How to feed a peach tree in the fall to ensure a good harvest

Peach

In the fall, peach trees require proper care, which, when followed with proper agricultural practices, guarantees a good harvest next year. Proper calculation and selection of the right fertilizers will allow the plant to recuperate from the energy lost during harvesting and prepare for winter. Autumn feeding can be done with various compounds—mineral, organic, and complex. Fertilizers are calculated depending on their properties, concentration, age of the tree and its condition.

Time of work

In the fall, gardeners begin tending to peach trees immediately—from the first days of September, as soon as the harvest is complete. During this period, the plant responds best to fertilizer. If peach trees aren't fertilized in the fall, their yield will drop significantly the following year. Their immunity will also weaken, making them highly susceptible to disease and insect attacks.

The second time this fall, nutrient solutions are applied immediately before frost. The exact timing is determined by the region's climate and the weather forecast for the coming week. Approximate timing for the second application, based on the climate of different regions, is as follows:

Moscow region – second half of October;
coastal regions – last days of October, first half of November;
middle zone – 2-3 decades of October, first days of November;
Krasnodar region – end of October, mid-November;
Siberia – end of September, first half of October;
Ural – last days of September, 1-2 decades of October.
Leningrad region – early to mid-October;

Attention!

Nutrients are not used when the plant was planted in the garden last spring.

The peach tree hasn't yet fully utilized the nutrients it received when it was planted. Therefore, fertilizing it for the first time with nutrients should only be done after a year. If the tree was planted in the fall, it won't need another feeding until three years after its arrival; any earlier feeding would be unnecessary and could harm the plant.

Fertilizer application rates

Fertilizing peach trees in the fall is a necessary step in pre-winter preparation. Fruit trees lose a significant amount of nutrients during the ripening period. This type of care helps replenish the weakened fruit tree with the nutrients it needs and find the strength to successfully survive the winter frosts.

For autumn fertilization, furrows are made around the trunk of the peach tree. Mineral and organic fertilizers are added to these furrows; they should not be applied directly to the trunk. Afterwards, the plant must be insulated. The trunk is wrapped in cardboard sheets or straw, and the root zone is covered with slate, burlap, or sawdust. The nutrient dosage is calculated for each peach tree individually:

A young small plant, 1-3 years old – 25 g of potassium salts, 80 g superphosphate in granules and 10 kg of mullein.
Specimens aged 4-8 years need 15 kg of manure, 125 g of granulated superphosphate, 30 g of potassium salt and 65 g of saltpeter.
Mature peach trees over 8 years old are fed with 35 kg of manure, 90 g of potassium salt and 125 g of saltpeter.

Young trees require less fertilizer because they haven't yet begun to bear fruit. The above calculation is an average for commonly used substances. However, when using other fertilizers, it's important to understand their properties, composition, and the nature and intensity of their effect on the plant. When calculating the dosage of nutrient solutions for a peach tree, consider not only the age of the tree but also the condition of the soil and the plant itself.

Attention!

Fertilizer application without precise calculation and weighing is prohibited. Otherwise, there's a high risk of damage (chemical burn) to the fruit tree's root system. This occurs due to improper nutrient concentration and proportions. Fruit trees tolerate a slight deficiency better than an excess.

Types of fertilizers

All nutrient solutions containing either no nitrogen or minimal nitrogen are considered suitable for autumn fertilization of peaches. In particular, fast-dissolving nitrogen fertilizers should not be used before winter. When the soil is sufficiently rich in nutrients and the plant is still young, applying any nitrogen-containing solutions is not recommended. Otherwise, the peach tree will begin to grow vigorously, not have time to properly prepare for the winter season, and will almost certainly freeze to death.

To maintain and restore the vigor of fruit-bearing trees, organic and mineral fertilizers, as well as their combinations, are used. While the first application is immediately after harvest, the second application is made only after pruning and mulching. To improve the tree's health, only high-quality fertilizers and products are used, as even a small skimp on a good formula can lead to deterioration. Moreover, unrelated chemicals, sometimes added to cheap fertilizers, can lead to the death of a perfectly healthy peach tree.

Organic fertilizers

These preparations contain the vast majority of the nutrients fruit trees require. The plant responds well to organic matter, and it's extremely rare for such products to cause harm to this fruit tree—only in cases where the gardener has violated the proper procedures. Organic fertilizers allow for a harvest free of harmful substances. Various types of organic fertilizers are used for fertilizing the plant. Gardeners often apply the following products to circular depressions around the peach tree trunk:

chicken manure;
mullein;
compost;
peat;
Fitosporin.

Chicken manure contains 2% nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus, 1% potassium, as well as elements such as copper, zinc, magnesium, molybdenum, and others. When fresh, it should be applied with caution to avoid burning the surface roots. Calculating the required volume is easier in liquid form, diluting it 1:1 with water. This solution is left to stand for 2-3 days. Then, it is applied at a 1:10 dilution, at a rate of 0.5 liters per 1 m².

Mullein is often used; 1 ton of manure contains 4.5-5 kg of nitrogen, 5-6 kg of potassium, and up to 2.5 kg of phosphorus. All these substances are easily digestible by plants. When mixed with straw or sawdust (bedding), the manure is stored in piles where it rots to a loose, humus-like consistency. If it is liquid, it is placed in a compost pit and various plant residues are added. The proportions are 5 parts mullein, 2 parts plant matter, and wood ash (lime) up to 3% of the total volume. The solution is prepared from water and organic matter at a concentration of 1:10, with 1 liter per 1 m².

Note!

When for some reason it's not possible to create a solution of mullein or chicken manure, you can use their concentrates. Cow manure extract is sold in 5-liter canisters and, according to the manufacturer, is produced from the processing of 500 kg of mullein. Granulated chicken manure is also available, which is applied to peach trees at a rate of 250-750 g/m².

Compost is rotted and decomposed plant and food waste. It's used in the same proportions as humus. Peat moss should only be added as high-mooring material (low-mooring material is too acidic for peach trees). It promotes air and water permeability in the soil and contains approximately 3% nitrogen. However, loose soil is crucial for peach trees, so peat moss is added after watering and used as mulch.

Fitosporin is a biofungicide containing humic acids, making it suitable for use as a root-feeding organic fertilizer. It is applied once every 2-3 weeks throughout the growing season. It is safe for animals, humans, and bees, so it can be used during flowering and fruiting. This will not only prevent fungal diseases of the peach tree but also maintain its strength in the fall.

Mineral fertilizers

No matter how beneficial organic fertilizers are for a peach tree, it also requires minerals. A deficiency of any mineral component can have a severe negative impact on the health of the fruit tree. Therefore, when fertilizing a garden crop in the fall, organic fertilizers are always combined with mineral fertilizers. Commonly used fertilizers for peach trees include:

Urea (also known as carbamide) is a mineral fertilizer with the highest nitrogen concentrations—approximately 46.63%. It is applied at a rate of 15-30 g/m². Urea dissolves quickly, so it can be simply sprinkled onto the surface of the soil around the tree trunk before watering.
Ammonium nitrate (ammonium nitrate) – this nitrogen-containing product makes up approximately 35% of the main component. It is also used like urea – 25-40 g/m².
Nitroammophoska (NAP) contains essential plant minerals. Its concentration varies, so the recommended proportions are indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. Often, three numbers separated by a hyphen or colon are listed on the package, for example, 16-16-16, indicating equal proportions of the essential minerals, which make up 16% of the product. If the number is 8:24:24, this indicates 8% nitrogen, with potassium and phosphorus each making up 24%. The standard application rate is 50-60 g/m².
Potassium monophosphate – contains potassium and phosphorus; available in powder and granular form. Apply 10-20 g/m² dissolved in 10 liters of water.
Potassium sulfate is poorly soluble, so it's added to the final autumn fertilizer, along with superphosphate. Apply approximately 200-250 g and plant 30 cm deep next to each tree before winter.
Wood ash – it contains potassium and other essential substances; it is added during pre-winter loosening at a rate of 200-250 g/m².
Superphosphate – typically around 20% phosphorus, or up to 50% phosphorus in a double-strength formulation. Apply in the fall during loosening and digging of the soil.

Reference!

Double superphosphate is fertilized at a rate of 25-30 g/m², regular superphosphate – 50-75 g/m².

Complex mineral fertilizers

A universal solution for fertilizing peach trees is a complex formulation containing a full range of essential nutrients. The concentration of these complex mineral compounds is well suited for fruiting plants. However, exceeding the recommended dosages is not recommended, as this can potentially lead to nitrate accumulation in the soil. Gardeners most often use the following formulations, purchased from specialized stores:

Agros;
Hello;
Biomaster and others like it.