Want to learn how to grow peaches on your homestead? If you want juicy peaches readily available on your homestead, follow the easy tips below! Never have to go to the market to get your hands on these sweet things. All you have to do is go out and start picking!
How To Grow Peaches On Your Homestead
By Anna Ikona
If there’s one fruit that comes to my mind when I think of summer, it’s peaches! The fuzzy texture, the soft flesh, the sweet smell…it’s all so delicious! However, buying peaches is expensive, and that’s exactly why I grow my own peach tree at home. This way, I have greater control over the final product. I can choose which fertilizer I want (without all that artificial junk!) and I get to eat the peaches for free. No need to buy!
Improve your soil today! Your garden plants with thank you! http://t.co/yIQbOQjN2u #gardening pic.twitter.com/zBxy3cBiVE
— Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) September 3, 2015
To Start
There are lots of things you must keep in mind when growing this fruit. First things first: peaches require lots of sunlight and warmth. If you look at any peach farm, it’s probably very hot and sunny. For example, 60% of all peach farms in Canada are located in Okanagan British Columbia. The zone is 7a and temperatures reach 45 degrees C (105 F) in the summer. So, peaches do best in warm, sunny summer climates such as zones 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Now, let’s talk about water. Since peaches are originally from hot places, they don’t require frequent watering. So, less water is actually better than more water. Drip irrigation never worked well on peaches for me because this type of watering keeps the soil consistently moist, which is contrary to what peaches get in their natural environment.
Naturally, the soil is dry for a week or two and then a big rain comes and waters the peach tree just enough until the next rain comes. This is what I try to do with my peaches: I let the soil become quite dry for about 4 days, and if it hasn’t rained, I water the tree just enough so that the soil stays moist for 2 days. And then again, I wait so that the soil is dry for 4 days and so on. After a couple months of growing and watering, you’ll get the hang of it and knowing when to water will become instinctual.
Fertilizing
Next, another important factor is fertilizer. What I do for my peaches is fertilize them with fruit and berry fertilizer in early spring to get them started again post-winter. From there, the sun and water will take care of the rest.
Harvesting Your Peaches
Finally, “green” or “young” peaches are those that haven’t developed a fuzzy skin. Their skin is still smooth. In about 2 months (less, or more, depending on your gardening zone) after the peach has formed, it’s skin will start feeling a bit hairy- this means that it’s ripe. Peaches should easily be picked off the tree with a slight twist. If you must apply more force than just a twist, the peach is not ready, so give it a little more time!
That’s all there is to it folks! Grow, harvest and enjoy your very own homegrown peaches!
Need more tips? Let’s watch this video from Fringe Garden Channel:
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