good comes easy . . . Peaches, like most plants, require a certain amount of care. (Would that they just produced!) As noted above, they need nitrogen (some sources also say potassium). Check your soil and amend as necessary. Fertilize in spring. Treat with zinc annually. Also, make sure your peach tree gets lots of sun and air circulation. As much as these plants love water, excessive dampness (even fog!) can lead to bacteria and so black spot. Air and sun, with proper pruning will help to enable them to dry out. If you can't employ these tactics this year, plan to next year.
Another consideration for you, as noted above: remove the tiny peaches to allow 1 to grow per 8 to 10 inches of branch. That might improve the development of the remainders.

Nothing good comes easy . . .

Nothing good comes easy . . . Peaches, like most plants, require a certain amount of care. (Would that they just produced!) As noted above, they need nitrogen (some sources also say potassium). Check your soil and amend as necessary. Fertilize in spring. Treat with zinc annually. Also, make sure your peach tree gets lots of sun and air circulation. As much as these plants love water, excessive dampness (even fog!) can lead to bacteria and so black spot. Air and sun, with proper pruning will help to enable them to dry out. If you can't employ these tactics this year, plan to next year.

Help with mature trees!

I am renting a property that has several peach trees; I have no idea how mature they are, but a few are over 6 ft tall and they do not have the open bowl pruning. Last year I had an abundance of young fruits that never matured, I was so disappointed! How do I avoid this again, what do I do to encourage ripening? One of my trees is full of peaches and they are tiny but turning the lovely reddish orange color. The other trees have peaches, but they are still just green. Any suggestions are most welcome, I am new to this.

Peaches

The best way to ensure ripening and adequate size is to thin the peaches quite severely: rub off the peachlets, keeping one well-placed peach per 10 inches or so. It depends on the branch structure as well. If there are many small fruiting branches, then consider keeping one peach per branch. For wall-trained friuit, facing up towards maturity is also advised: that is to say, slip something behind the peach (carefully), just to make it stand out to the sun a bit more. Beware of birds too, and ensure a regular watering.

Pruning the fruit

my boyfriend told me to prune the fruit of the tree that is about 5 years old. stand about 6 foot. He thinks the it is still to young. It has never beard fruit until this year when I bought another tree.
should I cut the fruit off for I donot believe that the branches are going to handle it

Pruning the fruit

You should say--or write--It has never borne fruit, not beard fruit.

question regarding late planting in CA

Hi,
I had purchased few fruit trees in summer, Cheery, Peach, Plum, Avacado, pomegranate etc. However, didn't get chance to plant them right away. I am ready now. In Bay area so weather is not cold yet, should I plan them now? Any precaution I should take due to late planting?

Thanks,
M

You can plant the trees now.

You can plant the trees now. Some experts believe that fall is the best time to plant trees for good root growth. Plant your trees according to the directions and water well before the weather turns cold. Most fruit trees grow best in a sunny location.

my mother would let the seeds

my mother would let the seeds dry for a day or two and put them in a small pot of soil with the larger part of the seed down and the smaller pointing up then replant them after they were big enough. hope this helps