Q. I did some reading on the Indian Free peach tree and
one of the articles said that another type of peach tree could pollinate the
Indian Free. If this is true, can a May pride or Florida Prince peach (early
producers) pollinate the Indian Free?
What month does the Indian Free produce here in Las Vegas?
one of the articles said that another type of peach tree could pollinate the
Indian Free. If this is true, can a May pride or Florida Prince peach (early
producers) pollinate the Indian Free?
What month does the Indian Free produce here in Las Vegas?
 |
| Indian Free peach on the tree at the UNCE Orchard. |
A. With only a few exceptions, peach trees are
self-pollinating which means you only need one peach tree to set fruit. Two of
the big exceptions are Indian Free and a variety called J.H. Hale. Any other
peach other than Indian Free will pollinate it as long as the flowers open at
the same time as Indian Free.
self-pollinating which means you only need one peach tree to set fruit. Two of
the big exceptions are Indian Free and a variety called J.H. Hale. Any other
peach other than Indian Free will pollinate it as long as the flowers open at
the same time as Indian Free.
If you
have a neighbor with a peach variety other than Indian Free yours will probably
set fruit just fine. You only need about 5% of the flowers to set fruit to have
a full crop of peaches that will still require thinning or fruit removal to
allow the remaining fruit to get bigger.
have a neighbor with a peach variety other than Indian Free yours will probably
set fruit just fine. You only need about 5% of the flowers to set fruit to have
a full crop of peaches that will still require thinning or fruit removal to
allow the remaining fruit to get bigger.
I never
used to worry about pollination too much at the Orchard because we had so many
different varieties growing there pollination was never a concern.
used to worry about pollination too much at the Orchard because we had so many
different varieties growing there pollination was never a concern.
.JPG) |
| Indian Free peach on the inside. |
Fruit
pollination and fruit set can vary with different types of fruit trees as well
as among varieties. Fruit set and pollination can vary from no fruit set to
partial fruit set (a few fruits on the tree) without a pollinator. By having another variety of the same type of
fruit close by, fruit set can go from light to heavy.
Another
option you have with Indian Free peach if you have a small yard is to plant more
than one peach tree in the same hole. You can pick another of your favorite
peaches that produce fruit at a different time of year and be picking peaches
at two different times. Indian Free peach is not a late peach but it is not
early either. It produces fruit around the end of July here.
option you have with Indian Free peach if you have a small yard is to plant more
than one peach tree in the same hole. You can pick another of your favorite
peaches that produce fruit at a different time of year and be picking peaches
at two different times. Indian Free peach is not a late peach but it is not
early either. It produces fruit around the end of July here.
You
could put an early peach in the same hole as the Indian Free and it will act as
a pollinator for the Indian Free and also produce peaches earlier in the
season. Any of the early peaches will work just fine such as Earlitreat, May
Pride or FlordaPrince. You would plant them in the same hole about 18 inches
apart. One peach tree would be planted on the East side of the hole and the
other on the west side of the hole.
could put an early peach in the same hole as the Indian Free and it will act as
a pollinator for the Indian Free and also produce peaches earlier in the
season. Any of the early peaches will work just fine such as Earlitreat, May
Pride or FlordaPrince. You would plant them in the same hole about 18 inches
apart. One peach tree would be planted on the East side of the hole and the
other on the west side of the hole.
You
don’t want to plant them with one on the South and the other on the North unless
you know that the less vigorous of the two is planted on the South side. In
other words, if there is a big difference in how robust or vigorous they grow,
always put the most vigorous variety on the north side where it will receive
less direct sunlight.
don’t want to plant them with one on the South and the other on the North unless
you know that the less vigorous of the two is planted on the South side. In
other words, if there is a big difference in how robust or vigorous they grow,
always put the most vigorous variety on the north side where it will receive
less direct sunlight.
Peaches
or any fruit trees which are planted in the same hole will require that you
control their growth like a totalitarian regime; each of the fruit trees will
have their own space and neither of them will be allowed to encroach or invade
the other’s space.
or any fruit trees which are planted in the same hole will require that you
control their growth like a totalitarian regime; each of the fruit trees will
have their own space and neither of them will be allowed to encroach or invade
the other’s space.
Once two
trees are planted in the same hole, each of them is only allowed to half of the
allotted space for one tree. The tree on the east can occupy only the east side
and the tree on the west only the west side. Any growth from the east tree which
is growing to the west or even northwest or southwest is eliminated. Any growth
from the west tree that is growing to the east or even the northeast or southeast
is eliminated.
trees are planted in the same hole, each of them is only allowed to half of the
allotted space for one tree. The tree on the east can occupy only the east side
and the tree on the west only the west side. Any growth from the east tree which
is growing to the west or even northwest or southwest is eliminated. Any growth
from the west tree that is growing to the east or even the northeast or southeast
is eliminated.
Food for
thought. You are not limited to growing only one or two fruit trees in a single
hole. I have grown as many as four in a single hole and I have seen as many as
eight demonstrated. Good luck with your Indian Free peach. It is a wonderful
peach to grow in the desert.
thought. You are not limited to growing only one or two fruit trees in a single
hole. I have grown as many as four in a single hole and I have seen as many as
eight demonstrated. Good luck with your Indian Free peach. It is a wonderful
peach to grow in the desert.