3 Things Your Peach Tree Needs in July for Sweeter Fruits and an Even Bigger Summer Harvest
It's almost time to harvest these sweet, juicy fruits
Plucking homegrown fruit from your backyard is one of the summer joys many of us gardeners look forward to. By the time July comes around, our peach trees are producing delicious, juicy fruits, so they require a bit of attention.
If you're growing a peach tree in your garden, then you'll need to do some light pruning, keep on top of watering during hot spells, and check the fruit to see if it's ready to harvest this month, as well as remove any diseased fruit.
Neglecting these tasks now could hinder your harvest and the overall health of your tree. So, grab your harvest basket (I love the look of this wooden garden hod from Burpee) and head out to the yard. Here's what to do with a peach tree in July.
1. Prune Lightly
Knowing when to prune a peach tree is very important. Do it at the wrong time and you could remove flower buds, meaning no fruit.
Likewise, heavy pruning in summer can stress your tree and lead to its decline. That's why arborist Levi Williams advises only doing some light maintenance in July.
'As a rule of thumb, diseased or dead branches can be removed at any time and that includes July. Do not heavily prune trees during the summer months,' he says.
You should focus on removing the damaged branches and also thinning out any overcrowded, crossing branches. This will improve airflow and reduce the likelihood of disease, including peach leaf curl which distorts the leaves from excess moisture and causes them to drop off.
These Fiskars bypass loppers from Amazon can help you reach higher up your peach tree, and they'll make clean cuts.
Levi is an arborist with an impressive background, including ISA Arborist Certification, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, Pesticide Applicators License, and Urban Forestry certification.
2. Water Deeply
Watering is key when it comes to growing any fruit tree, but it's even more important to keep on top of during the hot summer months.
Letting a peach tree dry out in July can result in heat stress, stunting growth, dropping fruit and flowers, and even death in prolonged drought.
'Make sure to water trees heavily 1-2 inches of water per week,' Levi advises.
At the same time, you want to avoid excessive moisture when your peach tree is fruiting. This can cause the fruit to split and rot before you get the chance to harvest.
If in doubt, you can use this soil moisture meter from Amazon to check how wet your peach tree's soil is.
And if you're growing a peach tree in a pot (like this 'Contender' peach tree from Plant Addicts), remember it will dry out much more quickly than those planted in the ground.
3. Check the Fruit
July to September is the typical harvest time for peaches, which means it's time to check your fruit for ripeness.
Peaches are ready to pick when there is no trace of green on the fruit and it has a creamy yellow or white hue, starting to blush. You can leave peaches attached until they fully blush for the sweetest taste, but because they're climacteric, they will carry on ripening off the branch.
They should also give a little when gently squeezed. Hard fruit is not yet ready to pick. Likewise, the peaches should come away from the stems with a gentle twist, and have a sweet aroma.
'Don't forget to also remove any fallen or rotten fruit to avoid pests,' Levi advises.
'And if a branch is full of fruit and causing them to bend, it is recommended to provide support for branches with props,' he adds.
You can use these fruit tree crutches from Amazon or create your own natural plant support by repurposing tree branches.
What to Shop
This liquid peach tree feed is a special formula to support fruit production. Apply in spring, first diluting with water.
Use these Fiskars bypass loppers to prune tree branches with ease. It has a steel blade for clean cuts.
This harvest basket is perfect for collecting homegrown goods. It has a mesh trug to easily rinse crops.
FAQs
Do You Fertilize Peach Trees While They're Fruiting?
No, there isn't a need to fertilize peach trees while they're fruiting, unless it is nutrient deficient (which can be spotted by pale leaves and poor shoot growth). Instead, you should fertilize your peach tree in early spring to give it a boost of nutrients ahead of fruit production.
If you're struggling to get your peach tree to fruit, there are a few things you can do. This includes providing full sun exposure by pruning branches.
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