Do you enjoy a slice of peach cobbler with some fresh whipped cream? How about a cool, tall glass of peach ice tea on a hot summer afternoon? What if you had a never-ending supply of peaches growing right in your garden?
Planting a peach tree in your yard is a great idea if you’re a fan of the fruit. With so many varieties available, you can grow your favorite peaches right in your backyard. Sun-ripened, homegrown peaches are a delicious delight.
When your tree starts producing fruit, it will give you fresh peaches for years, provided you give the tree the right care and attention. Peach trees enjoy growing in USDA Zones four through nine, but they do best in Zones six through eight.
There are several varieties of peach trees, and they all suit different climates. Choose the type that suits your growing climate conditions and your taste in peaches. When harvest time rolls around, you’ll have fresh peaches available for months and more than you know what to do with – preserve them or hand them out to neighbors and friends.
This guide gives you everything you need to know about growing and caring for peach trees.
Quick Facts
| Types of Peach Trees | Clingstone, Freestone, Semi-freestone |
| Ideal Climate | Moderate to hot climates with full sun exposure |
| Ideal Soil Conditions | Well-draining soil, slightly acidic pH (6.0-6.5) |
| Planting Time | Early spring before trees break dormancy |
| Watering Requirements | Young trees: 1-2 times a week, Mature trees: every 10-14 days |
| Fertilizing | Apply balanced fertilizer in early spring and mid-summer |
| Pruning and Training | Prune during dormant season, train to open-centered shape |
| Pest and Disease Management | Regular inspection, prompt treatment, maintain tree hygiene |
| Harvesting Time | When peaches are firm, have a deep yellow color with a slight blush |
| Storage and Preservation | Store ripe peaches in a cool, dry place or refrigerate, consider preservation methods |
Planting Peach Trees
You’ll need to purchase your peach tree from the nursery and plant it in the late winter during the trees dormancy phase. Hold off on your planting in regions where the ground freezes during the winter. Wait for the soil to thaw and the water to drain from the snow melting away.
To reduce stress in your peach tree, it’s a good idea to plant it on the same day you buy it. If you purchase a potted peach tree, it can stay in the pot for a few weeks before planting it out into the garden.
When viewing trees at the nursery, select one that’s around a year old. Check the root system to ensure it’s healthy and there’s no presence of root rot. Choosing an old tree isn’t the best idea as it may slow growth and fruit production.
Choosing the Planting Site
When planting your peach tree, choose a spot in the yard that gets full sun. The peach tree needs at least eight hours of direct sunlight each day to produce the best fruit.
The more sun the tree gets, the bigger and tastier the peaches. Plant it in an area of the garden where the tree receives early morning sunlight that dries away the dew.
Soil
Your planting site should have well-draining soil rich in nutrients. The tree won’t grow well if you plant in compacted or clay-like soils. The ground requires moisture throughout the growing season, and the pH needs to be in the acidic range, between 6 and 6.5.
Avoid planting your peach tree in a low area of the yard. Cold air hangs in these low spots, affecting the size and quality of the fruit.
Temperature and Humidity
Peaches prefer growing in moderate temperatures. However, there are several cultivars that you can choose from to suit your local growing conditions.
Peach trees require a minimum of 600 chilling hours at temperatures of 45F or lower to start the fruiting process. However, extended periods in sub-zero temperatures may kill or damage the tree.
Peach trees can deal with humidity. However, excessive humidity may lead to the development of disease on the tree.
How to Plant Your Peach Tree
Dig a hole in the planting spot that’s around 6-inches deep and 12-inches wider than the width of the root ball. Back the soil into the hole and keep the base of the tree-level with the soil line. Don’t fertilize the tree after planting.
Caring for Peach Trees
When the tree starts to bloom, wait four to six weeks and thin the fruit to be around 6-inches apart on the branch. Growing too many peaches close together results in smaller fruit and less juicy peaches.
Thinning allows the tree to focus its energy on the remaining fruit, resulting in large, juicy peaches come harvest time.
Fertilizing
Around six weeks after planting, fertilize the peach tree with a balanced 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer. We recommend spreading a granular formulation around the base of the tree. Keep the fertilizer 18-inches away from the bottom of the trunk.
In the second year, fertilize using a ¾ pound of nitrogen-based fertilizer in the spring and early summer. In the third year, add around 1-pound of the same fertilizer.
To ensure you grow a hardy tree, don’t fertilize it within two months of the first frost date in your area. Only apply your fertilizer between the spring and mid-summer months.
- Due to agricultural laws, we cannot ship to California, AZ, AK, or HI - orders will be cancelled if you ship to one of these states
- A popular and large yellow peach variety, prized for its sweet, juicy fruit
- Flourishes in well-drained, sandy-loam soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH for optimal growth
- Provide consistent watering, apply organic mulch, and protect against late spring frosts for optimal fruit production
- USDA Hardiness Zones: Typically Zones 5-8
- Do not transplant into a container, only the ground. All pictures are of fully grown plants.
- California orders will be cancelled due to their state regualtions.
- Thrives in zones 5 through 8 with full sun.
- Size shipped is 2 to 3 feet tall in gallon containers and double boxed for a safe transport.
- Do not transplant into another container, only the ground. We ensure a successful transplant for 30 days if the included planting instructions are followed with the correct location and water. Deciduous plants bought dormant during the winter are expected to leaf out in the spring under the same conditions.
- for growers looking for a warm weather loving fruit cultivar the flordaKing peach tree is the perfect choice. this fruit tree produces sweet peaches and tolerates warm humid environments
- grow your own peaches; with the flordaKing you can grow your own harvest of sweet peaches right in your own front yard without the need for a second pollinator. peaches from this tree often ripen in may
- low chill hours; the flordaKing requires only 350 chill hours to produce fruit, this can be achieved in the warmest regions with an average fall and winter season. this tree grows well in hardiness zones 8 and 9
- beautiful flowers; this fruit tree also acts as a wonderful ornamental piece with its colorful blooms in the spring and its attractive green foliage. flowers from this tree are a delightful pink color
- flordaKing peach trees can grow to a mature size of 12-15 feet high and wide, making them a relatively small fruit bearing plant
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Pruning Peach Trees
The gardener will need to prune the tree each season. Pruning is a vital task, and it’s important for you to conduct seasonal pruning for the health of your peach tree. If you neglect the tree and don’t prune it, the branches and stems become vulnerable to infection with fungal disease. As a result, the tree starts producing less fruit.
Pruning also ensures that you get the best crop production the following growing season. Peach trees bloom and start to bear fruit in the second year after establishing themselves. For the tree to begin bearing fruit, you’ll need to look out for the red shoots that form on the branches.
Typically, trees that fruit require the development of red shoots before you start seeing results with the fruiting process. When the shoots reach 18 to 24-inches in length, the tree is ready to start fruiting.
If the gardener doesn’t prune the tree, the shoots start moving higher, towards the canopy. Eventually, the tree will stop fruiting altogether. Giving your peach tree a moderate pruning at the end of the harvest season ensures it keeps producing as much fruit as possible each year.
Prune your peach tree into an open shape. During the first summer, cut back the shoots forming on the top of the tree by a couple of buds. Check the tree again after a few months, and cut back any branches other than the three main ones you’re using for fruiting.
In the second year, cut back the middle branches in the tree’s center to stubs a prune the lower shoots. In the third year and beyond, remove the nodes forming at the tree base to help it retain its shape. It’s best to prune your fruit tree in mid to late April, and pinching the tree in the summer is a useful strategy to enhance growth.
Is the Peach Tree Toxic?
The fruit of the peach tree tastes delicious, and it’s safe to eat. However, the stone of the fruit contains a natural form of cyanide, a very toxic substance.
The cyanide also exists in the stems and leaves of the tree, keeping deer from feeding on it. When the stems and leaves start to wilt, they have peak concentrations of cyanide in the tree.
Some signs of cyanide poisoning include shortness of breath and trouble breathing, salivation, vomiting, confusion, incontinence, and shock.
Pests and Diseases Affecting Peach Trees
Some of the pests and diseases affecting peach trees include the following.
Pests
- Borers
- Aphids
- Japanese beetles
- Leafhoppers
Diseases
- Brown rot
- Powdery mildew
- Leaf curl
- Mosaic viruses
You can remove the pests by spraying the tree with diluted neem oil to chase the bugs away. Prune away and disease on the tree, and throw the plant matter in the trash, not the compost heap. If you experience severe infection on the tree, visit your local nursery and ask for a fungicidal treatment for your peach tree.
How Do I Harvest Peaches?
You can harvest your peaches after they ripen in June through August, depending on your plant variety. Peaches are temperamental and require harvesting at the right time to avoid problems occurring with the fruit.
Typically, gardeners will know its harvest time by the color of the peaches on the tree. When your peaches ripen, they change from green to yellow. Pick them from the tree by lightly twisting the fruit. Don’t eat peaches that fall to the ground as they taste funny and may have insects feeding on them.
The peaches on the exterior and top of the tree are the first to ripen. Some cultivars bruise easily, so take care when picking your peaches. To ripen your peaches fast, keep them in a paper bag in an airy room at ambient temperatures.
What Are the Best Peach Tree Varieties?
Peach trees come in hundreds of varieties to suit any climate location. Peach trees produce either freestone or clingstone fruits, and most cultivars suitable for growing a home are the freestone variety. You also have options for choosing white or orange flesh and early or late-fruiting peach trees.
Here are our favorite varieties that will suit your garden.
- “Halehaven” – A sweet mid-season cultivar, offering gardeners vigorous growth and large yields.
- “Reliance” – An early-season variety ideal for growing in cooler climates.
- “Galaxy” and “Saturn” – These cultivars have white flesh and are very sweet.
- “Bonanza” – A dwarf variety that produces full-sized peaches.
Peach Tree FAQS
How long does it take for a peach tree to bear fruit?
Peach trees typically start bearing fruit when they are about 2 to 4 years old. However, the exact time can vary depending on the specific peach tree variety and growing conditions.
How long does it take to grow a peach tree?
From planting a peach tree, it usually takes about 3 to 4 years for the tree to reach maturity and start producing fruit. During this time, the tree goes through different stages of growth, including establishment, vegetative growth, and fruiting.
Do you need 2 peach trees to produce fruit?
Most peach tree varieties are self-fertile, which means they can produce fruit with their own pollen. However, having two or more peach trees in close proximity can enhance cross-pollination and increase fruit production. Cross-pollination between different varieties can improve fruit quality, yield, and extend the harvest period.
Are peaches easy to grow?
Peaches can be moderately challenging to grow compared to some other fruit trees. They require specific soil and climate conditions, regular pruning, and pest management. However, with proper care and attention to their needs, they can be successfully grown by home gardeners and orchardists.
Will a single peach tree produce fruit?
Yes, a single peach tree can produce fruit. As mentioned earlier, most peach tree varieties are self-fertile and capable of producing fruit with their own pollen. However, having multiple trees or different peach varieties nearby can improve pollination and potentially increase fruit production.
How tall is a 2-year-old peach tree?
The height of a 2-year-old peach tree can vary depending on the specific variety and growing conditions. On average, a 2-year-old peach tree can be around 2 to 4 feet tall. However, it’s important to note that the growth rate and size can differ based on factors such as rootstock, pruning, and overall plant health.
