How to Grow Peaches Organically

There’s nothing quite like eating a ripe peach in the heat of summer. Bursting with flavor and sweet as candy, fresh peaches are the seasonal snack of choice for many adults and children alike. But peaches are also notoriously tricky to grow in some locations. Can you produce them organically? And where do they grow best? Read on for everything you need to know about this delicious fruit.

Peaches: a rose by any other name

Peaches are a member of the rose family, which also includes apples, pears, plums, nectarines and apricots. Unlike some of the other fruits in this category, peaches are self fertile. That means you only need one tree for fruit production, since cross pollination isn’t necessary. However, if you have the space, be sure to plant two or three for best results. If you’re looking for something to grow in a container, peaches are a great choice.

Related: Fruit Trees

Getting started: choosing your peach trees

Buying new fruit trees usually starts with two choices.

1. Bare root: Bare root trees are an inexpensive choice that’s usually sold in late fall through to very early spring. They consist of a young but sturdy trunk and a cluster of roots that are bare–or without soil. Nurseries usually bury them in a heap of mulch, then bag them up at sale time. By the time you take them home, they are already two or more years old.
2. Potted: Potted trees are grown in a pot filled with soil and have been pruned and trained, saving you some initial work. These trees are usually available in spring and fall and tend to cost 30-50% more than bare root varieties. They have a longer planting window, because they don’t have to be planted when dormant.

What type of peach tree you buy will depend on the time of year and your budget. Both options will grow into strong, healthy trees when given adequate care and the right conditions.

Peaches bloom early in the spring and may require protection from frost in some locations.

Locating your peach tree

Peaches grow best in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8. Like some other fruit varieties, they need a minimum number of chill hours (in this case, 800 to 1200). Chill hours refer to the number of hours spent between 32 and 65 ℉–with 47℉ being ideal.

In addition to chill hours, peach trees need well drained soil (sandy loam is best), shelter from wind and full sun exposure.

Without enough cold days, peach trees won’t flower and bear fruit. Since different varieties of peaches require different numbers of chill hours, it’s best to purchase only varieties suitable for your area. In addition to chill hours, peach trees need well drained soil (sandy loam is best), shelter from wind and full sun exposure. A south-facing slope of 4-8% is ideal.

If you live in one of the 20 states or two provinces where peaches are grown commercially, odds are you can grow them successfully too. If not, there are measures you can take to help them survive, such as growing against a south-facing fence or wall, locating near a pond or larger body of water, adding cover or using a greenhouse. Since peaches flower early, you may also need to protect blossoms if your climate is at the lower end of their growing range.

When to plant

The best time to plant a peach tree is when the soil is not frozen, waterlogged or dried out. Depending on where you live, that will fall somewhere between November and March. Avoid planting peach trees late in the spring, as they need time to grow before the hot weather hits.

Preparing the soil

Before planting fruit trees in your yard, perform a soil test to ensure your tree will have enough nutrients. Soil tests are quick and easy and can prevent problems before they begin. Peach trees do best with a soil pH between 6 and 7 and a good balance of essential nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). For more information on amending your soil, read The Best Organic Fertilizers to Double Your Harvest.

When you’re ready to plant, begin by soaking bare root trees in a bucket of water. Add a dose of liquid fertilizer if available.

Apply mycorrhizal fungi around the root ball and in the hole to help roots grow and absorb nutrients.

Dig a hole a two times deeper than your pot. If planting bare root peaches, make your hole two to three inches deeper than the deepest root. Apply mycorrhizal fungi around the root ball and in the hole to help roots grow and absorb nutrients.

While you can work a little finished compost or rock phosphate into the hole, be careful not to overdo fertilizer at the time of planting thinking ‘more is better.’ You want your tree’s roots to reach out and develop an extensive network, rather than spiraling around a well-fed hole.

After placing your tree in the ground, gently add soil to fill up any empty space. Ensure the intersection between the tree’s trunk and roots is just above soil level, with all roots snugly buried. Water in well.

Now is the time to add a stake to help support your tree during its formative years. Low staking best. Drive your stake into the ground and attach to the tree using nursery ties. As your tree grows, examine these ties a few times each year to make sure they’re not too tight.

Caring for your peach tree

Your peach tree will take two or more years to produce fruit, so your goal during that time is to encourage strong roots and a healthy growing habit. To help this along, keep your tree well watered and remove any weeds that might compete for moisture and nutrients. You’ll also need to remove any blossoms or fruit that develop during its first full growing season.

After your peach tree’s second winter, fertilize with a high potassium fertilizer. Spread this around the soil surface without digging in. The rain will wash it down. In mid- to late-spring, mulch the base of your tree with a two to three inch layer of organic material. Straw or fine bark mulch are great choices. Be sure the soil is weed free before applying.

In subsequent years, apply balanced organic fertilizer in late winter/early spring, sprinkling up to the tree’s drip line. Every three years, add an organic source of potassium (such as greensand or kelp meal) to help with bud and fruit formation. Replenish the mulch around your tree’s base in late spring, making sure to keep mulch materials 3 to 4 inches from the trunk to avoid rot.

Thin fruits when small to one peach per 6 to 8 inches.

Thin developing fruit to no more than one peach per 6 to 8 inches to avoid crowding and maximize fruit size.

Related: Now is the Time to Thin Your Fruit Trees

Pruning peach trees

Prune your peach tree to encourage new growth for next year’s flowers. To do this effectively, it’s important to follow a few guidelines:

1. Always prune peaches in late winter. There’s a two-week window just before they bloom to right after the petals fall. Avoid pruning outside this time frame.
2. Don’t prune your tree during its first year–except to remove blossoms and fruit.
3. In subsequent years, remove any diseased or injured branches. Following this, remove about 40% of the tree’s growth, particularly vigorous branches that are growing upright. Aim for an open center to maximize sunlight and air flow.

Peach trees are also good candidates for fan pruning, if you have limited space and want to train your tree against a wall or fence.

Use clean, sharp pruning shears that can be resharpened from year to year.

Watering your tree

Water well during your tree’s first year to help it get established. The first few weeks will be crucial, so play close attention, giving your tree up to 1 gallon per day, particularly if your soil dries out quickly or if the weather is extra hot. Work back to one gallon per week after four weeks. Signs of water or heat stress include a withered top and dying leaves at the tips of the uppermost branches.

How and when to harvest

After caring for your tree for two to three years, you should be rewarded with a juicy harvest. Check the flesh near the stalk. If it feels soft and has a deep, rich color, it’s ready to eat! Remove by tugging gently. With proper care and attention, your harvest will improve from year to year.

Frequently asked questions

What does a peach seed look like?

A peach pit looks something like a walnut on the outside. Its wrinkled surface has deep grooves running parallel to the edges. Inside the pit is a seed that looks like a raw almond.

How do you crack open a peach seed?

While it’s not necessary to crack open a peach pit to get at the seed (you can plant the pit directly into the soil), using a nutcracker works, especially if you let the pit dry out first.

Can you plant a peach seed in the summer?

Yes, you can plant a peach seed in the summertime. Just be sure to give your seed enough water so it doesn’t dry out. Growing peach trees from seed takes longer than purchasing potted or bare root trees, but it can be done.

Can you plant peaches indoors?

Peaches need 800-1200 hours in and around 47℉. Most indoor spaces are too warm for peaches to grow fruit.

Where can you buy peach trees?

Local nurseries will usually have a good selection of peach trees once or twice each year. You can also order peach trees online from Eartheasy.