Peach trees

[Mackie889]

Hi everyone. Was wanting to cut down on the area of lawn (2-1/2 acres) that I have to mow. One of my ideas was to plant a small peach orchard, maybe 10 trees or so. Can you suggest a good type of peach tree for SW Ga, and where I might be able to buy them? Are they difficult to grow and get them to produce? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[ucfireman]

Cant help but, I hear they have to be sprayed 2-3 times a season. For fungus and bugs.
I have tried to plant probably 60+ over the past 3-5 years, I don't water so they have to fend for themselves. Most were bareroot and a few potted. All but 2 have died.
I'm done with peaches. Almost same experience with apples.
Pears all lived and so have most plums. Go figure.

 

[Kootie]

I planted some (4) Elberta peaches with little to no care and they have done well for two years. We actually got several peaches this year off of one tree. Like them well enough to order some more....got them from the Morgan County 4-H annual sale.

 

[NE GA Pappy]

I believe that keeping the peach trees sprayed, pruned, staked and harvested would be a lot more work than the mowing.

and you will have to mow around the trees anyway

 

[treemanjohn]

Whats the ultimate goal? Feeding you?

 

[westcobbdog]

I had one peach tree at my last house, with few places to plant it I put it right next to my red brick garage wall and loved the heat / solar radiation from the brick I think. Easily produced hundreds of peaches annually. A purchase from Home Depot and I miss that single tree badly. I watched it close and tried not to put too many chemical applications on it but peaches are attacked constantly by bugs. Growing peaches is a Labor of love.

 

[futbolwest]

Google controlling Brown Rot and Plum Curculio on Peaches. 2 -3 sprays will not get you close to controlling or slowing down these pests of peaches. Try spraying every 7 - 10 days from bloom to harvest.

 

[Milkman]

UGA Extension Service (county agent) should be able to give specific advice for your location. Good luck !!!!!

 

[twtabb]

Had one next to my dump out area for the pool. It made the best tasting peaches. Some fungus finally killed it.

 

[Mr Tom]

Spray weekly or more if it rains, otherwise brown rot and curculios will take out most of your crop. Some varieties seem a little more resistant; I am still experimenting.

 

[Ugahunter2013]

I tried it and they are too finicky. Not worth it to me.

 

[futbolwest]

Oh yeah, with late frosts you will be lucky to make a crop one out of every 3 years from Athens north!

 

[shdw633]

I have a peach tree in Central Florida. It is a strain of tree that is suited for Florida but I don't know the name of it, just look up Florida peaches on the internet for the names of the trees. I spray it once a year and fertilize it 3 times a year, that doesn't take much time. It grew fast and produces a lot of peaches but they are not very big, smaller than a tennis ball but larger than a golf ball. They are tasty though. I don't seem to have the issues noted above as far as rot and all, the biggest issue I have is keeping the squirrels out of the tree when the peaches start ripening up in the spring.

 

[Dbender]

I have a peach tree in Central Florida. It is a strain of tree that is suited for Florida but I don't know the name of it, just look up Florida peaches on the internet for the names of the trees. I spray it once a year and fertilize it 3 times a year, that doesn't take much time. It grew fast and produces a lot of peaches but they are not very big, smaller than a tennis ball but larger than a golf ball. They are tasty though. I don't seem to have the issues noted above as far as rot and all, the biggest issue I have is keeping the squirrels out of the tree when the peaches start ripening up in the spring.

You need to thin the peaches if you want them to have any size. Generally thin to about hand width apart.

 

[shdw633]

You need to thin the peaches if you want them to have any size. Generally thin to about hand width apart.

Thank you!! Did not know that!!

 

[westcobbdog]

I have a peach tree in Central Florida. It is a strain of tree that is suited for Florida but I don't know the name of it, just look up Florida peaches on the internet for the names of the trees. I spray it once a year and fertilize it 3 times a year, that doesn't take much time. It grew fast and produces a lot of peaches but they are not very big, smaller than a tennis ball but larger than a golf ball. They are tasty though. I don't seem to have the issues noted above as far as rot and all, the biggest issue I have is keeping the squirrels out of the tree when the peaches start ripening up in the spring.

Don’t forget to thin them when they are tiny ( don’t wait ) and space the new peaches out a women’s fist distance apart, this should grow you bigger peaches.

 

[shdw633]

Don’t forget to thin them when they are tiny ( don’t wait ) and space the new peaches out a women’s fist distance apart, this should grow you bigger peaches.

I didn't realize that you had to do that. I let them grow right next to each other, that would explain why I always have small peaches.