Fruitgirl - I think you are right about the climate in that area. I only tried 1 kind of peach from the "Chambersburg" type since they were much more expensive to purchase than the others (even within the same market where I bought them). I don't know exactly what variety it was and the people at the market get more than one variety (depending on when it's ripe) from the Chambersburg area. So, depending on when you go to the market, one week may be one variety from Chambersburg and 2 weeks later they may be selling another variety. They also had other peaches there not from "Chambersburg" and were less expensive. I purchased some the week before I went at another local farmer's market in Ohio. They were nothing outstanding and quite boring actually. So I'm guessing that it's a particular variety that grows extremely well in that climate. How much success I'll have may depend on how different my climate is from the Chambersburg area. Although it's only a few hours away from me, I still think it's worth a try. What's odd too, is that I read online somewhere that there are only 2 peach growers from that area and neither ship their peaches. So either the market where I bought them physically went to that area to get the peaches, or they had them shipped in from a nearby area still claiming to be in the vacinity of Chambersburg. http://www.explorefranklincountypa.com/whats-new/detail.cfm?id=10 http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=5760#SlideFrame_1

Do you have to cut the tree back hard or something so if you know how can you how far to prune it back since the tree's limbs are a little leggy but the fruit production is great. And what is the recommended pruning when it is needed?

Rayrose, I'm engaging in discussion- not trying to suggest your advice is bad. This is a forum for more than just simple advice and a lot of people are interested in why and not just proscribed directions from "experts". These experts often contradict each other but if you have a sense of the reasoning and research behind advice you can better learn how to deal with problems from a point of actual understanding. I think that's how you get good at most anything. I believe the reason sealants are no longer recommended is that they've generally been found not useful, at best, in research. If you have research to counter this, please forward it- I'd much rather stand corrected than remain ignorant. Many horticultural traditions are found wanting when put to actual trial. Don't you find it interesting that Cornell recommends pruning peach trees when they are in growth to help prevent gummosis, while your experts suggest pruning during peak dormancy? It may be based on weather conditions but I suspect one or the other side is wrong and I'm very curious to know which.

It can be brown rot, but I'm not sure. The way you can be sure you have brown rot is some of the peaches in an advanced stage will have the brown dull powdery stuff on the outside. If that is what you have you need to spray, primarily in the early phases of fruit formation, to prevent the disease, and also perhaps a spray in July just before fruits start ripening. I use Serenade, an organic product, and it seems to work OK. You can also use propiconazole (Monterey Garden Fungi-Fighter). The peaches rotting in the bag are probably rotting due to brown rot, so it does sound like the fungus is present. The only thing about your description that doesn't quite add up is the way the fruits are falling off before they ripen. When you have brown rot they usually don't drop early, and in fact they can "mummify" on the tree, turning all shriveled and gross. Also it sounds like the fruits falling off look fine, just hard and unripe. It makes me wonder a bit if a storm or hail or something didn't come through and blow them off. One last thing it could be is some varieties of peach can drop fruits when they are young trees. It is common for them to drop in June but is not common to drop so late. Overall, I would spray for brown rot next year and hope for better luck.. Scott