How to care for a peach tree to ensure a good harvest

Peach is a heat-loving crop that requires attention and care throughout its growing season. To ensure a good harvest, it's important to care for the tree in the spring: spray to control pests and diseases, water, and fertilize. Spring care also includes pruning, digging around the tree trunk, and mulching.

Caring for peaches in spring, taking into account the growing region

The first gardening work in the south of the country (Krasnodar, the Caucasus) occurs in late winter to early spring. The optimal time to begin peach tree care in the Moscow region and other regions of central Russia is early March. In the north of the country (Siberia, the Urals), work begins in late March to early April. Agricultural practices for peach tree care are relevant for plants of all ages and varieties:

1. Trimming Sanitary and formative - to give the tree shape and improve yield.
2. Application of organic matter and mineral fertilizers.
3. Spraying to prevent pests and fungal diseases.
4. Watering during the growing season. Mid-season varieties are watered 1-2 times in the spring, while late-season varieties are watered 2-3 times. Watering is done early in the morning; 10 liters of water per bush is required.
5. Digging up the tree trunk circle, whitewashing.
6. Transplanting young bushes.

To conserve the tree's lifespan, pruning is done on first-year seedlings. To avoid damaging the young shoots, use pruning shears or scissors. This procedure is necessary to improve root growth and promote strong, healthy shoots. Flowers are removed from the grafted scion if it bloomed in the year of grafting.

What kind of soil is needed for normal tree development?

Peaches can be grown in any type of soil except sandy, saline, and acidic soils. The highest yields are obtained from trees planted in moderately calcareous loamy soils. If the soil is heavy, to improve the soil's nutritional value, mix the soil with humus (3 kg), wood ash (150 g), superphosphate, and potassium chloride (30 g each) when replanting.

The tree will not grow well in soils with high groundwater levels. Proper drainage is essential for successful growth to prevent water stagnation. When replanting a peach tree, add turf, crushed brick, slate, or crushed stone to the bottom of the hole. The drainage layer should be 10 cm thick. During the replanting process, a mound of prepared, fertile soil is piled on top of the drainage layer.

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Pruning peach trees in spring

In Moscow and the Moscow region, pruning is carried out when the sap begins to flow. Pruning is necessary to accelerate fruiting and regulate the balance between the crown and root system. This involves removing diseased and damaged shoots, and the main techniques are pruning and thinning. Pruning is carried out when the air temperature is above 5ºC and the weather is dry.

Spring pruning accelerates shoot regeneration if branches were frozen during the winter. Dead branches must be completely removed, and damaged shoots are pruned back to two-thirds of the bud. This procedure is performed twice: at the beginning of sap flow and at the end of May. May pruning involves removing shoots and branches that have not yet developed.

Methods and timing of spring fertilization

Regular fertilization promotes peach tree growth and helps the tree develop immunity to disease. Regardless of the age of the seedling, root and foliar feeding is recommended in the spring. When determining the timing, consider weather conditions and the growing season. In the spring, the tree should be fed and fertilized:

1. During bud growth, the soil should be fertilized with nitrogen. The fertilizer is applied in soluble form, using the following dosage: ammonium nitrate – 75 g, urea – 50 g. A combination of nitrogen and ash is unacceptable, as it leaches ammonia from the soil.
2. At the end of May, potassium and phosphorus (55g) are added to the soil; it is permissible to use complex fertilizers.
3. Feed the peach tree with organic matter: humus, bone meal, and wood ash are recommended. Mullein and bird droppings should be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:6.

Fertilizers are applied after digging around the tree trunks to improve soil aeration and eliminate soil-dwelling pests. The soil is dug at a distance of 1 meter, to a depth of one shovel blade. When applying fertilizer, it is important to follow the recommended dosage; for first-year seedlings, the dosage is halved. Excess nutrients cause excessive foliage growth, negatively impacting yield.

Peach tree transplantation, soil mulching

It's recommended to transplant trees less than two years old—young seedlings haven't yet established roots and will tolerate the process better. The tree's location should be bright and protected from drafts. Low-lying and swampy areas should be avoided. When transplanting peach trees, follow these steps:

1. A hole for the tree is dug in the garden in the fall or early winter. A plank is placed in the center of the 0.7-meter-deep hole; after filling with soil, it should be visible above the ground surface by 0.7-0.8 meters.
2. In spring or autumn, the tree is dug up to a width of 1 m and a depth of 0.1 m. The seedling is removed, avoiding damage to the rhizome.
3. Deepen the root collar by 3-4 cm, place the seedling in the hole, and cover with soil. If the soil is heavy, add organic matter such as compost or humus to the topsoil. Place the mixture in the center of the hole to form a mound.
4. To help the tree take root faster, it is watered with a Kornevin solution.

After replanting, care is required: water the peach tree once every 7 days and loosen the soil. If rain is expected, reduce watering by half. To prevent the soil around the roots from drying out, dig around the trunk and mulch the soil with old leaves, peat, or sawdust. The optimal thickness of this protective layer is 10-15 cm. Throughout the season, maintain the soil around the tree by loosening the soil and removing weeds.

Methods of prevention and control of pests and diseases

Peach trees are susceptible to fungal diseases, including clasterosporium, monoliosis, leaf curl, and powdery mildew. Preventative spring spraying will help protect the tree throughout the season. Adhering to the appropriate application schedule eliminates the risk of harmful substances remaining in the fruit as the peaches ripen. The first steps are taken after bud swelling begins:

1. Immediately after the buds swell, spray with insecticides against aphids and codling moths.
2. After 14 days, treatment with a 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture against fungi is necessary.
3. Before the formation of ovaries, the peach is treated with fungicides (Horus, Skor) to prevent fungal diseases.
4. After flowering, preventative spraying is carried out with biological preparations Trichodermin, Fitosporin against leaf curl.

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To protect against scale insects, spring treatments with Aktara, Mospilan, or folk remedies such as wood ash decoction or tar soap solution are necessary. During bud break, spraying with Chlorophos is necessary to protect against leaf miners. Throughout the spring, regularly inspect shoots, and burn affected branches away from the garden plot.

A peach orchard is a living, harmonious system that requires protection from diseases and adverse environmental factors. Peaches will thrive and bear fruit with proper care throughout the year. Preventative measures will help strengthen the plants' immunity and prevent diseases and pests.