saturn peach trees and help with other peach trees.......
coug51eh
16 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (7)
Scott F Smith
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agocoug51eh
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
What to spray on peach tree? And other newbie questions
Comments (4)Have you seen any stink bugs? They feed on green fruit, causing damage and increasing the risk of brown rot (WVU Kearneysville). There aren't any pesticides for home use for stink bugs. They're very slow moving, however... I've only found a few, and I picked them up and flushed them down the toilet. Someone last year in this forum described a DIY stinkbug trap... wish I had bookmarked that. Most people recommend that you identify your particular pest so you can choose an appropriate spray. If you post pictures here, someone with more experience may be able to help. Once you've identified your problems, you may find the Virginia Tech spray guide helpful: Virginia Tech Home Fruit Sprays. You probably won't need all the sprays they list, that's why it's so important to figure out which problems you are having. Good luck!...See MoreWhat's wrong with my Elberta peach tree (peaches don't grow)
Comments (16)I would still thin a whole lot off. Even though that won't help the size at all, it might help the few left to ripen, and you might get a taste of them. Elberta should not ripen for another month or longer if you are in zone 6. And it won't stress the tree as much and it might put more into growth for next year...See MoreSaturn and other early peaches a bit disappointing
Comments (18)Hman, You're right, I do thin more than commercial guidelines. I think perhaps the difference may be related to vigor. A lot of my shoots are 3' long as the norm (although not this season with the drought). Someone with just 18" of shoot extension would leave two fruit on that shoot (by commercial guidelines). However with my shoots being much longer, I'd leave five fruit on a 3' shoot (by commercial guidelines). Multiplied by lots of shoots, it becomes too much weight for the tree to bear. So I have to thin a bit more aggressively to compensate for the increased vigor, I think. I believe it's also a little windier here so that it takes less weight to break branches than in most parts of the county. I noticed I had a large broken branch yesterday on one of the trees, but I've been catching a lot of possums lately, so it could have been a possum that broke it down. I do think I sometimes over thin on some trees, but I still try to follow the 12" rule because I have a somewhat laissez-faire attitude about yield. I know I have some mature trees that produce two bushel of fruit when they should really be producing three, or younger trees producing 25 lbs. of fruit when they should be producing 50 lbs., but at this point I don't get too excited about the lost opportunity. Maybe I'll go broke with that attitude. I'm sure I've still got a lot to learn about growing peaches commercially. I recommend thinning to 12" on this forum not only because I do so, but also because the tendency for most people harvesting their first fruit is to under thin. Even if they over thin a bit, as I sometimes do, I think a lot of people will be happier with their first harvest of nice large fruits vs. making a mistake the other way and have a tree full of peaches that are little bitty. But you're right, I think a lot of trees can tolerate one fruit for every 8" of branch space or so, under lower wind and vigor conditions....See Moremy peach tree's peaches
Comments (8)Peaches have a growth pause at that point in the growth, they are hardening the seed shell. The growth should pick up soon. There is no reason to treat curl now because it won't help. Spray lime-sulphur at leaf fall and before leaf-out. Based on how little curl I see in the picture it should not set your tree back too much this year. Scott...See MoreScott F Smith
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agocoug51eh
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agocoug51eh
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoScott F Smith
16 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Related Stories
EDIBLE GARDENSHow to Grow Your Own Peaches and Nectarines
Make gardening a little sweeter with these juicy fruits, which you can eat after plucking or preserve for later
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSGrow Plum Hybrids for Your Favorite Fruit Flavors
Plums are cozying up with apricots, peaches and even cherries — here’s how to grow these hybrids for the best aspects of each
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSHow to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home
Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESPrunus Virginiana Thrives Under Deciduous Trees
Plant chokecherry for showy white flowers favored by native bees in spring, and to provide nesting habitat and food for birds
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESPlant Black Cherry Trees for the Birds and Bees
Plant Prunus serotina in the Central and Eastern U.S. for spring flowers, interesting bark and beautiful fall color
Full StoryFRUIT TREESHow to Grow Your Own Juicy Plums
Easier than other stone fruits and with a variety of colors to choose from, plums are a versatile garden addition
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGCrazy for Fruit Trees
Whether a single citrus or a mini apple orchard, even the smallest landscape space can bear deliriously delicious fruit
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDIf You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...
Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate
Full StoryTREES7 Deer-Resistant Flowering Trees to Plant this Fall
If you live in a neighborhood with roaming deer, consider these beautiful trees that won't tempt hungry guests
Full StoryPETS6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together
Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian
Full Story
jellyman