Peaches in the backyard garden need some care all year round.
Listed below are activities for each season.
Winter Dormant Season• Spray trees with dormant oil to control San Jose scale
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San Jose scale
• Spray fixed copper to control peach leaf curl December 1st and February 1st
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peach leaf curl
• Prune out 50% of last year’s wood to thin the crop, insure good shoot growth and fruiting potential for future years
Spring Bloom Season• Apply fungicide during bloom to prevent brown rot, which may require 1–3 sprays, depending on weather. Rainy periods require more spray
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brown rot
• Fertilize young trees monthly with high nitrogen fertilizer beginning April 1st. Use one-half pound urea or 25 pounds manure per application per tree. Mature trees need 50% more. Water fertilizer in. If drip irrigated, do not exceed 1 ounce urea per emitter per month
• Thin fruits when marble-sized to about 6 inches apart. Thinning reduces fruit numbers, but increases size and prevents limb breakage
Summer Growing Season• Fertilize young trees monthly. Use one-half pound urea or 25 pounds manure per application per tree. Mature trees need 50% more. Water fertilizer in. If drip irrigated, do not exceed 1 ounce urea per emitter per month
• Drip irrigate daily or sprinkler irrigate about every 3 weeks
• Maintain a weed free area around the base of the trees within 3 feet of the trunk with an organic mulch 3–4 inches deep
Fall Harvest Season• Spray for shot hole fungus in November before first heavy rain; use fixed copper
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shot hole fungus
• Fertilize and irrigate just after harvest
• At leaf fall, remove and destroy or compost leaves to prevent the spread of peach scab
• Remove mummies from tree
Read more about the calendar of activities for peaches.
