The super simple calendar for a tree that has not started bearing fruit is prune in March, spray copper/oil just as the buds swell, fertilize in April by top-dressing with compost and a handful of 5-5-5 or similar, and mulch with wood chips out to the canopy size sometime in spring. During the growing season there is not much to do until the tree bears fruit. Once it starts bearing you will have a load of work and challenges. Do water the tree in dry spells. In the fall if the tree got some disease such as bacterial spot during the summer, spray copper again just after the leaves have fallen. There is probably no need to paint trunks white in the mid-atlantic, that is for sunnier places. I would not recommend tree guards as they can be home for pests. Some common mid-atlantic problems you should read up on for when the tree starts to bear include: plum curculio, oriental fruit moth, stink bugs, bacterial spot, brown rot, peach tree borer, squirrels, deer. All of these have been major problems for me at some point. There are many other things listed in the literature but its these "biggies" that will keep you busy. Scott

Hi I am back, sorry for the delay of responsing those replies i got, i saw them already, but i did not reply to them. Hi Harvestman. I live in Finland, southern Finland more exactly (Or southwestern Finland). Yes you got it right i am far from your state New York. Thanks for explanation about your growing thing compared to USDA zones. I think so too growing peaches/fruit trees is more than USDA zones. Hi Luke_oh you got it right. I live in Finland. Hi Theaceofaspade. Your post about southern Finland was quite good, quite accurate i meant, but i think our weather is little different nowdays, warmer, compared of that you wrote. I write some comments to your text. Finland has weather type somewhere between maritime and continental weather type. Maritime weather type is in western Finland and more continental weather type is in eastern Finland. I have that more maritime weather type i think rather than continental weather type. Then you wrote about our winter. Snow doesn't cover 4 months in winter every year in my opinion, but perhaps most year. We can have days in winter when there is not much snow on the ground, or no snow in ground, this can happen mid winter sometimes, but i don't think it is big problem here, because when snow is not in ground, it probably is because it has been melted and that means temperature was 0 Celsius or above. Here when temperature is low and air is cold, then usually have snow in ground (I think usually so but no guarantees for that). Luckily so, i think snow cover protects fruit trees roots. Then you wrote coldest days are around -20 Celsius. Our winters are variable here, some years are colder and some are warmer. On year 2008 we did not drop above mentioned - 20 Celsius on any day. I think we can drop to - 20 Celsius many years, but cold don't last very long, we usually recover it in few days in my opinion. Recover to about less than -10 Celsius in day i think or so... Also as is case in year 2008 temperature may drop down and recover during same day too, for example 16.2.2008. that happened (high -3 C, low -17 C, average -10C). I didn't specifically check that date, whether tempeture first drop and then recover or first higher temperature and then drop, if yout think it. Then you said warmest days of July and early August can be 25-30 C. You are correct. I think this true, additionally it is also possible tempereature reach 25 Celsius in june, that happened year 2008. Sometimes 25 Celsius is also reached in may, but it is not as common as are those above 3 months. I think overall your text was quit good and accurate. Right 0 C is 32 F freezing, - 20 C is - 4 F that is right, 25 C is 77 F that is correct also, but 30 C is 86 F not 85 F, but you got it about right. Thanks of being encouraging Theaceofspade. That was nicely to say and positive thing you said "it doesn't get too cold and not too hot". :) Thanks of it. You said latitude is equivalent Alaska. You are right i am about same latitude as Alaska, actually if i would go directly to the west i would end up Anchorage, Alaska U.S.A. No thanks, no cabbage, i do not like much grow wegetable, sorry. But there is big difference in mine locations, and Alaska. Do you know it Theaceofspade? I think you should or at least have hear it some part of your life, as you live in Long Island, which is in New York state (I assume so.). Right it is gulf stream. Gulf stream keeps us winter significantly warmer than what our latitude would suggest, for example compared to Alaska is colder in winter generally (Or at least some parts). Look for example zone map and see what happens same latitude where you are but more westerly, zone drops as moderating effect from Atlantic ocean goes smaller. You also said " Peaches, try an early bud hardy variety like Redhaven. But I would check what peaches are growing locally. There are also dwarf patio peaches for tubs. " What is your determination of early bud hardy variety? Does Early means that fruit ripens early? Can you say/be more accurately it? I have feeling/think it means early ripening variety. You can fix it if you had other determination of early term in this context. You asked what are growing locally. I know someone here grows Red Heaven peach variety, also saw Frost peach variety is grown in Turku and has survived 2 winters (If i remember right, 2 winters). Hi Harvestman. I think peach trees are growing here. As i said to Theaceofspades, Red heaven and Frost varieties is for sale here and i think both of those are also grown here somewhere. About your question, i think you are right not many peach growers here, but we are comperelatively small country by population and not very long time we have tried to grow peaches here i think. (Many do not dare to try it ), because it is not so hardy than other fruit trees (Some also have bad memories about cold winters, when many fruit trees died).

store seed at 40F for 12 weeks then do not "crack" seed just lightly cover soil temp 70F & may take up to 365 days to germinate. the plant will NOT be like the parent & may take up to 10 years to flower & the fruit may be har & uneatable.... use seedling to graft a know variety .

Karen, If your tree is producing fruit, it's not necessary to buy more trees. My dad bought a peach tree, from grafted stock. The 8 or so year old tree has produced another fruit bearing tree, and several others. Some were given away at plant trades, 3 are 1-2 years old, which have been kept in pots by his renting daughters. Which, once planted in the ground, we are all faithful will fill our summer bellies! Just leave some of the peaches on the ground, and watch out for saplings in the spring. In this zone 6 the saplings overwinter. If you put them in pots, make sure to bring them inside for the winter though. The success of propagation depends on what root stock and branches were used for the grafted tree that you bought, but definitaly fun and worth a go! Happy Peaching!