Who doesn't love mouth-watering peaches? These delicious fruits are so easy to grow and with the varieties and size of trees available there is no excuse not to plant a tree.
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Peaches were developed in China in an area of greatest diversity under conditions that gave a selective advantage to self-pollination. Thus peach varieties can usually be grown without pollinators.
Peaches have been grown and selected in China since at least 2000 BC where it seems likely that the nectarine, a smooth skinned peach, arose as a mutant.
We know the peach was being grown in Greece around 300 BC but the Romans did not cultivate it until the 1st century AD.
Peaches come in two main types, freestones generally for fresh consumption and clingstones mainly for preserving.
Size range is from a small tree to dwarf and miniature which means there is one suitable for most gardens.
Peaches are sold as either bare-rooted or potted trees and grow well in Tasmania if the right variety is chosen.
They require a deep, friable, rich, well-drained soil in a sunny position.
If water should lie about the tree's roots in the winter months this could cause problems the following spring.
The tree will commence to grow in spring from sap reserves from last season but once that has gone and there is no spring sap from damaged, waterlogged roots then the tree will collapse and eventually die.
If drainage is a problem, plant in a raised bed or select a dwarf variety for a large container.
Mulch the root area to retain moisture and suppress weeds and do keep it away from the trunk.
Although they have a short life span and start to decline after 15 to 20 years, peaches tend to bear fruit within two to four years after planting.
When choosing a peach variety remember that not all varieties will thrive in all districts.
Sometimes even a few kilometres apart will make the difference between a heavy crop of fruit or a poor one and if the tree starts out bearing light crops there in nothing you can do about it.
Peaches vary in their bearing habitats because of their much-varied chilling requirements.
It is now known that all fruit trees must have a certain degree of winter coldness to mature their fruit buds.
If they don't get this the fruit buds open erratically, the blossom may be weak, or as in the case of the peach simply drop off before opening.
In winter prune to open up the centre and remove any crowded or damaged branches.
Remove excess fruit in the early stages to enable remaining fruit to grow to a good size.
To control leaf curl, brown rot and other fungal diseases spray with a fungicide at the recommended timing and rate of application.
To ripen peaches seal the fruit in a paper bag and the ethylene gas which the fruit emits will speed up the process.
Ask for advice at your local plant centre as to which peach variety would suit your area.
Diary
July 16: Australian Native Plant Society, Max Fry Hall, Gorge Road, Trevallyn, 7.30pm. Peter Voller will speak on the re-vegetation and clean up of the Supply River.
July 17: Launceston Horticultural Society, Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, 8pm. Speaker is Andrea O'Halloran from the Hillwood Strawberry Farm.
July 20: APSTAS North West will visit a nature conservancy property at Lower Barrington, meeting at 11am. Details contact Drew 0488 402 210.
July 24: LHS Cacti & Succulent Group, Windmill Hill Hall (meeting room underneath), 7.30pm. Members and visitors welcome. Contact Pam 0427 637 208.