Peach is a short-lived plant. It is characterized by rapid entry into the fruiting phase and intensive growth.
Peach buds have the ability to quickly awaken and produce young shoots. The crown grows and if it is not thinned out, starting from the second year, the yield will decrease.
From the fourth year onwards, the peaches will become small and misshapen. Young trees begin to bear fruit in the second year after planting. With good care, they can produce a harvest in the first year, when planted in autumn.
But this should not be allowed. It is better to let the plant develop. The harvest will be small, but time will be wasted and the plant will lose its vigor.
In the past, gardeners dreamed of peaches that could be grown in all regions of the country, not just in the South.
Today, their dreams have come true: breeders have developed many interesting winter-hardy, frost-resistant varieties with different fruiting periods, fruit shapes and taste qualities.
Peach trees are divided into four groups(depending on the shape of the fruit):
- The real peach is a plant with pubescent fruits.
- Nectarine or starving peach.
- Potanin's Peach (Potanin's Almond).
- Fergana peach or (flattened fruit).
The timing of fruit ripening, the flowering period - all this depends not only on the area where the tree is grown, but also on the characteristics of the variety:
- Early ripening varieties They bear their first fruits from July to August.
- Mid-season They enter the fruiting phase in early August and produce a harvest until September.
- Late peaches ripen in autumn: September, early October.
Which variety is best suited for a plot or garden depends on the climatic characteristics of the area. It is important to choose plants so as to extend fruiting throughout the season.
The productivity of a plant depends on the correct choice of variety. When purchasing a seedling, you need to pay attention to several important points; we describe them:
- Where did the seedling come from?. If the nursery is located in a different zone, then the seedling may die in the first year after planting or will constantly freeze. The variety must be zoned, and the nursery must be located in the same climatic zone (preferably even in the same region) where the tree will grow.
- Inspection of the scion site. It should be smooth and even, without lumps or frozen juice.
- Plant root system should have a fibrous shape. A single trunk root is not suitable.
Annual seedlings take root better and produce a faster harvest. When purchasing, it is better to focus on them, but choose strong, healthy plants, not frail twigs.
Varieties and their descriptions
Ripens early: Kiev Early, White Swan, Grisboro and Redhaven, Morettini
The peculiarity of early ripening varieties is that they quickly enter the fruiting phase. Two- and three-year-old seedlings are already producing a small harvest. Peak yield occurs in the fourth or fifth year after planting.
When choosing early-ripening varieties, it is better to focus on plants that have a low, spreading crown. They are easier to care for and shape during the growth period. It is also easier to collect fruit from short trees.
Among the representatives of this group, varieties deserve special attention Kyiv Early, White Swan and Redhaven.
Redhaven's harvest peaks in year eleven. More than one hundred kilograms of fruits are collected from one tree.
Each variety of early peach is good in its own way and has a lot of advantages.
Advantages of early peach varieties:
- form a wide crown no more than 5 meters high;
- plants bloom in April-May;
- they enter the fruiting phase quickly: in the fourth year after planting the seedling;
- fruiting is extended from July to August;
- It is characterized by high productivity, aromatic and tasty fruits.
The first fruits appear on a mature, well-formed tree. This cannot but affect the yield: from a six-year-old tree, with proper care, you can harvest up to 60 kilograms of peaches.
Another bright representative of this group is Grisboro variety. It has average growth vigor, but, unlike the above-mentioned varieties, it has average winter hardiness.
In order for the plant to bear fruit in mid-latitudes, it must be planted in windless places.
Pleases with high winter hardiness peach Morettini. One of its advantages is its spreading crown, which is easy to shape.
Morettini fruits are among the first to ripen, but have average transportability. This does not allow transporting fruit over long distances.
Medium ripening: Collins, Cardinal, Golden Moscow, Sibiryak, Saturn, Kremlevsky, Donskoy
Medium-ripening varieties allow the peach conveyor to continue.
Features of plants of this species:
- high, spreading crown (from 5 meters);
- high yield;
- good winter hardiness;
- large fruits.
There are a huge number of varieties of mid-ripening peaches, but among them there are several types that perform ideally in any conditions and do not require special care: Collins, Cardinal, Golden Moscow, Siberian, Saturn, Kremlin.
Variety Cardinal famous for its huge fruits (from 140 g) and excellent taste. This is one of the most delicious types of peaches. According to the international tasting scale, it received five points. This is the highest rating.
The plant is resistant to diseases, but does not tolerate return frosts. It is better to plant it in a windless place, not far from the wall of a house or fence, but away from water.
Kremlin peach adapts to changes in temperature without problems and has high winter hardiness. Thanks to this, he attracted the attention of gardeners from regions where summers are cool. With good care, the fruits reach up to 200 g.
Variety Golden Moscow appeared on the market not so long ago, but its seedlings are very popular. The plant winters well and is resistant to diseases, has juicy large fruits.
The fruiting period is extended to almost three weeks. Peach blooms late, after frost threatens to return, and this increases the quantity of quality fruit.
Variety Sibiryak highly valued by farmers for its excellent transportability. Yellow fruits can be stored in a cold room for up to three weeks. In addition, they are tasty and juicy, and the bone is easily separated from the pulp.
The first harvest is harvested in August, and the last fruits are harvested in early September.
Peach Saturn stored no longer than 12 days. This is also a lot. The plant has high winter hardiness (up to -27). A vigorous crown makes it difficult to care for and this affects the yield.
If you tilt the branches down, you can get an excellent harvest every year.
The most winter-hardy representative of this group is peach Donskoy. It not only withstands severe frosts, but also quickly recovers after freezing.
The main advantage of mid-ripening peaches is their high yield, transportability of the fruit and excellent winter hardiness of the tree.
Most varieties have juicy pulp and a pleasant aroma. A high crown can be regarded as a disadvantage, but with the correct formation of the tree it is easily eliminated and turns into an advantage.
Late, frost-resistant: Fury, Frost, Veteran
Have you planted a peach, but it doesn’t bear fruit, it just intensively grows its crown? Don't be upset: it's better to be patient and wait a little longer.
Late-ripening varieties bear fruit starting from the 5th year after planting the seedling. They are intended for cultivation in the southern regions. In the North and in the Middle Zone they do not have time to ripen and turn out sour.
American Fury variety withstands frosts down to -28 degrees. It is valued for its huge, up to 300 g, orange-colored fruits. The plant is undemanding to care.
The fruit harvest occurs in September, when only apple and pear trees remain in the garden. The fruits are stored for no longer than six days.
Variety Frost also bred by American breeders, who focused on winter hardiness and large-fruited plants.
The tree produces a high, stable yield, withstands frosts down to -26 degrees, and is resistant to diseases. The fruits are used for fresh eating. Stored for ten days.
Variety Veteran differs from late-ripening varieties in that it quickly enters the fruiting phase and has low growth. The size of the fruit is also not impressive (no more than 150 g).
They love it for its good taste. It is ideal for preservation.
Self-pollinating, self-fertile peaches: Inca, Vulcan, Harnas, Golden Jubilee
Self-pollinating varieties are very popular among gardeners. To increase fruiting, It is recommended to plant several plants for cross-pollination. But one tree will also bear fruit.
Among self-pollinating, self-fertile varieties, a good harvest in a single planting gives Inca, Vulcan, Harnas, Golden Jubilee.
Harnas belongs to winter-hardy, early-ripening dessert varieties. This is a vigorous tree that bears fruit regularly. Its peculiarity is that the fruits hold tightly to the branches and do not fall off.
Early ripening varieties are distinguished by high winter hardiness of trees and flower buds. They can withstand return frosts. This makes it possible to grow them not only in southern latitudes, but also in the middle zone, as well as in Siberia and the Urals.
In the regions of Siberia, it is necessary to protect trees from return frosts.
Mid-season varieties grow a decent crown and only then delight with a rich harvest. Their disadvantage is that it is difficult to form branches, but a regular and generous harvest allows you to turn a blind eye to this.
The branches of mid-season varieties often bend down, which makes harvesting easier.
The disadvantage of late-ripening varieties is that that they can only grow in a certain area. But if climatic conditions allow, then these trees will not only decorate the garden, but will also delight you with delicious fruits.
When planting peach, it should be taken into account that all varieties bloom very early, when there are still few pollinating insects. You can help the plant and gently shake the upper branches so that the pollen falls on the lower inflorescences.
Plants respond favorably to fertilizing and watering. Water plays a big role in the formation of fruits. Not only the size of the peaches, but also their taste and aroma depends on its quantity.
Give your seedlings a little attention and care so that they can turn into beautiful trees and delight you with a harvest every year.
Choosing the best and sweetest peach variety for planting in the country
Previously, a peach in the country could be considered a landmark, but today you can find a wide variety of varieties of peaches on your own plots. The only problem is to choose the right variety so that it can cover all your requirements and produce a good harvest every year.
And, it’s true, just a dozen or two years ago there weren’t so many peaches in their dachas, but now, when you can buy high-quality seedlings in any city or village, many summer residents plant peaches in the garden and expect juicy, fleshy and very sweet fruits from them . Unfortunately, not all hopes are justified, because in order to grow a high-quality peach, you need to choose the right variety for your region, the soil and climate, and many other criteria.
Today we decided to explore some peach varieties, which, in our opinion, are most worthy of settling in a dacha. These are peach varieties for Ukraine, Crimea, Central Russia, the best peach varieties for Kuban and the Moscow region. That is, you should understand that each region has its own variety, and you need to choose it now.
At the dacha we need only high-quality peach, and therefore we choose the variety for planting carefully
Early peach varieties
The fruits of early varieties can be tasted already in the first half of summer. But to do this, you need to choose a high-quality seedling and plant it on the site, according to agricultural technology.
Early Kiev peach variety
Kiev early attracts not only summer residents, but also professional entrepreneurs who grow this variety in the Crimea and in many other regions where it has been warm since spring. The variety is distinguished by juicy and very tasty fruits of medium size, medium density and a beautiful, light yellow or pink tint color.
Early Kiev is an industrial variety, and therefore its seedlings will be quite easy to obtain. After the purchase, you will only need to plant the peach in the country and try to devote maximum time to it in the first years of its life.
This variety shows high yield and excellent resistance to powdery mildew and cluster blight. Kievsky early does not like excessively dry soil, but also has an extremely negative attitude towards waterlogging.
The Kyiv peach variety is a good variety for growing in the countryside
Redhaven peach variety
If you are looking for a really juicy and tasty peach variety for your garden, the early ripening Redhaven peach is perfect for you. This is a visiting variety that is perfectly adapted to local growing conditions, and therefore can show good results in both private and industrial breeding.
Redhaven produces large peach fruits, sometimes more than 150 g, which have an excellent taste (almost the highest tasting rating). The color of the fruit is orange-yellow, with red spots or inclusions, the flesh is yellow, tender, with a pleasant and very strong aroma. This is why children like Redhaven so much, and adults don’t mind trying an excellent fruit with an unforgettable taste.
The variety is resistant to winter and spring frosts, leaf curl and many other diseases, but is affected by fungal diseases, especially with improper agricultural practices. But, you can always protect peach from diseases if you fertilize it in time and stimulate growth and development, as well as take preventive measures that experts recommend for each individual variety.
The Redhaven peach variety is an excellent choice for a summer resident who wants to get a serious harvest.
Collins peach variety
Peach is very productive, and therefore the fruits must be removed from the tree on time so that the harvest does not break the branches. Try to pick peaches sequentially, as they do not ripen simultaneously, but over a period of time.
This variety is resistant to curl and powdery mildew, and tolerates winter and spring frosts well.
A special feature of the variety is the great need for fertilizing, regular watering and timely pruning to form a crown. Only a well-groomed peach can please you with a stable harvest of large fruits.
Collins peach variety - a classic variety for country growing
In addition to the varieties we have indicated, you can always plant other varieties of early peach in your dacha, for example, Juicy peach and Favorite Moretini.
Medium ripening peaches and late varieties of peaches
There are quite a lot of fruits at the dacha that yield early, and therefore some summer residents prefer later varieties of peaches. Perhaps the reason is the consistent consumption of tasty vitamins throughout the warm season. Let's choose the best varieties of late-ripening peaches for planting in the country.
Peach variety Cardinal
The variety attracts peach lovers with its persistent charm, because each individual fruit is a real masterpiece. Average size, weight 140 g, carmine blush, sometimes replaced by pure yellow skin... and if we talk about taste, you can completely forget yourself, because 5 points on the main tasting scale is the height of perfection. Of course, there are other juicy, sweet and aromatic varieties of peaches, but Cardinal is definitely among the leaders.
The Cardinal peach variety can always be found on sale, but purchasing a seedling is only the beginning, because this variety will require special care from you, as it does not tolerate frost very well.
If we talk about diseases, powdery mildew is not scary for Cardinal, and this is seriously encouraging. Try to constantly keep the plant in good shape, supply it with fertilizers and moisture on time, because the formation of a large harvest requires constant feeding.
The Cardinal peach is not the largest, but the most delicious, according to the international commission
Peach variety Kremlin
We present to you a variety that perfectly adapts to almost any, naturally reasonable, conditions. This characteristic makes the Kremlin peach variety very popular, despite the fact that it does not produce fruits of special sizes at a constant level, although some trees bear fruit with peaches weighing 200 g.
The fruits of the Kremlin peach are orange or yellow, with a red blush or extensive inclusions, very juicy and aromatic, with a sweet or sour-sweet taste.
The variety is little susceptible to many diseases and shows high winter hardiness, which is very good for regions with cool climates.
It is worth growing it under standard conditions, but try to carefully monitor watering, since the trees of the variety do not really like strong moisture. Therefore, they need to be planted on flat areas or hills, and watered rarely, but systematically.
Kremlin peach - sweet, juicy, productive, resistant to many diseases
The description of peach varieties will give you only basic information for choosing seedlings. In the future, you will have serious work on growing, caring for and reproducing.
New peach varieties
Sunrise, Golden Jubilee, White Swan, Veteran, Ambassador of Peace, Redgold, Flowertop, Bogun, Greensboro, Jaminat, Krasnodarets, Raduzhny, Stavropolsky, Elberta are well-known varieties that can often be seen in the country, but we would like to introduce you to American and Canadian peach varieties that are adapted to our climate and show excellent yield results.
Among these varieties there are nectarines, fig peaches, frost-resistant and simply winter-hardy varieties of peaches: Harbinger, Harrow Diamond, Harnas, Earley Redhaven, Harko, Suncrest, Inka.
Perhaps new peach varieties are most suitable for you to grow in your summer cottage
We understand perfectly well that choosing the right peach variety for your garden is quite difficult., but you need to make a choice if you want to receive large, sweet, juicy and aromatic fruits of a wonderful plant throughout the summer, or even at the beginning of autumn. Be careful, because you need to purchase not just a breeding variety whose description you liked, but also an adapted seedling, preferably a famous one or, in general, recommended to you by a neighboring summer resident who has been receiving peaches from trees for several years. Of course, you can always go to online stores or botanical gardens, but do so at your own peril and risk.
You should pay special attention to peach varieties, because the taste of the fruit and the yield of the tree will depend on the correct choice of variety.
Peach varieties and best harvests (video)
After purchasing a seedling, be sure to study its proper planting and care in the first few years after planting - this is the main period when the plant needs care. In the future, of course, agricultural technology must also be observed, but, like any mature plant, the peach will no longer require as much attention from you as it did right away.
The Cardinal peach (Prunus persica “Cardinal”) from the Pink family was bred by American breeders and is one of the popular varieties of medium ripening.
Description and varietal characteristics
The self-fertile peach of the Cardinal variety forms medium-sized trees with a very lush and rounded crown. The fruits are quite large, with an average weight of 140 to 150 g. The shape of peaches is round, slightly flattened on the sides. The skin of the ripe fruit is yellow in color with a characteristic blush. The pulp of a ripe peach is orange-yellowish in color, quite fleshy, very juicy, with a pronounced pleasant aroma. The stone is small in size, half separated from the ripe pulp.
The harvest ripens in the third decade of July. The plant begins to bear fruit approximately in the second or third year after planting in a permanent place. The “Cardinal” variety stands out for its high annual yield, good disease resistance and high winter hardiness.
When growing peach of this variety, it is necessary to strictly observe the irrigation regime, without over-moistening or drying out the soil on the site. The plant responds very well to timely and competent feeding.
Terms and rules of feeding
When cultivating peach, it is very important to follow all basic agrotechnical measures, including fertilizing. If the peach seedling was planted in the autumn, then the first application of full-fledged fertilizers is carried out only after a year and a half. For “Cardinal” peaches planted in spring, the first feeding is done only in the second year of growth. After the peach tree enters the fruiting stage, the plant must be fertilized annually.
Spring feeding The cultivation of an adult peach is carried out with the aim of fully activating the growing season and involves the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Diluted nitrogen-containing compounds or rotted high-quality manure should be added to the tree trunks of peach plantations. Before the plant enters the fruiting stage, it is recommended to feed the trees with liquid potassium fertilizers.
How to trim a peach in spring (video)
Autumn feeding carried out by adding phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to the soil. It is also advisable to use a solution of wood ash for fertilizing. You should not apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers in the fall, as they do not allow fruit trees to fully go into the winter dormant period. When it comes to organic matter, preference should be given to rotted manure.
During the summer It is recommended to carry out foliar feeding of fruit-bearing trees of the “Cardinal” variety. Such fertilizers saturate the plants with necessary substances through the foliage. The application of mineral fertilizers helps to increase the total leaf surface and also increases the sugar content of ripe fruits.
Irrigation regime
Despite the fact that the Cardinal peach belongs to the category of very unpretentious and drought-resistant fruit crops, To obtain a good harvest, it is necessary to systematically water the plants:
- in dry and hot weather, it is recommended to water peach trees once every couple of weeks, starting from the first ten days of June until mid-August;
- for one watering it is recommended to spend about 20-30 liters of water on each fruit plant;
- For irrigation activities, it is advisable to equip irrigation furrows.
Irrigation measures must be carried out taking into account the moisture capacity of the soil on the site. High-quality watering of prunus persica “Cardinal” involves moistening the soil to a depth of 50-70 cm.
Reviews from gardeners
The Cardinal peach is distinguished by its annual yield starting from the second or third year after planting and the average yield is about 30-35 kg from each mature tree. Juicy, fragrant, yellow and with a rich blush, the fruits of this variety are the pride of any gardener, and also receive high praise and positive feedback from consumers.
The variety is characterized as high-yielding and produces marketable fruits that are in demand on the fresh fruit market.
Peach: yield rationing (video)
A clone of the Cambridge Carmine variety was obtained in the 1890s.
It is a medium-sized tree with a round, thickened crown. It begins to bear fruit early, 2-3 years after planting. The variety is self-fertile. Productivity is regular. The leaves are lanceolate, with a pitted edge.
The fruits are large, weighing 140-150 g, round in shape, slightly flattened on the sides. The skin is yellow, with a reddish blush. The pulp is orange-yellow, fleshy, juicy, with a pleasant aroma. The stone is small, half separated from the pulp. The tasting mark is high. The harvest ripens in the third decade of July.
Frost resistance zone: 5a (-23°C).
Location: thermophilic, needs sunny and sheltered from the wind places. Moderate watering is necessary, especially during the period of ovary and fruit ripening. Loves light, loamy and sandy calcareous soils with moderate moisture.
Landing: It is recommended to plant in the spring, but it can also be done in the fall (then it is necessary to mulch the tree trunk circle and add it to a height of 20-30 cm). The planting hole must be at least 0.7 x 0.7 m, according to the 4 x 4 m pattern. 10 kg of overripe manure and 150 g of superphosphate are mixed with soil and the seedling is filled with the root system straightened. The tree trunk circle must be compacted to the edges, watered well (4-5 buckets) and mulched with a layer of compost to a height of 8-10 cm.
Diseases and pests: diseases - powdery mildew, leaf curl, clasterosporiosis, fruit rot, moniliosis, cytospora drying of shoots and branches. Pests are plum and oriental codling moths, fruit striped moths, large and green peach aphids, fruit and spider mites.
Care: needs moderate watering and shaping pruning. For improved yield, the improved bowl pruning method is used. After planting the seedling, all side branches must be removed. 3-4 skeletal branches are left 10-20 cm apart. The conductor must be cut at the base of the upper side branch. In the second year, branches of the 1st order are shortened if they are longer than 50 cm or change the direction of growth. Over the next years, pruning should be aimed at fruiting. Anti-aging pruning is carried out from the swelling of the buds to the beginning of flowering. When freezing, pruning is carried out after the appearance of tops on the trunks and branches.
Reproduction: seedlings are grafted onto a variety of rootstocks. For dry, sandy, chernozem soils it is best recommended on apricot seedlings, for moist acidic soils - on cherry plum, blackthorn and plum.
Usage: The fruits are consumed fresh, for canning, making liqueur, marmalade, and juice. Peach oil is made from the seeds.
The mid-season table peach variety “Kremlevsky” was bred in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden by I. N. Ryabov as a result of crossing the fairly well-known varieties “Rochester” and “Elberta”. This very popular variety, sought after by gardeners, adapts perfectly to almost any cultivation conditions.
Varietal characteristics and description of the plant
The Kremlinsky peach variety is characterized by average resistance to drought. The plants are tall, with an oval-rounded crown.
The fruits are large, weighing up to 100-200 g, round in shape, yellowish-orange in color, with a very bright red blush. The pulp is dense in consistency, with average juiciness, has an excellent taste and a pronounced peach aroma.
Peach trees are characterized by great shoot-forming ability, which is especially noticeable in the first years of fruiting. A significant number of flower buds are formed on the plants, which requires regular thinning of branches and shoots.
How to trim a peach in spring (video)
Crown formation technology
The “Kremlevsky” peach belongs to the category of tall plants and needs timely, and most importantly, competent formation.
Formation of a bush crown
Formation involves removing all shoots except three or four growing from the lower buds. Such shoots gain full strength in a couple of years, and then bear fruit for about three years, after which they should be pruned at the level of the root collar. For further formation, you need to leave approximately seven of the most developed shoots from the summer growth. Annual pruning consists of forming a plant crown of five fruiting and three replacement shoots.
Formation of a sparse-tiered crown
Formation consists of creating a trunk 30-40 cm high and preserving 5-6 shoots. The first three shoots with a distance of 40 cm between them should form the first tier. The side shoots of the trunk must be completely removed. The lateral growths of the skeletal branches remain intact.
Formation of a cup-shaped crown
This crown formation is the most popular and in demand in home gardening. The height of the stem should be about 35 cm. The conductor and side branches are removed. The main emphasis is on creating a crown of four skeletal branches located at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
In addition to formative, sanitary, rejuvenating and regulating pruning is very important for fruit plantings. Sanitary pruning peach trees involves the removal of all dried and diseased shoots, which must be burned. Rejuvenating pruning is carried out on old plants in order to renew the crown and involves cupping. Regulatory trimming It is carried out when necessary to maintain the productivity of the tree and consists in removing part of the fruit-bearing branches, which helps protect the skeletal branches from severe exposure.
There is also restorative type of pruning, which is used to increase the fruiting volume of a plant in cases where its crown has been subject to mechanical damage. It is very important to remember that, regardless of the type of pruning, all cut areas must be covered. To do this, use a garden pitch or a special wound-healing agent “Lac Balsam”.
Reviews from gardeners
The Kremlevsky peach is distinguished by its excellent adaptation to almost any weather and soil conditions in the growing region without compromising the taste of the fruit. The plant, according to observations and reviews from gardeners, has good resistance to many diseases. Sufficiently high levels of frost resistance made it possible to cultivate the variety in regions with cool summers.
The variety is very responsive to regular fertilization and produces a bountiful harvest with systematic fertilizing. Experienced gardeners recommend carefully monitoring the watering regime of plants and avoiding both waterlogging and drying out of the soil in the area.
How to plant a peach (video)
Most often, the “Kremlevsky” peach can be found on personal plots in the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea, in the North Caucasus and in Ukraine. However, growing in central Russia makes it possible to get very good results, provided that the technology for growing this popular fruit crop is followed.