peach tree care
Peach Tree Care
Relishing on the sweet taste of peaches is indeed a delight in itself. Here is peach tree care guide, which will help you grow peaches in your own backyard and ensure that your craving for this fruit ends on a good note.
The peach tree (Prunus persica) is a deciduous species famous for its edible juicy fruits known by the same name. Native to China, today the tree is grown in various countries of the world, including Iran, France, Spain, Greece, and Italy. More recently, the species has also been introduced in North America and Australia. If you are from these regions, you can easily grow peach trees in your own backyard.
Basic Requirements
Before we move on to care guide, let's try to understand the requirements of this species as far as factors like soil, temperature, etc., are concerned.
- Ideally, you require loam or clay loam soil, with a pH content of around 6.5. Secondly, it should facilitate proper drainage of water, as water logging often results in rotting of roots, especially for growing trees.
- Peaches require ample heat to ripen, which means the average mean temperature of the area in summer should be between 20°C and 30°C.
- Though these trees can tolerate a temperature of around -25°C and -30°C, the buds tend to get affected at this temperature, which, in turn, affects the produce.
- Spring freeze is yet another hindrance when it comes to peach trees. These trees bloom in early spring, and any drop in temperature below -4°C kills the blooming flowers.
- Other requirements for proper growth of peach trees include regular watering and use of fertilizers, both of which are of immense importance.
- Early winter is the best time to plant peach trees, as this gives the roots enough time to lay down and sustain new growth in spring.
- Before planting a peach sapling, you should ideally soak its roots in water for a few hours.
- The area you choose to plant the tree should receive sunlight in abundance, preferably throughout the day.
- Choosing an area with a free flow of air is always an advantage, as this will make sure that the cold air doesn't get accumulated in the surroundings during frosty nights.
- When digging a hole to plant the sapling, make sure that it is large enough to accommodate the roots of the sapling comfortably.
- You will also have to make sure that you water the plant regularly; that being one of the basic requirements. The amount and frequency of watering should be increased just before the harvesting season to get a better crop.
- You can use fertilizers and manure in order to ensure that the trees get required nutrients. Fertilizers can be applied regularly, while manure should be used once in a while―preferably during autumn.
- Ideally, you should prune the tree at the onset of spring and throughout the growing season.
- At times, you may see that the harvest is more than you expected. In such circumstances, you should reduce it, as a large harvest will mean compromise in the quality.