Peach

Peaches need full sun and well-drained sandy loam near pH 6.0-6.5; wet roots quickly cause trouble. Use soil-test-based spring feeding, train an open canopy, and prune each year to renew the one-year-old shoots that bear fruit.

Sun

Full sun

Water

Water deeply during establishment; adjust to rainfall and soil

Spacing

180 in

First harvest

2–4 years

Tips

• Plant a climate-adapted grafted tree with its graft union above soil and avoid low spots that collect cold air.
• Water deeply during establishment and fruit enlargement, keeping mulch away from the trunk.
• Use modest spring nitrogen based on tree growth and soil tests, avoiding late-season feeding.
• Train an open-center framework before allowing heavy crops and thin young fruit to about 6-8 inches apart.
• Watch for peach leaf curl and brown rot, following dormant treatment guidance where needed, and pick when background green fades and fruit yields slightly.

Plant dormant bare-root grafted trees in early spring or container-grown trees in spring.

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