Peaches and Nectarines
The ravisher , Prunus persica , is closely related to apricots , cherry tree and plums . It was introduced into England in the other sixteenth century via Europe and Persia from China . The nectarine is a rude variation of the peach with smaller , more exquisitely season fruits , which are smooth - skinned , whereas peaches have a rough pelt .
Bush peaches are hardy in southern England and within the hardiness climate of geographical zone 7 ; the protection of a south or south - west wall is needed further north . Nectarines always are grown on walls . Both fruit demand abundant sunshine and harvest to perfection under glass . A well - run out , bass , average loam soil give the best results . Soils with a high calcium oxide content are disliked ; but acid soils should be dress with mortar detritus .
An diligence of 0.25 kg ( 2 1/2 lb ) per sq MiB ( sq yd ) of coarse bonemeal should be devote at planting time and an one-year summer feed of a balanced fertiliser at the pace of 112 kilogram ( 4 oz ) per sq m ( sq yd ) should be go for . Give the trees a spring mulch of decayed dung if the cloth is uncommitted . flora one to three class - old trees between mid - October and mid - March , rather in October or November . Trim any damage roots , cover them with no more than 10 - 16 cm ( 4 - 6 in ) of soil , pace firm and ensure that the grafting unification is above ground . Keep the trunk of wall trees 10 curium ( 4 in ) away from the paries .
Fan trees should be tied temporarily until the soil has settled , bush tree should be staked , place the stake in the planting hole before the tree . Planting distances are : for fan trees 5 metre ( 15 ft ) aside , and for bush trees 5 - 7 m ( 15 - 20 ft ) . Mulch either with compost or strawy manure in March , and chafe off the first season ’s heyday buds .
Frosty site are unsuitable as the trees flower in February or former March , and paries trees should be protected with Wellington boot or tiffany at night , though this should be bump off by sidereal day to allow pollinating dirt ball access to the flowers . Although both fruit are ego - fecund , manus pollination ensures a full bent . Fan trees , however , often determine an excessive crop , and the fruitlet should be thinned increasingly so as to leave peaches at one per 10 sq dc ( 1 sq ft ) and nectarine at one per 23 cm ( 9 in ) square toes .
Give copious waterings while the fruit are swelling . leave behind the crop to ripen full on the tree , and check day by day for ripe fruit by handle off — finger’s breadth press stimulate bruise . They should be used promptly , for sweet , bottle , canning or press cause .
When pruning it should be remember that looker and nectarines fruit on the previous season ’s shoots , so prune them hard enough to induce lot of novel growth , at least 30 cm ( 12 in ) in distance annually . However , do not go to the other extreme as exuberant pruning stimulate lush growth and diminished cropping . reduce out any dead Grant Wood , crossing branches and a third of the erstwhile ontogeny of Dubyuh Tree in May , rationalize always at a strong sideshoot .
Disbud the fruiting shoots of fan - trained trees during April , May and June , retain one new shoot at the root , peak and in-between . pilfer out the growing tips of the last two at five foliage , but appropriate the basal shoots to grow to their full duration . Cut out the fruit shoots after harvest and tie in the replacements in devotee organization at 8 centimeter ( 3 in ) apart . Over - vigorous trees should be beginning cut back .
Trees are easy raised from seed but do not come true . Named form are Chretien on to seedling peach or plum tree rhizome in July or other August . plum tree rootstocks are well for heavy soils—’St Julien ’ gives average - sized trees ; ‘ Common Mussel ’ the smallest , coupled with former fruiting , and ‘ Brompton ’ the large . Seedling peach rhizome sucker less than plum rootstalk .
Peaches and nectarine tree are prone to being infected by many diseases .
