How to grow a peach tree and get a bountiful harvest

Peach (Prunus persica) translates as "Persian plum". The plant belongs to the Rosaceae family and the Almond subgenus.

Biological features of peach

Peach trees have lanceolate foliage. The leaves are characterized by the presence of a pronounced serrated edge. The flowers are almost sessile, pink or red. Flowering is observed before the appearance of foliage.

The fruits can be both flat and elongated-elliptical in shape, and have a groove on one of the sides. Most often, peach fruits have a velvety surface. The stone is wrinkled, with striations and punctate fossae. There is a pronounced pointed apical part.

Popular varieties

Currently, four varieties or classes of peaches are especially famous:

• real peach, or peches, which has velvety fruits and pulp that easily separates from the stone;
• peach pavies, having velvety fruits and pulp that does not separate from the endocarp;
• nectarines having a smooth surface and pulp easily separated from the endocarp;
• brugnons and violettes, having a smooth fruit surface and pulp that is not separated from the endocarp.

The flesh of the fruit can be either white or yellow or red. Currently, breeders have bred a large number of varieties worthy of the attention of gardeners. Among the most popular in our country, there are several varieties of peach.

Peach propagation methods

Amateur gardeners practice in several ways self breeding peach trees in home gardens.

Vegetative reproduction

A very popular way for gardeners to get new fruit trees. The most effective use of grafting cuttings. As a rootstock, it is recommended to use healthy and high-quality apricot seedlings. from self-fertile varieties, as well as vegetative rootstocks OP23-23, the most winter-hardy varieties plums or rootstock forms of plum Eurasia-43 and 13-27.

Green cuttings are based on biological feature called plant regeneration. Green cuttings are recommended to be cut from young and abundantly fruiting, most winter-hardy peach trees. Preference should be given to varieties with high resistance to most diseases and pests. Harvesting cuttings should be carried out in the first two decades of June.

seed propagation

With seed reproduction, we get offspring with the same properties and qualities as the original forms. This method of reproduction has both advantages and some disadvantages. Seedlings obtained from peach pits may have more low level fruiting, and the fruits themselves may be smaller. However, fruit trees grown from seeds have frost resistance and durability.

Fruits for pitting must be large, fully ripe or slightly overripe. The bone must be large. The bone obtained from the peach should be thoroughly washed from the remnants of the pulp.

Seeds are sown late autumn, directly to a permanent place in the soil, which should be enriched with compost and leaf humus. At first, plants sprouted from seeds are very demanding on abundant watering. However more reliable and effective is the spring sowing of sprouted peach pits.

How to grow a peach from a stone (video)

Planting a peach

Peaches have long ceased to be exotic in our country, and gardeners are happy to cultivate peach trees in their backyards. To get abundantly fruitful garden plantings, you should take care of in advance quality training landing area, as well as adhere to standard recommendations for landing dates.

Ground Requirements

The most suitable soils for planting and growing peach trees are sandy and loamy nutrient soils with good air permeability. The growing area must have a very high level lighting. Plants do not tolerate stagnant cold air and strong gusts of wind.

The depth of planting depends on the size of the root system of the seedling, as well as the characteristics of the soil. As a rule, the planting hole has a depth of about 75 cm with a diameter of 0.8 to 1.0 m. Planted plants should not only be watered very abundantly with warm water, but also tied to a support.

Dates and landing scheme

Peach, depending on the region of cultivation, is planted in two terms - in spring or in autumn time. Planting a peach in the fall gives the tree a chance to get strong and grow big next summer. However, in regions with early frosts, it is better to plant plants in early spring before bud break. The step between the trees is equal to the sum of the heights of mature plants.

Peculiarities of peach care

To grow abundantly fruitful and healthy peach tree on the personal plot, you need to know some agrotechnical features and carry out the whole range of measures to care for plantings.

Fertilization

The quality, as well as the quantity of fruit harvest, directly depends on the correct and timely application of fertilizers for plants. The older the peach tree, the more fertilizer application rate is used.

Irrigation Rules

In dry years, peach trees need a lot of abundant watering on which the yield and quality of fruits depend. Regular watering is especially important in the first year. In the future, when growing early varieties of peach, 2-3 irrigations should be carried out, and cultivation late varieties suggests 5-6 per season. It is recommended to mulch the tree trunks after watering.

peach pruning

In the process of caring for peach trees, it is necessary to monitor bud formation and timely carry out normalizing pruning of the plant. Besides, in the spring, peach tree pruning should be carried out in order to form a crown.

Annual pruning is not just a must, but an essential event for peach plantations.

Rationing of ovaries

Peaches grown for drying and making compotes should not be rationed. If it is necessary to grow especially large peaches, then the ovaries should be thinned out. Between the ovaries there should be a distance of 8-10 cm, then the peaches grow as large as possible. You can normalize the ovaries with both scissors and a small garden pruner. The procedure should be performed in the first half of June, when the fruits reach a diameter of a centimeter.

Rules for growing peach

There is a set of mandatory measures that must be carried out when cultivating peach trees in a personal plot.

How to trim a peach (video)

How to protect a tree from frost

• in autumn period plantings should be dug in and watered abundantly by performing water-charging irrigation;
• before sheltering, plants should be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid to protect against major diseases and pests;
• mulch the soil around fruit trees with peat or humus;
• wrap the root neck and trunk with several layers of burlap or roofing material.

The crown can be covered with a film or erected over a low plant a structure in the form of a special sliding frame.

Quality sun protection

It is very important to carry out protective measures that will protect plants from damage as a result of exposure to sunlight. Most often, the stem part of the peach tree is whitewashed with synthetic paints, among which the most popular are VS-511, Protection and VD-K4-577. A good result is the use ready mixes"Garden whitewash", "Gardener" and "Sunshield".

Preventive spraying

autumn spraying protects peach trees not only from damage by fungal diseases, but also has an effective preventive effect against freezing of plants during winter frosts. It is very important to use the most effective means, which will reduce the risk of plant damage by the most dangerous diseases and pests.

Diseases and pests of peach

In order to prevent the appearance of insect pests and any diseases, as well as to combat them, modern fungicidal preparations are used. The main condition for the effectiveness of such funds is timely detection of the lesion and determination of the damaging factor.

Peach is considered one of the most delicious and healthy fruits. southern regions, but recently gardeners in the Moscow region have been growing it. It is not too difficult to grow this beautiful tree with very useful and tasty fruits, and the main condition for obtaining a high yield is compliance with the basic rules of agricultural technology.

How to care for a peach (video)

Among all the fruit trees that are grown in the region with a temperate climate, the peach is the most beloved and delicious. Basically, these plants are intended for the southern regions. But with the help of selection, experts brought frost-resistant varieties. Peach loves careful and timely, warm place and attention.

Peach is a tree perennial which belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is widely distributed on almost all continents and is 10th in the list of fruit trees that are grown in industrial scale. Its fruits, juicy and sweet, are a favorite delicacy all over the world.

Building features:

• The height of the tree can reach 4 meters, but usually stunted varieties are grown in gardens, and bushy varieties in cold regions.
• The trunk is of medium thickness, the maximum diameter reaches 25 cm, it bends with growth.
• Branching is average, the width of the crown can reach 6 meters.
• In regions with severe winter frosts, peaches are grown in the idea of ​​undersized wide bushes. This is done in order to simplify the warming of the plant for the cold period.
• The branches are strong, bend well, painted reddish or green tone a. The leaves are lacent, oblong, slightly curved, have a pronounced central vein. On the branches are arranged alternately on thin and short petioles.
• The leaves are painted in a dark green or green tone with outer side, and light green, muted - from the bottom.
• The buds usually open before the leaves appear. Externally, the peach tree during flowering resembles almonds. The flower consists of 5 rounded petals, has a medium size and is colored in pink. The buds are located one by one along the entire length of the branches, sessile, the peduncle is absent.
• Peach fruits can be large up to 600 grams in weight and small, about 60-80 grams. Their shape is most often rounded, oval, slightly elongated. There are also flat, slightly flattened peaches, but mostly hybrid varieties. Their flesh is firm, sweet and juicy.
• In the middle is a large bone with a grain inside. The fruits are colored in yellow, pink orange and red tones with different parties. The skin is thin, with a velvety coating, there are also sweet fruits, but they belong to nectarines.

early varieties:

• Kyiv early. The variety is intended for regions with early spring. The fruits of this peach are medium in size, rounded, the flesh is juicy, sweet and very fragrant. The skin is dense, thin, painted in a light yellow hue with a pinkish side. It takes root well in almost any soil, is demanding on care and at the same time gives a high yield. The variety is resistant to.
• Redhaven. good grade adapted to temperate climates. The fruits are juicy, tasty, weighing up to 150 grams. The shape of the fruit is oval, the skin is thin, painted in a light orange tone with red patches. The pulp is yellow in color, pleasant to the taste and very aromatic. The variety is resistant to common and well tolerates spring and autumn frosts.

Middle and late varieties:

• Cardinal. Strong variety with high yield. The fruits are medium in size, the largest reaches only 140 grams. The fruits are round, dense, the skin has a colorful red color. Mixed yellow and orange tones. The pulp is juicy, with a unique taste and aroma, the variety is among the best in terms of taste characteristics. Cardinal is resistant to diseases, but it does not tolerate frost well, therefore it needs special care.
• Kremlin. This variety is the most common and popular in temperate regions. The reason for this is that it adapts to almost any living conditions. The fruits are large, the skin is painted in an orange-yellow tone with a red barrel. The flesh is firm, juicy, and sweet.

The peach is a southern plant that needs constant warmth and sun. Therefore, growing it in regions with variable temperature regime, it is necessary to pay more attention and care to the plant.

Peach trees do not respond well to strong winds and cold, so the choice of a landing site must be approached with special responsibility.

In this regard, the plant is very capricious and spring drafts, frosts, can lead to shedding of color and a barren year. The place should be protected from all sides, have good lighting almost all day, so that the soil warms up well. This is especially important during the spring months.

But peaches are unpretentious to the soil and grow and develop well in almost all regions. The only exception is soil with a high content of limestone, which can cause diseases in a tree. Also, the soil should be well-drained, and the landing site is on a hill. Waterlogging of the soil also leads to peach diseases and plant death.

Watering peach:

• Peach is demanding on watering, especially after and during the period of growth and fruit set. But do not get carried away, as the tree does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil.
• From the middle of summer, it is held only when necessary, for example, if the summer is dry and hot.
• After watering, it is recommended to soil the soil to retain moisture and periodically water the crowns with a hose and a sprayer.

Top dressing is carried out organic and in the spring. It will be useful to make nitrophoska after winter, and after flowering, a solution is added under the tree. Such procedures are recommended to be carried out 2 times a month.

For normal growth and development, as well as for abundant fruiting, proper pruning is necessary. No tree needs this process like a peach. At a young age, mostly in adult trees, during the annual spring pruning, diseased and old branches are removed, and excess young are cut off, leaving a few stems for future replacement.

In regions with a warm climate, peaches are grown in the form of a tree. Pruning is carried out appropriately. Usually in gardens tall trees are not grown, many summer residents have adopted this experience, and are trying to prune so that the branches do not grow vertically, but horizontally.

To do this, the central part of a young, but not small, tree is removed, that is, the main trunk at the required height, about 1.5-2 meters.

Leave a few strong side branches that will form the crown. All subsequent pruning is carried out in order to remove diseased and old branches and thin out the crown.

In cold regions, the peach is initially formed as a low bush. For this:

• Almost the entire trunk is cut off, leaving only 3-5 buds from the bottom.
• In subsequent years, from each side branch form small tree with several fruiting stems so as not to overload the plant. Basically, one bush should have no more than 10 fruiting shoots.
• Next, the old branches are removed, and young branches are left to develop in their place.

A prepared, healthy and strong peach seedling can be planted in spring and autumn. In warm regions, planting is recommended after the leaves fall on the trees, but no later than October, in order to young tree managed to take root and strengthen the root system in a new place. The place of permanent peach growth must first be prepared.

The size of the planting hole depends on the root system and can reach up to 1 meter in diameter and 75 cm deep.

All seedlings must be inspected from top to bottom, remove diseased and rotten roots, and shorten all healthy ones to 30-35 cm. The tree is placed in a prepared pit, the roots are spread over the entire bottom area, and fertile and fertilized soil is sprinkled on top. After the peach must be watered abundantly warm water and install a support to which to tie the trunk. The distance between plantings should be at least 2.5-3 meters. A peach can coexist with any other fruit trees.

In warm regions, peaches do not need warming, and many varieties are specially bred to be frost-resistant. But in cold regions, without such a procedure, you can lose the garden, so gardeners grow peaches in the form of bushes, for the convenience of shelter and warming.

In order for the tree to survive the winter well, foam shields are placed around it, the thickness of which must be at least 10 cm.

On top of everything is covered with a film and when the snow falls, it will serve as an additional shelter. In the spring, after the end of severe frosts, the film is slightly opened so that air gets to the peach, and awakening begins. Shields are removed only when the risk of night frosts is gone.

Peach can be propagated in three ways: grafting, and. If the first two methods require special knowledge, then even a beginner can grow a tree with the help of seeds.

Propagation by seeds:

• To collect seeds, it is necessary to pick up well-ripened, even overripe, large fruits. Separate the stone from the fruit and wash thoroughly from the pulp.
• You can sow in the fall, directly to the place of permanent growth.
• The soil must be fertilized, loose and disinfected.
• For the winter, after watering, the planting site is covered with compost and leaves, this will give extra food and protect the bone from freezing.

But many gardeners recommend wrapping the collected bones in a damp cloth and placing them in a dark, cool place, such as the vegetable section of the refrigerator. The fabric should not dry out, so it is periodically moistened. Thus, the bones pass. And in the spring, when the sun has already warmed the soil enough, the seeds can be planted in the ground. Young trees need regular plentiful, therefore, the planting site must be constantly moistened before pecking and during the growth of the peach and prevent the soil from drying out.

Peach cuttings:

• For choose adult healthy branches, the lower part of which is already stiff. The stems should not be thick, the middle part is selected.
• One cutting should have at least 4 healthy buds. The lower part can be evenly cut, separated from the tree along with the "heel" and with a hammer-shaped bottom, cut along with part of the twig.
• It is recommended to harvest cuttings in the autumn after the leaves fall before the winter frosts. During this period, the tree accumulates a large amount of all the substances necessary for growth and development, which will help the cuttings to take root well and develop buds into growth. The length of one cutting is approximately 30 cm.
• After cutting, the cuttings are tied together and placed vertically in a box of wet sand and transferred to the basement. The sand should not dry out completely, so it is periodically moistened. By spring, on some branches, the beginnings of roots should already appear, all cuttings with disinfectants and stimulants.
• Rooting can be carried out in open ground by planting cuttings during the period when the soil is fully warmed up. Or prepare special containers with a fertile loose substrate and start rooting in early spring in order to plant ready-made seedlings for warmth.

Spend in the spring with the help of green cuttings. The process is quite complex and lengthy and is used mainly by professional gardeners. You can graft a peach on any young apricot tree.

The peach is often attacked by aphids. She likes to settle on young shoots, this can be seen from the twisted and spoiled leaves. If you do not get rid of the pest in time, then the aphid can infect the entire tree. Preventive treatment is recommended in the spring, and special preparations should be used when aphids appear on trees.

Of the diseases, peaches are susceptible to fungal diseases.

Powdery mildew often attacks the plant, it primarily damages the tops of young shoots and young leaves. It can be seen by dense white bloom, which is formed on the plant, and if measures are not taken, the disease will spread to neighboring trees. Therefore, when powdery mildew is found on any plant, it is necessary to treat not only the diseased tree, but the entire area with special ones.

Peach fruits contain a large amount of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that have a beneficial effect on the human body. This fruit is considered dietary products, it contains carbohydrates, proteins, sugars and fiber, which helps to improve digestion. Also, with the help of juicy and sweet peaches, you can restore the normal level of iron in the body, because this substance in them is 2 times more than in apples.

Raw peaches are used for food like any other fruit. Compotes and jams are also made from it and rolled up for the winter. Peaches are among the most delicious fruits on the planet. Also peach and its stone are used in cosmetic production. They are part of creams, shampoos, masks and scrubs.

More information can be found in the video.

Foreword

Peach pruning is one of those operations that cannot be ignored when growing this tree, as it is characterized by strong growth, and the crown becomes unnecessarily dense very quickly. What should the owners of this crop take into account to get a bountiful harvest?

What do you need to know before boarding?

If the peach is not properly cared for, then in just a few years the quality of the fruit will decrease, the tree will start to hurt, develop poorly and, as a result, completely die. Talking about leaving is inappropriate if the landing is done incorrectly, so let's start with it. So, there are two main methods of reproduction - stone fruit and planting finished seedlings. On the garden plot, you need to choose the most sunny place, although slight shading is allowed.

There are no special requirements for the soil, but experienced gardeners claim that it is best suited slightly acidic. If the pH level is less than 5.8, then it can be adjusted by adding lime. If such an event is needed, then the interval between liming and fertilizing the soil should be at least a month. You should also clear the ground of weeds and fertilize. Too dense clay soil needs good drainage, but a loose and sandy area is treated with organic fertilizers.

In addition, it is necessary to choose the right planting material and also prepare it. If you plan to grow a tree from a stone, then only well-ripened fruits of medium or late varieties are selected in the fall. You can plant at any time of the year, but it is advisable to do this no earlier than October, since in this case the strongest specimens will survive. The choice of seedlings, if you like this method of planting, should be taken with all responsibility - healthy 1- or 2-year-old trees with a well-developed root system will do. All these nuances are easier to master with video tips shared by more experienced gardeners in our article.

Proper landing - the main stages

Now consider the peach planting technology and further care behind a tree. If you prefer stone fruit reproduction, then you should first dry the material in the shade. In the event that for some reason the landing is delayed or even postponed, you can lower the bone into a container filled with warm water, but not more than for two days. Just do not forget to change the contents of the container 2 times a day.

After such storage, the bone is taken out and dried. Then you need to carefully remove the seed from the hard shell and immediately plant it in open ground to a depth of about 7 cm. During the month, the formation of the root system and the ground part occurs, during this period the earth requires special care, it must be regularly loosened and watered. If you decide to work with seedlings, dig a planting hole 70x70 cm in size and 60 cm deep in advance. Then you need to fill it with a mixture of fertile soil, humus (10 kg), superphosphate (150 g), potash fertilizers and ammonium nitrate taken 50 g each.

When planting occurs in the fall, the pits are prepared about a month in advance, and in the case of spring work, they need to be prepared from the fall of last year.

A small mound is made from the fertile mixture, in the middle of which a tree is planted, while do not forget to straighten the roots. After that, you can fill the trunk with earth, but only so that the root neck is 3 cm above the level of light soils (5 cm for heavy soils). Then we water the plant abundantly in two approaches, three buckets of water are enough, and we mulch the soil around with humus.

Trees planted in the fall are especially important to cover for the winter. To do this, 2 pegs are driven in so that the plant is in the middle, and we put a bag on this entire structure with a peach. To protect a homemade cap from gusts of wind, sprinkle its edges with soil. For good ventilation, cut a few holes in it. We have duplicated all these recommendations on the video for ease of development, check it out in the corresponding section of our article.

Careful cultivation - how is it?

We figured out the peach planting, growing and further care will not burden you much, despite the relatively increased demands of the tree compared to, for example, apple trees. So, each representative of the flora needs regular watering. A peach needs up to two buckets of water every ten days if it's a dry summer outside. Soil moisture is especially important at the time of fruiting. However, if you immediately make a large amount of liquid, then the fruits will crack, so stretch the pleasure.

In addition, the cultivation of a fruit tree is impossible without top dressing. A certain amount of fertilizer is applied every spring. So, in early May, potassium is fed in liquid form. After the ovary has formed, it is recommended to spray with a solution of soda ash, blue vitriol, boric acid and manganese, taken in the amount of 60 g, 20 g, 10 g and 1 g, respectively. We dilute all the components in 10 liters of water and add 10 drops of iodine. In autumn, organic fertilizers are applied to the soil every two years, and fertilizing with minerals is carried out annually. They also make a furrow along the projection of the crown and fill it with urea, 150 grams is enough, but this operation should be carried out in early spring.

Cultivation is also burdened by the fight against pests and diseases. Spraying for the purpose of prevention will help protect the gardener. Even before the moment of bud break, the peach is treated with a three percent Bordeaux mixture. effective protection is also a solution of copper sulfate, but such spraying is done 2 times with an interval of 5 days. Nine percent copper oxychloride will also help prevent tree disease.

Growing young trees is a more labor intensive process. When peaches are first planted, corrective measures are already required. At the seedling, 4 lower shoots should be left, the rest should be removed. The following year, side branches are pruned into a growth or triple bud at a distance of about 40 cm from the trunk. On each branch, 4 shoots are selected, one of them is sent for extension, and the rest are on the sides. By the end of the growing season, the peach is pruned by shortening the extra shoots by 1 leaf.

In the third year of life, all remaining shoots should be shortened by 1/3, while the last should be the lower lateral bud. In addition, three shoots are taken from each branch, they are directed outward and fixed to the rail. In this case, the last kidneys are removed, and the rest should give 50 cm of growth, after which the growth points are removed. As can be seen, growth support and peach pruning in early age a very hectic task, to make it easier to plan and manage these events, we have prepared visual video instructions.

Pruning peach trees

It is impossible to underestimate the importance of this operation, because the peculiarity of the movement of nutrients in a peach is such that the upper tier receives useful elements much faster than the lower one, therefore, the first, and therefore the older branches, often lack minerals. In addition, this tree is characterized by violent growth, while it loves light very much. If peach pruning is started or not done at all, then branches that are too densely spaced will not let through. Sun rays to the inside of the crown. All this will lead to a deterioration in the quality of the fruit, a tendency to disease, and, in the end, the plant will disappear.

In addition to the tips below, you can watch a video of spring and autumn pruning peach, and we'll get down to business. It should be noted that the optimal period for crown formation is spring, although weak and poorly overwintered branches are removed in summer and autumn. For peach, fan-shaped, tierless and bushy forms are best suited.

Pruning peach in autumn and summer is done for sanitary purposes. Indeed, it should be noted that in summer season it is done much less frequently, because during this period the greenery accumulates in itself maximum amount nutrients needed for good development. The essence of the operation is to remove all dry, damaged, diseased, weak and thickening shoots.

A peach of oriental origin, this fruit was introduced to Europe at the beginning of the Christian era. Its cultivation spread very quickly, and peaches proved to be one of the first fruits cultivated by the South Europeans. For growth and fruiting, it needs at least a short period of rest with sufficient cooling. Lack of winter cooling can lead to disruption of fruiting. The buds, especially of young and immature trees, are less resistant to cold than the buds of mature ones. After a warm winter, in spring, the buds are more damaged by frost than after frost. During the flowering period, the temperature of -4 - -5 ° C is able to kill all the ovaries.

However, the cold resistance of peach depends on the duration of the rains in the previous season and on the fertility of the soil. Any general damage and weakening, whether frost damage or pest damage, can make a tree of a previously cold hardy variety susceptible to cold.

In Russia, peach plantings are concentrated in the south (Dagestan, Krasnodar region). To increase frost resistance, peach is grafted onto apricot. One of the most frost-resistant varieties- Red-cheeked; in the Voronezh region, varieties Golden Summer, Stepnyak Rossoshansky are grown.

Summer temperatures are less important for peaches than winter temperatures, although they affect how long the fruit ripens. Areas where minimum temperatures summer around 24°C, most suitable for growing peach. Wherein winter temperatures must not fall below -10 °C; peach tolerates extreme periods down to -15°C, but dies at -25°C.

A very closely related species - nectarine - is grown under the same conditions as the peach. Moreover, there are cases when, without any cross-pollination, a tree grew from a peach stone, after grafting it gives nectarines, and from a nectarine stone - gives peaches.

The nutritional value

Yellow peach is rich in vitamin A, about half of which remains when cooked or frozen. The white variety of peach contains very little vitamin A, and in terms of the content of other vitamins, they are approximately equivalent.

100 g of raw yellow peach contains an average of 1000 units of vitamin A; 0.025 mg of vitamin B1; 0.065 mg of vitamin B2; 9 mg vitamin C; 10 mg calcium; 19 mg phosphorus; 0.3 mg of iron and about 50 kilocalories. The same amount of white peach contains only 100 units of vitamin A.

Fruiting

Most peach varieties are self-pollinating, however, if the fruiting is poor, it is worth planting a few more peach trees nearby for cross-pollination. Fruiting begins 3-5 years after the tree is planted, and it takes 2-3 more years for the tree to begin its best fruiting phase.

The average lifespan of a tree is 10-12 years, although there are cases when trees bear fruit for 25 years. It is best to plant a replacement tree every 5 years. The best seedlings- annuals 1.0-1.5 m tall.

The soil

The soil has a greater influence on the cold hardiness of peach. Warm sandy or gravel soil produces good peach crops at temperatures that would be detrimental to the same peach in drained clay soils.

The best soils for peach are sandy or gravel loams, with lots of organic matter; clayey parent rock is preferred at their base. The soil must be well-drained because peaches are one of the most intolerant of stagnant moisture fruit trees.

Soil pH should be 6-8. Where the pH is around 5.5 liming should be carried out regularly. The soil should be treated like any other fruit plant. Before planting, a lot of organic matter should be added to the soil, preferably coarse-grained, like moss or peat.

Young trees should be overfed with nitrogen as this reduces their cold hardiness.

Landing

Except in areas where winters are very mild, peaches are best planted in spring than in autumn. Plant on a day when the soil is not too wet. Cut off broken roots, and as soon as planting, immediately wrap the trunk of the tree from sunburn.

Tie tighter, but only so as not to damage the bark, and also so that mice do not settle inside the strapping. Peach trees do not tolerate transplanting well, so their tops should be cut off immediately when planting.

In this case, it is necessary not to damage the kidneys, from which branches will grow. summer pruning, if done continuously during the first year, will form a skeleton from the very beginning. The earlier the shoot is removed, the less the tree loses with its removal.

If the tree will grow in open space, then the three primary branches should be made equal in length. equal number secondary branches grow from it. This pruning begins in the first summer and continues with each subsequent dormant period, that is, autumn - winter.

During the first three or four years, the apical shoot should be 5 cm per year. If the growth is greater, the excess must be removed just above the healthy side branch. After fruiting begins, the growth will be up to 25 cm per year.

If it is larger, it means the tree is growing too fast and is presumably getting too much fertilizer. If the growth is less, then the tree needs to be fed. As you thin out the side branches, remove any that rise more than 32 cm from the trunk, any that grow towards the center of the tree, and any that grow towards the ground.

On mature trees, remove enough side branches to expose the top of the tree to the sun. This stimulates the growth of new fruit twigs on the lower branches. Fruits are formed better if they are stimulated by cutting all the shoots to their half.

Older trees can be renewed to stimulate fruiting by pruning the top shoots into two to three year old branches. If this was done regularly after the tree reaches two or three years of age, then the indicated top pruning will occur with a minimum loss of the crop of this year.

In warm regions, pruning can be done at any time during dormancy. In regions with cold winters, this should be done before growth begins in the spring, namely in order to notice and remove frost-affected branches in time.

In extreme cases, pruning can be done during the flowering period of the trees. Where trees have been severely affected, only light pruning is necessary. Trees that have lost a lot of wood need a mass of leaves for their restoration, which the remaining branches cannot provide.

Kidneys affected in winter can be identified by one sign: first, the center of the kidney, and then it all looks like a very wet tissue.

Breeding

In cold regions, peaches should be hardened with such treatments: in the spring they should be stimulated for their early growth, and towards the end of July, growth should be slowed down. After that, peach trees become cold hardy.

To achieve this, it is also necessary to feed in large doses in early spring, but gradually the feeding dose should be reduced and almost go to zero in late summer. Manure is necessary and useful for almost every plant, but if it is available and applied for a sufficiently long time, it can cause the death of a tree.

The continued growth of the tree in autumn is dangerous. Where the climate is mild enough and frost damage is rare, both manure and compost can be freely used. However, in cold regions, it is better to replace them with blood meal, cottonseed meal, household plums and fish waste as a source of nitrogen.

Compost or manure, when used, should be distributed from late autumn before winter so that in the rainy season nutrients dissolved in the soil and accumulated in it by the time the buds swell in the spring.

Fertilizer of any type should be spread under the tree along the circumference of its crown, and this is also the line that limits root system peach. Peach is not required large quantities phosphorus or potassium, although their need for potassium is quite large.

The soil in the required volume is supplied with these elements during planting, and then the annual application of phosphorite chips and granite dust in small quantities should be carried out.

Ground cover green manure sown in July helps to slow late growth of branches and prepare the tree for winter. If mulching is used, it should be done in early spring. In cold regions, this can be straw manure, clean straw, ground corn cobs, peat and other cellulose residues.

Mulch should not be placed close to the trunk: pathogenic fungi and rodents can settle in it. A clean circle with a diameter of at least 60 cm must be constantly plowed and kept clean.

reproduction

Peach trees are always sold in their primitive form, usually on a peach rootstock. Can be grafted onto an apricot rootstock. peach pits can be planted in the fall, or you can stratify instead. Plant the seedlings at a distance of 90 cm.

Grafting by budding is done in August. After 6 weeks after budding, the tip is cut off in half. As the buds grow, remove more and more rootstock until it is down to 2.5 cm stump above the graft line by winter. Before transplanting to a permanent place, grow the grafted tree for one year in a nursery.

thinning

Excessive fruiting weakens the trees and they become weakened. The aroma and taste of the fruit may also suffer. Almost every variety needs fruit thinning. It should be done immediately after the annual and natural fruit fall, which usually occurs in June.

When thinning, leave one fruit per 10-15 cm fruit branch. Or, counting differently, one fruit is left for 50-75 leaves. The most accurate thinning is obtained with handmade. Sometimes branches break under the weight of fruit. This can be prevented by linking one branch to another through the trunk of the tree.

Older trees need more serious tying. The harness will be safe if rubber hose run thick wire. Supports are placed directly under the branches. After harvesting the fruits, both the supports and the strapping are removed.

Diseases and pests

In addition to woodworms, the peach tree is affected by brown rot, bacterial leaf spot. Carpenter beetle eggs are laid in crevices in the bark and in wood chips around the base of the tree. They can be recognized by their dark brown granules and destroyed. Also, always remember to localize the masonry and remove wood chips and dust away from the base of the tree.

Leaf bacterial spot attacks weakened trees. Trees that are in a healthy state rarely suffer from disease. Causes and treatments for a disease such as premature yellowing and leaf fall are unknown.

Harvesting

The fruits are ripe when the green color of the skin changes to yellow. As soon as the pulp passes under the finger, the fruit can be considered ripe. The fruits are removed by turning the stalk back and forth until it comes off. But, once the fruit is damaged, it quickly deteriorates.

In a cold cellar, fruits are stored from several days to two weeks. Sorting should be done daily. Peaches, peeled and chopped, can be frozen. All air must be evacuated from bags before freezing. The aroma and taste stays all winter.

Before talking about how to "make" several from one existing peach tree, it would not be superfluous to mention the fact that although the peach is a self-fertile plant, the harvest will be more abundant if there are several varieties on the site. However, if it is not possible to buy new seedlings, then you have to think about how to propagate the peach. The first thing many inexperienced gardeners think about is sprouting a peach tree from the pit. This breeding method has its advantages and disadvantages. Seedlings sprouted from seeds may bear less fruit, the fruits may be smaller, but at the same time such trees are more frost-resistant and durable.

Another way to propagate is to graft a cutting onto another fruit tree, felted cherries, apricots, wild peach, blackthorns are suitable. Cuttings are harvested in advance, best before the onset of severe frosts (November-December). For this, one-two-year-old shoots growing on south side tree. Winter cuttings should be in the basement, a cool room or under covering material on the street. Vaccination is carried out in early spring (March), in the morning, technically in the same way as on other fruit trees. It is important to remember how to care for a peach in the spring, after grafting - the stalk must be wrapped garden film and cloth. This tying should be maintained until the peach branch is more than 25 cm.

If you still want to spend seed propagation peaches, then you should pay attention to how to choose peaches, the bones of which will later become seed material. These fruits should be large, well ripened, preferably slightly overripe. The bones should also be large, they should be washed well. Seeds are sown in late autumn, directly into the ground at the place designated for peach orchard. The earth should be enriched with compost and leaf humus, have good breathability, and be well moistened. Peach generally requires fairly abundant watering.

The most dangerous peach diseases are powdery mildew and curl. If the seedlings or scion already show signs of disease, then you should think about how to spray peaches. Curly helps 1% Bordeaux mixture. Spraying of shoots and scion is carried out three times, with an interval of two weeks between treatments. You can fight powdery mildew with a 0.5% topaz emulsion or 0.3% topsin suspension, spraying is carried out one-time. Already damaged shoots and leaves are destroyed. There is no trick to how to properly care for a peach - it is timely, but not excessive watering, feeding and pruning. Even one tree can give rise to a whole peach orchard.