How to Grow Peaches

Think about the type of climate you live in. Peaches need warm to hot summers and mild winters in which to thrive. They do not do well in areas with very cold winters and little sunshine. A late frost can kill all of the buds on a peach tree and ruin a crop for that year. California and Georgia are the largest peach produces in the U.S. for a reason!

Buy the peach trees in early spring. Plant them after the last frost. The ground will be easier to dig into and the trees will have a better chance of surviving. Plant them as early as you can, as they need time to grow before winter comes.

Space the trees 6 to 7 feet apart in a sunny area. If you live in a colder climate, plant them next to a south facing wall to get maximum exposure to the sun and protect them from freezing.

Prune the peach trees, including the flower buds. This will produce better trees in the long run.

Water the tree. Consider the kind of soil in which the peach trees are planted. Loose and sandy soil won't hold as much water as thick and clay-like soil. Peach trees should be watered 1 to 2 times per week, depending on the climate. Water the trees more in a dry climate and less in a humid one. Make an indentation around the tree that is a 1-foot diameter for the water to soak into. Remember the water needs to get down to the roots.

Do not let the trees produce fruit for two years. Peach trees shouldn't produce fruit until the third year.

Weed the area around the tree regularly. Weeds compete with the tree for water and other resources.

Test your soil. If it does not have the proper balance of nutrients, you will have to fertilize the tree. Your soil should have medium to high levels of phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen. If one or more is lacking, fertilize it to make them even.

In the third year, thin the crop. Any peaches that are insect infested, small or runty need to go. Do not focus on the quantity of peaches your tree can produce, but the quality of the peaches produced.

Harvest the peaches. They can be harvested all summer and into early fall as they become ripe. A ripe peach will be firm, but it will also give slightly under your thumb.