Q. I planted a peach tree that
has 3 varieties of peach grafted into the same tree. I can’t remember the names
of the peaches. In either case, my tree bore no fruit last spring. What can I
do to get fruit this season?
A. It is fortunate you have
only different peaches on your fruit cocktail tree. When there is a mixture of
different types of fruits on the same tree the tree is harder to manage.
You didn’t mention the age of the trees but sounds like a
pruning problem if it had peaches in previous years. It is possible it could have been a late freeze as well. It depends if you saw flowers or not. Flowers and no fruit…probably a freeze problem. No flowers at all. Probably a pruning problem.
pruning problem if it had peaches in previous years. It is possible it could have been a late freeze as well. It depends if you saw flowers or not. Flowers and no fruit…probably a freeze problem. No flowers at all. Probably a pruning problem.
Pruning a peach requires
removing half of last year’s growth. It is getting late now but you can still prune
during, and a couple of weeks after, bloom.
One big problem with “cocktail” types of fruit
trees is the different rates of growth between the different fruits. Some are
more vigorous than others.
trees is the different rates of growth between the different fruits. Some are
more vigorous than others.
This can give the tree an unbalanced look before pruning.
All of the growth, more vigorous
types and less vigorous types, must be brought back into proportion each year.This will require more aggressive pruning on the more vigorously growing sides of the tree. If you don’t do this, the more aggressive varieties will dominate and probably eliminate the less vigorous ones.
All of the growth, more vigorous
types and less vigorous types, must be brought back into proportion each year.This will require more aggressive pruning on the more vigorously growing sides of the tree. If you don’t do this, the more aggressive varieties will dominate and probably eliminate the less vigorous ones.
Another problem is that parts of the tree will be in
flower at different times. During bloom move slowly and carefully making sure
you do not accidentally hurt any bees.
They are busy “working” the flowers the same time you are
pruning. If you are not careful, they will view your work as “aggressive”
behavior and defensively sting.
flower at different times. During bloom move slowly and carefully making sure
you do not accidentally hurt any bees.
They are busy “working” the flowers the same time you are
pruning. If you are not careful, they will view your work as “aggressive”
behavior and defensively sting.
 |
| Bee in peach blossom |
Fruit comes from flower buds growing along the length of
last year’s growth. In peach and nectarine, fruit buds are only produced on
last year’s reddish growth. Older brownish wood does not produce fruit. Older
wood is there to support the fruit and, with your help through pruning, balance
the fruit load throughout the canopy.
last year’s growth. In peach and nectarine, fruit buds are only produced on
last year’s reddish growth. Older brownish wood does not produce fruit. Older
wood is there to support the fruit and, with your help through pruning, balance
the fruit load throughout the canopy.
.jpg) |
| Here you can see the older brown wood (two year old wood and no flowers) and the newer (last years) reddish brown growth with flowers. |
Your purpose in pruning is to give the tree structure
that will support the fruit, distribute the fruit load and allow light to get
inside the canopy. Last year’s growth is easy to see because it is reddish
brown compared to the older, brown wood.
that will support the fruit, distribute the fruit load and allow light to get
inside the canopy. Last year’s growth is easy to see because it is reddish
brown compared to the older, brown wood.
The more vigorous growth requires more aggressive
pruning. First bring the tree into “balance” by removing older wood that is
growing too close together and remove any strong vertical growth.
pruning. First bring the tree into “balance” by removing older wood that is
growing too close together and remove any strong vertical growth.
Preserve 50% of the best reddish growth when pruning for
fruit production. If your pruning removes all of the new, reddish growth, you
will have no fruit.
fruit production. If your pruning removes all of the new, reddish growth, you
will have no fruit.
 |
| Strong vertical growth is normally removed unless there was nothing else in that area to bear fruit. |
When pruning, remove reddish growth that is growing perfectly
upright. Fruit from this growth will dangle above older wood and get damaged as
it gets bigger. It will also help to keep the canopy open for better light
penetration.
upright. Fruit from this growth will dangle above older wood and get damaged as
it gets bigger. It will also help to keep the canopy open for better light
penetration.
Next, remove reddish growth that is growing straight down.
Finally remove reddish growth along the branch that is closer than 4 to 5
inches apart. Leave the most robust reddish growth spaced far enough apart for
bearing the fruit.
Finally remove reddish growth along the branch that is closer than 4 to 5
inches apart. Leave the most robust reddish growth spaced far enough apart for
bearing the fruit.
Lastly, if you have reddish growth that is exceedingly
long (over 18 inches in length), cut it back to about 10 inches.
long (over 18 inches in length), cut it back to about 10 inches.
Thanks for the answer. My question is what should I do/have done to my peach tree? Spray with lime sulfur, volk oil or something else?
Right now you can spray with Volck Supreme summer oil or any summer oil provided it is not in bloom. If it is in bloom wait until after bloom and you can still spray for about a month yet on peaches. The next thing to watch for in peaches is peach twig borer damage in new shoots. You would control them when damage is seen with Bt. These are the same critters that cause wormy peaches. I will post more on it in the near future and show you pics of their damage both to new shoots and the fruit.