How to Grow Peach Fruit Trees

Overview

Nothing beats the flavor of a fresh, tree-ripened peach. One taste is worth the effort of planting your own peach tree. Peach trees, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, provide a nice floral display in the spring, when the rest of the landscape is often still brown, and a luscious fruit in the summer. They are moderately easy to grow and make a nice addition to the home landscape. Cold hardy and virus resistant rootstocks are available; consult your local county extension for advice on the best plants for your area.

Planting Peach Fruit Trees

Step 1

Choose a cultivar that is suitable for your area. In areas with cold winters, it is important to choose a variety that is cold hardy.

Step 2

Choose a location for the peach tree that is well-drained location with full sun. Prepare the soil the year before planting. Dig a bed a foot deep and 5 to 6 feet in diameter. Have a soil sample tested by your local county extension for pH and fertility and add lime and fertilizer according to their recommendations. The ideal pH for peach trees is between 6.0 and 6.5.

Step 3

Choose a one-year old nursery tree that is 3 to 4 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 3/8 to 1/2 inch. Choose a certified virus-free tree.

Step 4

Plant the tree in the prepared bed, making sure that the bud union is at least 1 inch above the soil. Remove grass from below the tree and apply organic mulch to help retain moisture.

Pruning

Step 1

Prune the tree back to a height of 2 1/2 feet immediately after planting. Remove all side branches, leaving only the trunk.

Step 2

Train the tree during the first year to develop a strong scaffold. Choose the best branches to make up the main scaffold of the tree. Remove the remaining branches. Remove upright shoots and those heading toward the center of the tree.

Step 3

In following years, prune the peach tree to keep it growing outward and open the inside of the tree to light.

Step 4

Thin the fruit about 3 to 4 weeks following the bloom, while the fruits are small. Remove fruits that are spaced too closely together, leaving fruits about 8 inches apart. Removing excess fruit will encourage the fruit to grow larger and protect the tree from a too-large load.

Fertilizer and Water

Step 1

Fertilize peach trees about a week after planting and again a month later. Use 8 oz. of 10-10-10 fertilizer, spread under the tree about a foot from the trunk.

Step 2

Water the tree during dry periods, especially during the last 3 to 4 weeks before harvest.

Step 3

Fertilize peach trees with 12 oz. of fertilizer in March and May of the second and third year. In subsequent years, apply 1 to 2 pounds of fertilizer in March and May.