Posted on Aug 18, 2022 11:54 AMWe started our Red Haven tree as a very small tree in April 2018 in our front yard, in the city (zone 6a, SE Michigan). The first two years we protected it against some early frosts. Yes, we pampered it a bit the first two years.
It is now in its 4th year, 5th summer and we did not pamper it at all this spring. However, there were not early frosts, so that may have helped ensure the bumper crop we have this year.
(Photo above, 2022 peaches.) I hear it's good to plant peach trees and the like near houses as the building heat helps protect it against early frosts.
We netted our tree last year. This year, we have SO many, it's not an issue. We are picking them before they are all ripe. When we did that last year (many less peaches), they ripened beautifully.
I did spray twice in the winter with an organic copper fungicide to protect against peach leaf curl. It helped a lot. (You can use it on hollyhocks and roses too.) It MUST be sprayed in the winter before the buds swell. I understand that there is a peach borer insect that can be deadly to trees. I have organic gardens, so planting many flowers that attract beneficial predators of such insects may help. So far I haven't had a problem with bugs, but I do plan to follow the recommendations below, including the use of Neem (organic) to repel any possible borers.
https://www.groworganic.com/bl...
https://www.planetnatural.com/...
Next year I will thin the peaches considerably when they are walnut sized or pick off blossoms so they aren't so dense. Peach growers do this, I learned. Less peaches, much bigger fruit.
Our tree was SO heavy this year we needed to prop up the branches with boards and sticks, and that was after thinning SOME of the peaches!
We are now planning to can them and make peach jam. So worth it! Having peaches and bananas for breakfast is delightful!
- Deb
#peaches
#Michigan
#waitingonpatience
#results
