Growing Peaches and Nectarines

Peaches are the most widely grown of the stone fruits. It is native to China and was introduced to Europe 2000 years ago. Spanish explorers brought peaches to North America in the 1500s. Peaches are considered the "Queen" of the fruits and second only to apples in popularity as a deciduous tree fruit because of their fine flavor and many uses as a fruit.

Nectarines can be used in the same way as peaches, and may be considered as substitutes for peaches. Genetically, the only difference between peaches and nectarines is the lack of fuzz on the nectarine skin. Usually, nectarines are smaller than peaches and have more red color on the surface, and more aroma.

Popular uses for peaches and nectarines include fresh eating, sugared, and with cream. They are also used in ice cream, pies, cobbler, and shortcake. In addition, peaches and nectarines are used for jam, jelly, preserves, and mixed fruit desserts.

Fresh peaches provide respectable amounts of the antioxidant vitamins A and C in addition to potassium and fiber. Nectarines provide twice the vitamin A, slightly more vitamin C, and much more potassium than peaches.

Nothing compares to the taste of tree-ripe peaches or nectarines. Homeowners with available land may consider establishing a backyard fruit planting. Such a planting can be quite satisfactory if the fruit grower is aware of what it takes to grow high-quality peaches.

Peach trees are subject to some serious insect pests and diseases. Frequently the season's crop may be lost either by flower bud kill due to low winter temperatures or to bloom kill by late-spring frosts.

The best chances for success in growing peaches in the home landscape result from selecting bud-hardy cultivars, protecting the bloom from late-spring frosts, and managing insects and diseases. Those unable or unwilling to do these things should not attempt to grow the fruit since the results will be disappointing.

Selecting Peaches and Nectarines for Planting

There are hundreds of different peach cultivars (varieties), but basically there are two types, the freestones and the clingstones. In freestone types, the flesh separates readily from the pit. In the clingstone type, the flesh clings tightly to the pit.

The flesh may be either yellow or white. Freestone types are usually preferred for eating fresh or for freezing, while clingstone types are used primarily for canning. Nectarines may be either yellow or white-fleshed.

Regardless of whether the consumer is selecting peaches for consumption or nursery stock for planting, the choice of cultivar is most important. Because of past experience with crop loss due to winter bud kill, peach and nectarine cultivars are being carefully screened for bud hardiness and fruit quality before being recommended to growers.

Peach and nectarine cultivars do not require cross pollination and set satisfactory crops with their own pollen. A single peach or nectarine tree can, therefore, be expected to bear crops in the home landscape if flower buds or flowers are not killed by low temperatures. However, three to four trees of different cultivars will extend the season and might be more desirable for an average family.

Desirable nursery stock for planting consists preferably of one-year-old trees, 3 to 4 ft.(1 m) in height with good root system and a trunk caliper of 3/8 to 1/2 in.(2 cm). Nursery stock of this type can be more easily transplanted and trained into a desirable tree form.

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