Knowledgebase

Peach vs Nectarines, training, greenhouse growing #879600

Asked July 31, 2024, 1:56 PM EDT

Hi - We are realizing how difficult it is to find organic peaches. We can a lot - 200lb this year, but they unfortunately were not organic. We have a large family farm in Vernonia (close to coastal range, in the mountains, so a bit cooler than the valley) and an in-ground greenhouse with 15ft ceiling height. It seems that it won't be realistic to have successful peaches outdoors. I'm looking for any guidance you might be able to provide on growing peaches (or maybe nectarines will be easier?) in an organic way. We like freestone for canning. I've read also about fan training and curious on whether we could grow a couple of trees in our large greenhouse and try to fan train them along the walls? Not sure if it would be too humid in the greenhouse, or whether the trees need to get down to freezing temps during the winter. Since our greenhouse is in ground, it probably won't get much lower than 40 degrees, even during very cold weather. We really want to have our own supply of these fruits - I hope you can help us!!

Lane County Oregon

Expert Response

Katerina: Peaches are very difficult to grow in Columbia County. The main reasons are two diseases, peach leaf curl and bacterial canker. There are resistant varieties (most cling, not freestone)  for curl but not really for canker. If you can control the moisture in the greenhouse, that might not be an issue but wouldn't guarantee it. I think the temps in the greenhouse might give the trees enough hours of temps below about 44 degrees F to cover the chilling requirement. I am going to send you in a direct email an article I wrote for the newsletter I produced before I retired this last spring. Feel free to call me after you look at the article. Chip Bubl OSU Extension Agent/Columbia County (recently retired) <personal data hidden>
An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 31, 2024, 2:57 PM EDT

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