Permapotes

Peach tree

Peach tree: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar

The peach tree, Prunus persica, is a deciduous fruit tree in the rose family. Its fragrant fruit brings summer to mind, but the tree also catches the eye with its spring blossom. Nectarine trees belong to the same species: their fruit has smooth skin, while ordinary peaches have a fine covering of fuzz. This difference in surface sits alongside a broad range of flavours and textures within both groups.

Pink flowers appear early in spring, before the leaves. They decorate the bare branches and give the tree a delicate appearance. Green foliage made up of long, narrow leaves later creates a fuller crown. The mature outline and size depend on the cultivar, rootstock and tree form. There are compact forms for smaller spaces as well as larger trees for an orchard. A peach tree's appearance therefore changes substantially through the year, from blossom-covered branches to a leafy summer canopy.

A peach is a fleshy fruit containing a stone. It may be rounded or flattened, with skin in shades of yellow, orange and red. The flesh can be yellow, white or red, depending on the cultivar. Some peaches have a very soft, melting texture, while others are firmer; sweetness and acidity vary too. In freestone cultivars, the flesh separates readily from the stone, whereas clingstone fruit holds onto it. These features are just as useful as colour when comparing different peaches.

Fresh peaches are enjoyed for their juice and fragrance. They also belong in pies, fruit compotes, jams and poached desserts. Pieces of peach can add a sweet note to a salad or a savoury dish. The range of textures allows for different uses, from a simply sliced fruit to a cooked dessert. Choosing a cultivar can therefore be as much about the flavour and texture you enjoy as about the fruit's appearance.

In a garden, the peach combines ornamental blossom with a summer crop. Ripening time depends on the cultivar and local climate. Peach trees are generally self-fertile, but cold can damage their early flowers, and insect activity affects pollination. Crops consequently differ from year to year. Local conditions also influence how well the fruit develops and ripens, making the tree's suitability a matter of place as well as personal taste.

Peach tree
Peach tree
Characteristics
  • Exposure : Full Sun
  • Cultivation Difficulty : Medium
  • Mature height : 500 cm
Maintenance
  • Maintenance : Moderate
  • Water Requirements : High
Other characteristics
  • Soil Type : Mixed
  • Soil pH Preference : Neutral
  • Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Pollination : Insect-pollinated
  • Propagation : Cutting