Regular spring maintenance pruning is the same as for other
trees. Get rid of dead branches and shape the tree to be
open and without crisscrossing branches. Also, when the
tree begins to bear, you will have to thin out fruit
growing too close together. One peach to every four or five
inches of branch is plenty for it to bear. Even so, if a
mature tree lets its branches droop heavily with fruit, you
may have to support the branches with braces. Peach trees
are prone to natural pruning, that is, branches break off
from the weight of too much fruit.
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PROBLEMS
Most peach tree problems will not strike a healthy tree.
And those that are serious enough to destroy the tree won't
be stopped by all the chemicals or anything else around,
unless you kill the tree first anyhow. So sit back and let
nature take its course. Fertilize your trees with
nitrogen-rich compost in early spring to boost plant
growth. Mulch the orchard, but keep the mulch at least two
feet from the trunks to minimize peach tree borers. Prune
away dead branches and those with injured bark, and pick
off any strange bugs or their nests that you spot.
HARVESTING
Pick peaches when soft enough to give slightly under light
thumb pressure. You've squeezed peaches at your local
green-grocer's. Same principle, different fruit . . . the
ones you pick ripe off the tree are much more nourishing.
Twist fruit up and out as with others.
Peaches not fully ripe can be picked for storage if the
season is running out on you, but be sure not to bruise
them. Even gently harvested, they won't store for more than
three or four weeks in a cool cellar. Make jam of the
extras . . . peach jam rivals apricot for sheer
lusciousness.
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