Peach

BY: Elizabeth Noll

Peaches could easily be the best thing about late summer. Sure, there are rivals for this honor—things like cooler days, state fairs, fresh tomatoes, and the start of the Christmas shopping season—but you’d be hard-pressed to argue against a ripe golden-red peach that drips sweet juice all over your shirt and shoes. Dwarf and semidwarf varieties of Prunus persica put the possibility of a homegrown peach in the hands of gardeners with even the smallest of yards, and recent introductions of cold-hardy cultivars give peach-loving northerners the chance to grow their own. Fragrant pink flowers open the growing season with a dazzling display in early spring.

Common name: Peach
Botanical name: Prunus persica
Plant type: Tree
Zones: 4 to 8
Height: Depends on cultivar
Family: Rosaceae

Growing conditions
· Sun: Full sun
· Soil: Average
· Moisture: Medium wet

Care
· Mulch: Mulch about 4 inches deep in a 2-foot circle around the tree, but leave a few inches of space around the trunk.
· Pruning: Prune when trees blossom in spring. Thin interior shoots to allow light into the crown, so that branches in the interior will bear fruit.
· Fertilizer: Not needed unless the soil is poor or the tree isn’t growing normally.

Propagation
· By seed or, for a dwarf or semidwarf, by root graft.

Pests and diseases
· Vulnerable to many diseases, including leaf spot, canker, brown rot, and black knot.
· Common pests include mites, aphids, peach tree borer, plum curculio, and birds.

Garden notes
· Peach trees may need regular chemical treatments to keep diseases and pests at bay.
· If you have limited space, or need to give your peach tree the most light and heat possible, train it against a south-facing wall.
· Peach trees are self-pollinating, so you only need to plant one.

Cultivars
· ‘Contender’ and ‘Reliance’ are cold-weather favorites. Both are hardy in Zones 4 to 8.
· ‘Elberta’ ripens in mid to late September and is excellent for canning.
· ‘Champion White’ has white flesh, rather than yellow.
· ‘Red Haven’ has almost no fuzz.

All in the family
· The genus Prunus also contains almond, cherry, apricot, and plum trees, as well as ornamental trees grown mainly for their stunning spring blossoms.
· Peach trees are native to China, where they’ve been cultivated for at least 4,000 years. They were introduced to Persia (now Iran) via the Silk Road, and when they arrived in Greece and other European countries, they were assumed to have come from Persia, hence the botanical name, Prunus persica. Our common name, peach, comes from a similar source: Romans called the fruits persicum malum, or Persian apples. That became peche in Middle English, and then peach.
· Peaches are one of the most widely cultivated fruits, second only to apples.

(Text by Elizabeth Noll, photo of peaches by Tracy Poser)

Comments

By aalcorn Friday, August 26, 2011 9:16 PM

what is the best chemical for diseases. my tree had a few flowers but didn't have any fruit

By VandaInez Thursday, June 07, 2012 4:05 PM

I live in zone 9, the West coast of Florida, just south of Tampa. What type of peach tree would flourish here? I saw some at Home Depot, I think they're a hybrid of somesort from USF? Anyone have any information on this?

By friutrees Sunday, August 12, 2012 2:36 PM

Peaches for Florida
Low Chill Peaches

A 2003 article in the Florida State Horticultural Society journal announced a breakthrough in the study of chill hours needed for subtropical peach cultivars. In "some of the mildest winters of the past century," field trial studies from 1997 to 2003 found certain peach trees reached required chill hours at 55 degrees F, not the traditional 45 degrees F. Cultivars rated at 150 chill hours did not receive adequate hours at 45 degrees F four out of six years, but produced adequate crops.
Zone 10 Flordaprince

"Flordaprince" is a University of Florida peach cultivar recommended for Zone 10. Flordaprince is sometimes listed as "Floridaprince" or "Florida Prince." Flordaprince ripens in mid-May, delivering a firm yellow peach with red skin. It needs an estimated 150 chill hours to produce fruit, but was one of the low chill cultivars at Immokalee that set good amounts without 150 chill hours at 45 degrees F.

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Zone 10 Flordaglo

Flordaglo is a white peach with high sugar content. Like Flordaprince, it also needs 150 chill hours. Also like Flordaprince, Flordaglo was one of the cultivars grown at Immokalee from 1997 to 2003. In tests conducted by Texas A&M University, Flordaglo ripened 10 days after Flordaprince and three days before Tropicbeauty.
Tropic Beauty Peach

According to a 2010 article in the Palm Beach Daily News, peach growers are planting Tropicbeauty along with Flordaprince. Tropicbeauty is also spelled "Tropic Beauty" and "Tropical Beauty." Like Flordaglo and Flordaprince, the University of Florida rates it at 150 estimated chill hours. Tropicbeauty is a semi-cling peach with yellow flesh and excellent flavor.
Flordagrande Zone 10

For a peach with minimum chill hour requirements, Flordagrande requires 75 or fewer chill units. It is best suited to the home garden or "pick your own" orchard because of a pointed tip on the blossom end of the finished fruit. Flordagrande is a freestone peach with good aromatic flavor. In southwest Florida, peaches ripen in early May at 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter.

Read more: Peach Trees That Grow in Zone 10 | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_7204164_peach-trees-grow-zone-10.html#ixzz23MVhHcHa

By tshelby1 Saturday, September 29, 2012 3:50 PM

I got a peach tree from nursey i put all kinds plant food but it have not growen any new leaves its the same size over a year i live in Houston Tx.

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Current Articles \| Archives \| Search Peach BY: Elizabeth Noll 4 Peaches could easily be the best thing about late summer. Sure, there are rivals for this honor—things like cooler days, state fairs, fresh tomatoes, and the start of the Christmas shopping season—but you’d be hard-pressed to argue against a ripe golden-red peach that drips sweet juice all over your shirt and shoes. Dwarf and semidwarf varieties of Prunus persica put the possibility of a homegrown peach in the hands of gardeners with even the smallest of yards, and recent introductions of cold-hardy cultivars give peach-loving northerners the chance to grow their own. Fragrant pink flowers open the growing season with a dazzling display in early spring. Common name: Peach Botanical name: Prunus persica Plant type: Tree Zones: 4 to 8 Height: Depends on cultivar Family: Rosaceae Growing conditions · Sun: Full sun · Soil: Average · Moisture: Medium wet Care · Mulch: Mulch about 4 inches deep in a 2-foot circle around the tree, but leave a few inches of space around the trunk. · Pruning: Prune when trees blossom in spring. Thin interior shoots to allow light into the crown, so that branches in the interior will bear fruit. · Fertilizer: Not needed unless the soil is poor or the tree isn’t growing normally. Propagation · By seed or, for a dwarf or semidwarf, by root graft. Pests and diseases · Vulnerable to many diseases, including leaf spot, canker, brown rot, and black knot. · Common pests include mites, aphids, peach tree borer, plum curculio, and birds. Garden notes · Peach trees may need regular chemical treatments to keep diseases and pests at bay. · If you have limited space, or need to give your peach tree the most light and heat possible, train it against a south-facing wall. · Peach trees are self-pollinating, so you only need to plant one. Cultivars · ‘Contender’ and ‘Reliance’ are cold-weather favorites. Both are hardy in Zones 4 to 8. · ‘Elberta’ ripens in mid to late September and is excellent for canning. · ‘Champion White’ has white flesh, rather than yellow. · ‘Red Haven’ has almost no fuzz. All in the family · The genus Prunus also contains almond, cherry, apricot, and plum trees, as well as ornamental trees grown mainly for their stunning spring blossoms. · Peach trees are native to China, where they’ve been cultivated for at least 4,000 years. They were introduced to Persia (now Iran) via the Silk Road, and when they arrived in Greece and other European countries, they were assumed to have come from Persia, hence the botanical name, Prunus persica. Our common name, peach, comes from a similar source: Romans called the fruits persicum malum, or Persian apples. That became peche in Middle English, and then peach. · Peaches are one of the most widely cultivated fruits, second only to apples. (Text by Elizabeth Noll, photo of peaches by Tracy Poser) Comments By aalcorn Friday, August 26, 2011 9:16 PM what is the best chemical for diseases. my tree had a few flowers but didn't have any fruit By VandaInez Thursday, June 07, 2012 4:05 PM I live in zone 9, the West coast of Florida, just south of Tampa. What type of peach tree would flourish here? I saw some at Home Depot, I think they're a hybrid of somesort from USF? Anyone have any information on this? By friutrees Sunday, August 12, 2012 2:36 PM Peaches for Florida Low Chill Peaches A 2003 article in the Florida State Horticultural Society journal announced a breakthrough in the study of chill hours needed for subtropical peach cultivars. In "some of the mildest winters of the past century," field trial studies from 1997 to 2003 found certain peach trees reached required chill hours at 55 degrees F, not the traditional 45 degrees F. Cultivars rated at 150 chill hours did not receive adequate hours at 45 degrees F four out of six years, but produced adequate crops. Zone 10 Flordaprince "Flordaprince" is a University of Florida peach cultivar recommended for Zone 10. Flordaprince is sometimes listed as "Floridaprince" or "Florida Prince." Flordaprince ripens in mid-May, delivering a firm yellow peach with red skin. It needs an estimated 150 chill hours to produce fruit, but was one of the low chill cultivars at Immokalee that set good amounts without 150 chill hours at 45 degrees F. Sponsored Links Better Greenhouse Kits Buy Factory Direct Home Greenhouses Quality & Durability. Free Shipping www.SBgreenhouse.com Zone 10 Flordaglo Flordaglo is a white peach with high sugar content. Like Flordaprince, it also needs 150 chill hours. Also like Flordaprince, Flordaglo was one of the cultivars grown at Immokalee from 1997 to 2003. In tests conducted by Texas A&M University, Flordaglo ripened 10 days after Flordaprince and three days before Tropicbeauty. Tropic Beauty Peach According to a 2010 article in the Palm Beach Daily News, peach growers are planting Tropicbeauty along with Flordaprince. Tropicbeauty is also spelled "Tropic Beauty" and "Tropical Beauty." Like Flordaglo and Flordaprince, the University of Florida rates it at 150 estimated chill hours. Tropicbeauty is a semi-cling peach with yellow flesh and excellent flavor. Flordagrande Zone 10 For a peach with minimum chill hour requirements, Flordagrande requires 75 or fewer chill units. It is best suited to the home garden or "pick your own" orchard because of a pointed tip on the blossom end of the finished fruit. Flordagrande is a freestone peach with good aromatic flavor. In southwest Florida, peaches ripen in early May at 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter. Read more: Peach Trees That Grow in Zone 10 \| eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_7204164_peach-trees-grow-zone-10.html#ixzz23MVhHcHa By tshelby1 Saturday, September 29, 2012 3:50 PM I got a peach tree from nursey i put all kinds plant food but it have not growen any new leaves its the same size over a year i live in Houston Tx. Post Comment Only registered users may post comments.