Peach tree first year growing peaches - Ask Extension
Hello! My peach tree is about 3 years old this year and it is now growing some little peaches! However it’s still a young tree and I’m worried abo...
Knowledgebase
Peach tree first year growing peaches #865656
Asked April 23, 2024, 6:44 PM EDT
Hello! My peach tree is about 3 years old this year and it is now growing some little peaches! However it’s still a young tree and I’m worried about how many peaches it can support growing. Also I’ve attached a picture where there is 4 peaches right next to each other and I’m worried it will be too much for the branch. I would also love to know if it needs a bigger pot (direct to ground is not an option)
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Can you share with us what type or the name of the peach tree that you have? For instance, is it a dwarf or 'patio' variety? Also, how large is that pot? (either in gallons or the diameter in inches across the top of the pot).
Peaches often make more fruits than needed and they are thinned by hand or the tree drops some excess.
Small, immature fruits detach naturally from peach trees in late spring in a self-thinning phenomenon known as “June drop.” Hand-thinning is also required to create a 4- to 6-inch space between developing fruits. (A full crop results from just 5% of flowers becoming fruits.)
Here is our page on growing so-called 'stone fruits' like peaches:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-stone-fruits-home-garden/extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-stone-fruits-home-garden
Christine
Peaches often make more fruits than needed and they are thinned by hand or the tree drops some excess.
Small, immature fruits detach naturally from peach trees in late spring in a self-thinning phenomenon known as “June drop.” Hand-thinning is also required to create a 4- to 6-inch space between developing fruits. (A full crop results from just 5% of flowers becoming fruits.)
Here is our page on growing so-called 'stone fruits' like peaches:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-stone-fruits-home-garden/extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-stone-fruits-home-garden
Christine
Thank you so much for getting back with me!
I am unsure of the type of peach tree exactly because it’s from a peach that I picked from Larriland Farms a few years ago but I do believe it is a yellow peach.
Unfortunately it’s definitely not a patio or dwarf variety, but I was hoping if I keep it trimmed small that it can survive within its pot (or a larger one if needed) a few more years at least, if not forever. Since buying a home isn’t really in my near future I’m willing to do what it takes to keep it happy and alive while potted.
The pot is about 20 inches at the top and 10 inches at the bottom in terms of diameter and about 16 inches tall. Finding the volume seems rather hard for this shape of pot but it’s probably about 15 gallons.
Thank you,
Sarrah
Congratulations on propagating a peach from seed!
It will be challenging to maintain this tree in a pot. Fruits are borne on second-year wood, so you will be challenged with the need to control the overall tree size while still encouraging and managing new shoots to produce fruit in the second year.
We suggest thinning/pruning out half of the branches coming off of the trunk, especially those near the bottom.
Trees will need to be fertilized at bud break and when fruits are an inch in diameter and regular watering will be very important as pots dry out much faster than ground soil.
Consider going to a larger container in 2 years.
Good luck!
Christine
It will be challenging to maintain this tree in a pot. Fruits are borne on second-year wood, so you will be challenged with the need to control the overall tree size while still encouraging and managing new shoots to produce fruit in the second year.
We suggest thinning/pruning out half of the branches coming off of the trunk, especially those near the bottom.
Trees will need to be fertilized at bud break and when fruits are an inch in diameter and regular watering will be very important as pots dry out much faster than ground soil.
Consider going to a larger container in 2 years.
Good luck!
Christine
