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Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Peaches
Planting
For the best fruit production, peach trees should be planted in an area that receives full sun all day long. The morning sun is especially crucial because it helps to dry morning dew off the fruit and keeps it from rotting. Be sure to avoid planting in low areas, too, as cold air and frost can more easily settle there and affect the quality of your peaches.
Choose a site with well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Peach trees won’t do well in areas where the soil is compacted or remains constantly wet. Soil pH should be on the slightly-acidic side, between 6 and 6.5.
When to Plant Peach Trees
- Peach trees should be planted while they are dormant—typically in late winter or early spring (depending on climate).
- In regions where the ground freezes during winter, hold off on planting until the soil has thawed and the ground is no longer waterlogged from snowmelt or heavy spring rains.
- It’s best to plant the trees the same day that you get them (if possible) to reduce stress on the seedling or sapling. Potted trees can tolerate not being planted for a little while, but bare-root trees should be planted as soon as possible.
- Select a tree that is about 1 year old and has a healthy root system. Older trees tend not to be as productive or vigorous overall.
How to Plant Peach Trees
- Dig a hole that is a few inches deeper and wider than the spread of the roots. Set the tree on top of a small mound of soil in the middle of the hole. Be sure to spread the roots away from the trunk without excessively bending them.
- For container-grown trees, remove the plant from its pot and remove any circling roots by laying the root ball on its side and using clean shears to cut through the offending roots. (Keep root pruning to a minimum, overall.)
- For grafted trees, position the inside of the curve of the graft union away from the sun when planting.
- Tip: Especially for dwarf or semi-dwarf grafted trees, the graft union must be 2 to 3 inches above the soil surface. If it’s any lower, the grafted tree (called the scion) may start to put out its own roots and grow into a standard-size tree.
- Do not fertilize at the time of planting.
- If you are planting standard-size trees, space them 15 to 20 feet apart. Space dwarf trees 10 to 12 feet apart.
- Most types of peach trees are self-fertile, so planting one tree is all that’s needed for fruit production.
Check out our video to learn more about how to plant a bare–rooted fruit tree.
An Alternative Planting Method
If your circumstances are suitable, you might want to try a technique practiced in England. It involves planting a peach tree—ideally a dwarf variety—on the south side of the home (or other structure), directly under the eaves. Over time, the gardener prunes and trains the peach tree to espalier in a fan shape against or very near to the wall of the house.
Plastic sheeting is attached to the eaves and draped to cover but not touch the tree, similar to a lean-to tent. This keeps the tree dry in winter, and the tree enjoys the warmth of the sun—directly and reflected off the house—year-round. The plastic should be opened or lifted during bloom time to welcome pollinating insects and on hot, sunny days to ventilate the tree and prevent foliage burn.
Harvesting
- Peaches are harvested when they are fully ripe from late June through July and August.
- With peaches, it’s especially important to harvest at the RIGHT time.
- Though this timing depends on what type of peach variety, you can generally go by the color of the fruit. When peaches are fully ripe, the ground color of the fruit changes from green to completely yellow. No green should be left on the fruit. They should come off the tree with only a slight twist. The fruits found on the top and outside of the tree usually ripen first.
- Be careful when picking your peaches because some varieties bruise very easily.
- Tip: Peaches ripen faster in a closed paper bag at room temperature.
How to Store Peaches
- You can store peaches in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. They should keep for about 5 days.
- You can also make use of fresh peaches by making peach jam or peach butter.
- Peaches can also be canned or frozen for storage.
Catherine Boeckmann
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We have a lively spot at our yard here (in Boston) that gets sun all day. However, it also gets the wind on a windy day. In the winter, the wind can be cutting. Could we still grow peaches there? We're thinking about trying to plant a windbreak but worry we can't cut off enough wind without cutting off too much sun. Ideas?
Growing up on Long Island, we had a peach tree in a section of the yard in front of the living room window. It was a lovely shaped tree that my father tended with great care. And boy, oh, boy, did we get a bumper crop; and it was my job to pick them! Not peaches. A bumper crop of Japanese beetles!
Which peach is cling free? Can I make a dwarf out of a normal size tree?
We live in Georgia 45 miles southeast from Savannah. This past winter my lemon trees got hit with 19* for several days. and it is now March 2023 and still no buds leafs or blooms. My navel orange and Satsuma have new leaves and blooms. Are my lemons dead? One is a Meyers 7 years and the other is a Lisbon 7 yearsI had no problems with them before.
I lucked out and found some peach-lings from some of my grandmother's old peaches she planted centuries ago. I planted one three years ago and I about died! They are white peaches and hardy and extremely tough trees! It been hectic weather here in Marietta but it survived through freezes, frosts, drought, dogs, kids, squirrels and the smog! I have more babies if ur interested, I'm always interested in sharing with a fellow greenthumb.
I would love to get a white peach tree in my yard I'm in Ringgold Georgia
Wow!!! Just wow!!! In behalf of your great grandmother-I stand in awe of you!!! Have fun, enjoy and think of her every day!!!
You are a lucky smart woman!!!!
How lovely. I wish I live in South Carolina and have a struggle with our one peach tree. Your variety must be a good one. I wish I lived closer to get a sapling from you.
Happy gardening!
Did you steak or tie your branches up when the peaches were growing?
The University of Georgia has a great list of peach varieties that includes whether they’re cling- or freestone: Growing Peaches at Home
As for dwarf trees: Peach trees generally consist of one variety selected for its fruit that is grafted onto a different variety of rootstock. The rootstock is what makes the tree dwarf, semi-dwarf, or standard. So, while you could keep a normal size tree pruned smaller, it won’t be a true dwarf and it will be a constant pruning battle!
Unfortunately, lemons are one of the most cold-tender citruses; 19F might have been too cold for them. Keep a close eye on them this spring to see if they produce new foliage—it could be that some of the branches just died back but the main trunk survived.
Growing your own peach tree(s) is rife with difficulty and disappointment:
Buy them from a local grower, and put your energy into more fruitful pursuit.....
