Peach trees really aren't that hard to grow. The hardest part may be having enough patience to wait for those first peaches!
If you're reading this, you've probably already looked at several articles about growing peaches. If you're anything like me, you've probably read so much about soil, chill hours, pruning, diseases, fertilizer, and planting techniques that growing a peach tree suddenly sounds much harder than it needs to be.
Don't let all of that overwhelm you.
We have grown apples, plums, and peaches here on our homestead, and I've learned that sometimes the best thing you can do is plant the tree, take reasonable care of it, and see what happens.
QUICK GROWING GUIDE
Sun: Full sun, 6–8+ hours
Plant: Spring or fall
Spacing: Depends on the mature size of your variety
Water: Regularly while young and during dry weather
Fertilizer: Feed in spring if needed
Pruning: Once a year
Fruit: Usually a few years after planting
Pollination: Many peach varieties are self-fertile
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
BUY A TREE OR GROW ONE FROM A PEACH PIT?
For the easiest and most predictable results, buy a healthy young peach tree that's recommended for your area.
But that certainly isn't the only way to grow one.
One of the best peach trees in our family was grown from a grocery-store peach pit.
My mother can grow almost anything. After eating one of the best peaches she'd ever tasted, she saved the pit and planted it.
That little peach pit eventually became a huge tree loaded with peaches.
Just goes to show that you don't necessarily need a lot of money to start growing fruit.
You do need patience.
If you grow a peach tree from a pit, keep in mind that the peaches it eventually produces may not be exactly like the peach the pit came from.
But if you've already got the pit, why not plant it and see what happens?
WHERE TO PLANT A PEACH TREE
Peach trees like sunshine, so choose a spot that gets at least 6–8 hours of sun a day.
You also don't want to put your tree somewhere water constantly stands after a rain.
That's about as complicated as I'd make choosing a location for a beginner:
Sunshine + a place that doesn't stay soggy.
Before planting, it's also worth checking how large your particular tree is expected to get. A dwarf peach needs much less room than a full-size tree.
HOW TO PLANT A PEACH TREE
If you've purchased a potted peach tree, dig a hole that's wider than the root ball but don't bury the tree much deeper than it was growing in the container.
Remove it from the pot, place it in the hole, fill the soil back around the roots, and water it well.
Then keep it watered while it's getting established.
That's really all you need to worry about on planting day.
WATERING YOUR PEACH TREE
Young peach trees need more attention to watering while they're establishing their roots.
During hot, dry weather, check the soil and water deeply when it begins drying out.
Once your tree is established, you shouldn't have to stand outside with a measuring cup trying to figure out exactly how many inches of water it received.
Pay attention to the tree and your weather.
If it hasn't rained in a while and the ground is dry, give it some water.
FERTILIZING PEACH TREES
This doesn't need to be complicated either.
If your peach tree needs feeding, spring is a good time to fertilize as it begins actively growing.
Use a fertilizer labeled for fruit trees and follow the package directions.
Don't assume more fertilizer means more peaches. Too much can encourage lots of leafy growth instead of helping the tree produce fruit.
DO YOU HAVE TO PRUNE A PEACH TREE?
Some pruning is helpful, but you don't have to become a pruning expert before planting your first peach tree.
At the very least, remove:
- Dead branches
- Damaged branches
- Branches rubbing against one another
- Growth that's making the center extremely crowded
Peach trees benefit from an open shape that lets sunlight and air reach the branches.
If you eventually want to learn more advanced peach pruning, you certainly can. You don't need to master it before you grow the tree.
WHY DOES MY TREE HAVE SO MANY TINY PEACHES?
This is actually a good problem to have!
Sometimes a peach tree sets far more fruit than its branches should carry.
Once the peaches are small, thin some of them so the remaining fruit has room to develop. Leaving roughly 6–8 inches between peaches is an easy guideline.
It may feel terrible to pull perfectly good baby peaches off your tree, but thinning can help you end up with larger fruit and reduce the weight on the branches.
IF YOUR PEACH TREE ISN'T DOING WELL
Leaves are curling or look strange: Peach leaf curl is a common problem. If it happens repeatedly, look into a dormant-season treatment appropriate for peach leaf curl in your area.
Peaches are rotting on the tree: Brown rot can affect peaches, particularly during warm, wet weather. Remove rotten or damaged fruit rather than leaving it on the tree or ground.
Tree has flowers but no peaches: A late freeze can damage peach blossoms. Weather can sometimes ruin a crop even when you've done everything right.
Branches are overloaded with peaches: Thin some of the fruit while it's still small.
Tree isn't producing yet: It may simply be too young. Peach trees generally need a few years before they begin producing a worthwhile crop.
DO YOU NEED TWO PEACH TREES?
Usually, no.
Many commonly grown peach varieties are self-fertile, which means one tree can produce peaches without another peach tree nearby.
However, check the tag or description for the particular variety you're buying.
And there's certainly nothing wrong with having more than one peach tree!
WHEN TO HARVEST PEACHES
Don't depend entirely on color because peach varieties can look quite different when ripe.
A ripe peach should have developed its mature color, smell wonderfully peachy, and give slightly when gently pressed.
It should also come away from the branch fairly easily.
Handle ripe peaches carefully—they bruise easily.
And if you've waited several years for your first homegrown peach, I highly recommend eating at least one while you're standing beside the tree.
WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THOSE PEACHES
If your tree really starts producing, you may suddenly have more peaches than you can eat fresh.
Whether you're using peaches straight from the tree or picking up a basket at the farmers market, there are plenty of delicious ways to enjoy them.
If you are looking for some great recipes:
DON'T OVERTHINK GROWING PEACHES
You can find an enormous amount of information about growing the perfect peach.
Some of it is useful—especially if your tree develops a problem.
But you don't need to know everything about peach trees before you plant one.
My mother planted the pit from a grocery-store peach because she loved the peach.
That pit grew into a huge tree loaded with fruit.
That's probably the best reminder I can give anyone who feels intimidated by growing fruit trees.
Buy a healthy tree—or plant that peach pit.
Put it somewhere sunny. Keep it watered while it's getting established. Fertilize when needed. Do a little pruning.
And then give it time.
Sometimes gardening really is as simple as planting something and seeing what happens.