While we planted our Reliance Peach Tree back in May 2012, the first year that I got decent sized peaches was in 2015. It is common for fruit trees to take between 3 and 5 years to bear a sizable crop so you have to be patient! When we hit the 5 year mark this year, we had an unbelievable crop!
Here are my suggestions for growing healthy peaches:
Peach trees need lots of sun, space and good drainage. Take a look at the first photo and you will notice that there is another tree to the left which we lost this year due a bad storm. Now I think we will start getting a lot of sun, new growth and more peaches on the back of the tree. Please read the plant tag when you buy your tree so you properly space it!
Put mulch around the base of the peach tree. I previously did this, but I caved and grew grass close to the trunk again. I think I will go back to putting mulch around it. It helps the roots to stay cool and you will find that there will be less damage to the trunks when using the trimmer/edger.
Use Neem Oil to keep bad diseases and bad bugs away. If you are growing a variety that is likely to attract peach leaf curl like I am, then you should use Neem Oil which is organic. Please read my prior post on it.
Once your tree is established, don’t forget to remove the trunk protector. I put corrugated plastic on the trunk when it was young because the deer were harming the trunk. I recently read that the trunk protector can harbor some bad bugs so I finally removed mine!
Give the tree some plant food. For instance, I use organic Tree-Tone from Espoma (6-3-2). If you don’t remember what the numbers mean, then click on the green link. It needs to be applied in the Spring according to the package and then half the amount in the Fall.
The tree needs a lot of water once the peaches start forming. I water the tree with a slow drip for a few hours once or twice during the growing season. The slow drip from a hose helps the water get done to the roots.
You should only have one peach for every 4 to 6 inches on a branch. Now this is easier said than done if you have a tree taller than you and if you grow it on a slope like we did because it is hard to reach them. Now if you can reach the peaches, it may be hard to part with the them, but you can do it! It will help the tree to focus on size of the remaining peaches.
Peach trees need to be pruned. As for pruning, I am not an expert! Rumor has it that you should cut off at the base any shoots that point straight up or straight down as well as any weak branches. The weak branches include those with no growth. When you are done, the branches should look like a fish bone.
The shape of your tree should look like an upside down bowl which means it is ok if the branches bend down instead of shooting straight up toward the sky. The last picture is what the peach tree looked like before 2015 and the first picture is what it looks like now. If you want to see a great post on adding weights to your tree so all of the branches bed just right, check out tallcloverfarm.com. The upside down bowl shape will help the middle to get more sun and you will be able to reach the peaches!
We will talk about harvesting and storing soon – I promise!
