Last Updated on February 11, 2022 by
Peaches or Prunus persica are the longest cultivated fruits but do you know when to plant a peach tree?
This tree originates from China and has been cultivated for at least 4,000 years.
Peach trees are rewarding fruit trees that produce a robust yield, but they require a good amount of care.
There is nothing more satisfying than picking a ripe peach right off the tree in your yard.
Fresh peaches are juicy treats that you can eat on their own or use in many different recipes.
Follow us as we explore a comprehensive guide on how to grow a peach tree.
How To Grow A Peach Tree
Peaches are best grown from grafting, whereby they are grafted onto a variety of rootstocks and sold bare-rooted over winter.
Before planting, choose a peach variety based on where you live and your taste preferences. Peaches come in two forms:
- Freestone, which produces delicious edible fresh fruits that are ready to eat straight off the tree.
- Clingstone produces fruits that are firmer and traditionally used for canning and preserving.
The Popular peach varieties to choose from include:
- April White
- Black Boy
- Golden Haze
- Golden Queen
- Gordon’s Glory
- Red Haven
- Snow Grace
- Flat Peaches
If you have a smaller garden or are looking to grow in pots and containers, look out for the dwarf varieties that include
- Bonanza
- Honey Babe
- Rose Chiffon
- Pixzee
You don’t need to grow another variety of peaches side by side because most of them are self-fertile and don’t need another variety to cross-pollinate. Good weather and pollinating bees help increase fruit set.
Planting
Choose a fully sunny spot sheltered from harsh winds for planting. Peaches enjoy excellent drained, fertile soil because they cannot cope with heavy or waterlogged soils. The better soil, the better fruit trees you will grow.
When planting any tree, it is important to remember that the young tree will become a large mature tree one day. This can mean a whole 20-foot tree or larger for a peach tree. Put this into consideration and choose your planting site carefully.
When To Plant A Peach Tree
For the best growth success, plant your tree in spring or early summer. The best times to plant your tree are early in the morning or late in the day. This time ensures your plants are not exposed to the hot sun straight away.
Ensure the planting hole is as deep as the plant’s root ball and 2 to 3 times bigger than its width. If the plant you receive is root-bound, gently loosen the tightly bound roots and clip some of the roots to help loosen them. Place the root ball into the hole and fill it with fertile soil, pressing it firmly with your boot to ensure all the air pockets are gone and the soil base is firm and level with the ground.
Plant A Peach Tree In A Container
- Prepare your container planting mix before planting, and half fill it.
- Water your plants thoroughly before potting.
- Gently take the plant and loosen the root ball. Remove any loose or dead plant material and roots to ready it for planting.
- Position the plant in the centre of the container and fill with the planting mix leaving at least 3cm from the top.
- Gently but firmly press the planting mix around the base of the plant.
- Water your plant well thoroughly and keep watering it regularly.
Planting Peaches In The Garden
Ever wondered how to plant a peach tree from seed? Yes, you can do it successfully, but you will have to transplant the seedling to its ideal spot for growing it as a tree.
Soak your plants in a bucket of organic solution before transplanting them to help them overcome transplant shock, giving them a healthy boost. Even for grafted plants, it’s advisable to follow this method of soaking your plants.
Organic Potting Mix by Perfect Plants for All Plant Types
Add a layer of organic manure to the planting area. Dig a hole twice the depth and width of the root ball of your plant. Gently loosen the roots before positioning the plant in the centre of the hole. Fill the hole with soil and press gently around the base of the plant. Water the plant well and continue to water regularly.
The Best Soil For Peach
Peaches prefer a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Before planting, amend your soil accordingly to ensure the peach tree gets its best start.
Use naturally enriched fertilizer to provide a healthy boost to your tree.
Peach trees thrive best in lightweight loamy soil. Do not plan your peach trees in low spots where water loves to pool, as this can cause root rot and kill your tree.
The Proper Spacing
Spacing is crucial when planting trees. Trees require room to stretch out their branches as they grow into maturity.
Proper spacing also keeps fungal diseases away to a bare minimum.
The standard-sized peach trees require a spacing of 15 to 20 feet apart, while the dwarf varieties need 10 to 12 feet apart.
Fertilize
Peaches require nutrients as they grow. Replenishing them with the right nutrients ensures they will grow to their full potential, improve flowering and fruiting, so they produce a good crop.
Feed your peach trees in spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer or a slow feeding fertilizer that can feed your trees for about 6 months.
Once you feed them with fertilizer, remember to water them well, especially when your trees are being established or developing the fruit.
Well-nourished and well-watered peaches will have a better chance of keeping insect pests and diseases at bay.
Pruning
It is essential to prune peaches annually in late summer to early autumn after fruiting. Pruning provides good circulation to help peaches fruits develop and thrive.
Prune your trees by making sloping cuts to an outward-facing bud. Seal the cuts with water-based paint or a pruning paste. Dwarf peach trees do not require pruning.
FAQs
How deep should peach trees be planted?
If your soil is not very rich, you can plant a peach tree to a depth of 30 to 40 cm. If you have a clay soil, you can plant it up to a depth of 50 cm. In general, if the soil is not very rich, you should plant peach trees to a depth of 35 to 40 cm.
The best time to plant peaches is in spring or summer. Planting in spring will ensure that the fruit has a longer harvest period. Planting in summer will ensure that the peach trees have a longer production period.
What kind of soil do peach trees like?
Soil is the living, growing medium that holds your plants in place and provides nutrients. You can use any kind of soil for growing a peach tree. The only thing that is important is to avoid planting it in clay soil, as they don't like it and will have issues with water drainage.
If you live in an area where the winters are cold, then a hardy peach is the best. These types of trees are very forgiving, and are also great for growing in containers. The most common variety of peach tree is the "Nectarine" peach tree. This variety of tree produces peaches that ripen in early to mid-summer. If you live in an area where the summers are hot, then a heat tolerant peach is the best. These types of trees are very forgiving, and are also great for growing in containers.
Are peach trees hard to grow?
Peaches are very easy to grow. However, they are susceptible to some diseases that can make your tree die in just a few years. They can be planted in most parts of the country. The only problem is that you will have to grow them in warm regions, as they do not tolerate cold.
The fruit ripens in late summer and early fall. Peaches are not self-pollinating; therefore, you will need a male and female tree for each variety. It’s usually done with bees, although some growers use hand pollination.
What is best fertilizer for peach trees?
I'm thinking about doing a 50/50 mix of 10-10-10 NPK.
The two most important things in growing fruit trees are: fertilizing the soil, and having a good root system. If you fertilize your soil properly, then you should have a good root system, and fruit trees will grow well. If you don't have a good root system, the tree won't take up nutrients from the soil, so it won't grow.
Do peach trees need a lot of water?
You should water the trees every day. They may be getting enough water from the soil but you are still providing moisture to the tree through your daily watering.
Do peach trees produce fruit every year?
Peaches are usually a spring/summer-bearing fruit.
Peach trees are usually pruned and trained so that they bear their first crop the first year. In some areas, if your tree is pruned right, it might even bear fruit before the first frost.
But in other parts of the country, peaches have to be pruned and trained to produce fruit until the second or third year.
Conclusion
FAQs
How deep should peach trees be planted?
If your soil is not very rich, you can plant a peach tree to a depth of 30 to 40 cm. If you have a clay soil, you can plant it up to a depth of 50 cm. In general, if the soil is not very rich, you should plant peach trees to a depth of 35 to 40 cm.
The best time to plant peaches is in spring or summer. Planting in spring will ensure that the fruit has a longer harvest period. Planting in summer will ensure that the peach trees have a longer production period.
What kind of soil do peach trees like?
Soil is the living, growing medium that holds your plants in place and provides nutrients. You can use any kind of soil for growing a peach tree. The only thing that is important is to avoid planting it in clay soil, as they don't like it and will have issues with water drainage.
If you live in an area where the winters are cold, then a hardy peach is the best. These types of trees are very forgiving, and are also great for growing in containers. The most common variety of peach tree is the "Nectarine" peach tree. This variety of tree produces peaches that ripen in early to mid-summer. If you live in an area where the summers are hot, then a heat tolerant peach is the best. These types of trees are very forgiving, and are also great for growing in containers.
Are peach trees hard to grow?
Peaches are very easy to grow. However, they are susceptible to some diseases that can make your tree die in just a few years. They can be planted in most parts of the country. The only problem is that you will have to grow them in warm regions, as they do not tolerate cold.
The fruit ripens in late summer and early fall. Peaches are not self-pollinating; therefore, you will need a male and female tree for each variety. It’s usually done with bees, although some growers use hand pollination.
What is best fertilizer for peach trees?
I'm thinking about doing a 50/50 mix of 10-10-10 NPK.
The two most important things in growing fruit trees are: fertilizing the soil, and having a good root system. If you fertilize your soil properly, then you should have a good root system, and fruit trees will grow well. If you don't have a good root system, the tree won't take up nutrients from the soil, so it won't grow.
Do peach trees need a lot of water?
You should water the trees every day. They may be getting enough water from the soil but you are still providing moisture to the tree through your daily watering.
Do peach trees produce fruit every year?
Peaches are usually a spring/summer-bearing fruit.
Peach trees are usually pruned and trained so that they bear their first crop the first year. In some areas, if your tree is pruned right, it might even bear fruit before the first frost.
But in other parts of the country, peaches have to be pruned and trained to produce fruit until the second or third year.
The beauty of growing your own peaches is the fact that you get to eat your fruit fresh off your tree. You no longer have to get your peaches from the grocery store around the corner; rather, you will have enough to enjoy and share with your neighbours and friends.
We hope to hear good reports if you will try to plant a peach tree.
Caroline is a gardener who loves to get down to the nitty–gritty of gardening. She proudly proclaims herself as a ‘dirt worshipper‘ and can often be found deep in the garden, covered in soil and singing to her plants. As a self–proclaimed ‘plant whisperer‘, Caroline believes that plants need love and attention just like any other living thing, and she loves to give them both. When she‘s not tending to her garden, you can often find her researching the latest gardening trends, or teaching others how to make their gardens thrive
