The peach, also known as the "Persian apple", has been cultivated in Germany for many centuries. Even the famous abbess and healer Hildegard von Bingen was already familiar with the fruit. It is therefore all the more surprising that the sweet and aromatic peach is not found more frequently in German gardens.

Peaches are demanding

Apples, cherries, pears - these types of fruit can be found in almost every garden, while peaches are a rarity. On the one hand, this may be due to the fact that many people do not even know that the sweet fruit also thrives in our country - but also because peaches are quite demanding in terms of care. In addition to the optimal location, a peach needs a lot of attention, it has to be fertilized, watered, cut and protected from diseases and pest infestation.

Peaches grow almost everywhere

Basically, the peach is a sun-loving and warmth-loving tree. However, many new breeds as well as some old varieties are bred for robustness and cold resistance, so that cultivation can also be worthwhile outside of the southern wine-growing regions. Above all, it is important to select the right variety, because not every peach feels at home in every climate. All peaches, however, need

  • Sun, sun and more sun
  • a loose, humus-rich soil
  • a nutrient-rich soil
  • lots of space
  • and regular pruning

Peaches need pruning every year

The peach bears almost exclusively one-year-old shoots, which is why the tree has to be pruned vigorously and professionally every year after harvest. Otherwise the tree will quickly wilt and the result will be a sharp drop in harvest. In addition, young peaches in particular grow very quickly. Depending on the variety, the tree can grow between one and eight meters high, with most varieties reaching a height of three to four meters.

Peaches are susceptible to fungal diseases

In particular, fungal diseases such as the dreaded leaf curl affect peach trees and reduce yields. Preventive measures such as spraying fungicides in the spring usually help against these and other infections. Due to the high risk of infection, you should primarily plant less sensitive varieties. Although these are not immune to frizz and the like, they usually develop significantly fewer symptoms and are therefore less restricted.

tips and tricks

Many a hobby gardener swears by mothballs to ward off leaf curl, which are simply hung in the tree in spring - before the leaves sprout. However, these only work if they contain the active ingredient naphthalene.

Category:

Trees