Peach trees were first cultivated and domesticated from Northwest China between the north slopes of the Kunlun mountains and the Tarim Basin. They are fruit trees for the patient gardener. Peach trees bought from the nursery usually produce fruits in a year or two and 3-4 years when they are grown from a pit. When learning how to plant a peach tree, gardeners must be ready for the responsibility of caring for a delicate tree that will be prone to insect infestation at some time. But when properly taken care of and successfully planted in a way that they’ll be able to overcome the risks, it will produce years’ worth of tasty fruits each growing season, and will benefit your family in ways too many. This article will teach you how to plant a peach tree with some important life-saving tips.
Choosing a Location
- To achieve ultimate fruit production, peach trees should be planted in an area where it can be under the sunlight all day long.
- Peach trees thrive in a well-drained, sandy, and moderately fertile soil.
- The ideal soil pH for peaches is on the acidic side, from 6 – 6.5.
- Plant them in an elevated part of the soil in order to give it proper airflow and to avoid frost which can harm your peaches.
How to Plant a Peach Tree
- Dig a planting hole that’s 12 inches deep to offer the best support for the peach tree’s roots. It should also be twice as wide as the tree’s root ball. Place a small mound of soil in the middle of the hole. Spread the roots away from the trunk but be careful not to overly bend them.
- Add compost to the soil. Mix it properly in order to loosen the soil and moderately water the area where you will be planting the peach tree.
- Set the tree into the hole. Place the peach tree in the small mound and fill the hole back with soil. Pat the ground gently to secure the tree.
- For dwarf trees, put them 10 to 12 feet apart from each other. When planting standard-size trees, however, space them 15 to 20 feet apart.
- Peaches are self-fertile, so planting only one tree is already adequate for fruit production.
On a scale of 1 to peach, how easy was that? The planting process can be a piece of cake but still, it requires serious work and dedication from the gardener. Just like with everything else in life, the more effort you exert, the more things will work on your favor. When one learns how to plant a peach tree, they do not stop at the basics. While you’re at it, you might wonder about some other possible ways to plant this fruit tree, and if you can plant a peach pit or seed and grow another peach tree from it. The answer is a resounding yes!
How to Prepare Peach Seeds for Planting
- To get started, you can either cut the fruit with a knife or just eat it in order to extract the seed inside. Once you’re done, wash the seed with running water until it does not feel sticky anymore. Dry the pit with a paper towel and leave it to completely dry for 3-4 days.
- Once the pit is completely dry, crack it open. Put it between a pair of pliers and press the handles with force until it cracks. Crack it only halfway so as not to break the peach seed inside. Remove the cracked pit to see the inner seed inside, which is white and resembles an almond.
- Place the seed in a plastic baggie and seal the top halfway and put the bag inside a refrigerator. Remove the plastic baggie from the fridge and put 1 inch of water inside then let the seed soak for about 2-3 hours. Finally, add a potting soil until the soil is damp. Seal the bag tightly.
- Place the plastic baggie back into the fridge and leave it there for 5-6 weeks, checking regularly if it is sprouting. Once you see a seedling sprouting, remove it from there and plant the peach seedling as desired.
Growing a Peach Tree Indoors
So you want to plant a peach tree, but lack the space in your garden? Fret no more, you can plant them indoors! Here are the things you need to remember when growing a peach tree indoors:
- Size – Choose the dwarf varieties since they can be more manageable. They will still produce full-sized peach fruits so do not worry.
- Sunlight – Peaches love the sun. Place them in an area in your house that receives 4-6 hours of sunlight so they can grow a lot healthier.
- Soil and Container – Use loam-based soil as they hold more nutrients. Plant your tree in a five-gallon pot with adequate drainage holes.
- Water it Well – Water regularly, or whenever the soil dries out.
Peach Tree Fertilizer
The perfect peach tree fertilizer is one that has a balanced distribution of the three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Since you’re now savvy with all that there is to know about planting a peach tree, I don’t see any reason for you to resist these peaches. Aside from the significant environmental impact of fruit trees in general, peaches themselves contain nutrients necessary for our body like potassium, calcium, and thiamine. They’re also rich in beta carotene which converts into vitamin A that’s healthy for the heart and eyes. In Eastern cultures, peach tea, a tea directly brewed from peach pits, is used to aid in detoxification. Peaches can also make for a healthy and delicious snack when eaten as it is or incorporated into desserts such as pies. No matter what purpose, learning how to plant a peach tree is indeed worth it if you’re going to sow these benefits in the process as peaches are a delight not only to the body but also to the taste buds.
