Posted: 7/11/2013 5:03:52 PM EDT
My wife bought me a Redhaven Peach tree in the spring. After planting, I pruned it to a bowl shape with four main branches and horizontal off-shoots. I didn't expect much, but I got a bunch of blossoms and six peaches. Over the course of the spring, all but one of the peaches disappeared. Here's what's left:
Two questions: 1. When should I pick it? Since it's my first, I don't want to lose it to windfall. 2. Is it normal for branches to bend like that? What's going to happen when a branch has a half-dozen fruits? |
| I will say I am not a peach expert, I do however have 3-4 peach trees on the new property, fruit trees will self prune, which means dropping fruit until the plant can support it. this is one reason why people prune limbs to certain degrees to ensure the branches are as strong as possible. As far as when to pick it I would say 1-2 days before you think you should, I had a decent little crop last year and I tried one and it was just a little to firm so I left the rest on there planning to pick them the next day or two, I came back two days later and something (either raccoon or black bear) had eaten every single peach... |
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Branches bend under the weight of the fruit, its normal.
Pull at the peach it should come off with a few pounds of pressure when ripe (you don't have to pull too hard). The one in the pic looks close to being ripe. You should have pulled the blossoms off as soon as they appeared. The first year the tree is in the ground you don't want it to produce fruit. The first year establishing the roots is important. Nothing takes as much energy and nutrients from the roots as making fruit. Peaches are pretty easy going (usually) and the second year you can expect a bit of fruit. Other trees I kind of play it by ear. If a tree has a good first year with good growing conditions and no animal damage I won't pick the blossoms off the second year, but still don't expect much fruit. If a tree didn't do great the first year (drought or animal damage) I'll pull the blossoms the second and maybe even the third year to get the roots strengthened. |
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Quoted:
fruit trees will self prune, which means dropping fruit until the plant can support it That's not the case here. I was checking the tree almost daily and there were no fruit on the ground. Quoted:
You should have pulled the blossoms off as soon as they appeared. The first year the tree is in the ground you don't want it to produce fruit. Well, I know that for next time.  Thanks for the info.
Quoted:
in not too many years, you will have more darn peaches than you know what do with. I'm already prepared for that: Peach mead recipe |