PEACHES AND NECTARINES

Two varieties of peaches are now flowering 12 months after being grafted

The ‘Elberta’ peach has grown well reaching in excess of 2 metres 18 months after planting

The large number of fruit on this branch means they will be small when ripe. For large fruit, thinning is necessary

A ripe peacharine is growing close to immature peaches on this double grafted tree

These "Elberta' peaches will be mature in about 3 weeks

These large, beautiful ‘Elberta’ peaches are now very close to maturity

Peaches and nectarines are common home garden fruits and being closely related they have similar growing requirements.

Grafting Peaches With Nectarines

I inherited three seedling peaches on the farm, and these were promptly grafted to some of my favourite varieties. As well, a purchased ‘Elberta’ freestone peach has been successfully established producing a handsome crop eighteen months after planting.

Peaches Produce Well In Gardens

Peaches produce well in most gardens, provided some basic rules are followed. It is important to prune these trees each year in order to remove weak and spindly growth. Sturdy one year old growths are needed in order to support the weight of relatively large fruits.

Tend To Produce Large Fruits

Most varieties also tend to produce large numbers of fruit resulting in the need to thin out up to 50% of the crop in order to avoid producing very small fruit. Finally these trees are susceptible to a range of fungal infections, the most common being leaf curl and brown rot. It is important to spray a fungicide when buds are about to open and in more humid areas some follow up sprays are needed.

Varieties On My Hobby Farm

As well as the ‘Elberta’ that ripens midseason, I now have the late clingstone variety ‘Golden Queen’ and the still very popular nectarine variety ‘Goldmine’.

Several varieties will be grafted next winter in order to extend the cropping season from early December until April.

Watering And Fertilizing

Like all stone fruits, peaches and nectarines require regular watering in spring and summer, plenty of fertilizer in late winter with follow-up applications until autumn. A well drained planting site is also necessary as soil diseases can take hold should the soil become waterlogged.

Unfortunately these fruits tend to mature over a short period and drying or preserving skills would always come in handy, but being the most generous of garden crops, they are well worth a spot in the home garden.