Peach Trees – Not Just for Georgia Anymore

Paulette Greenberg, Anoka County Extension Master Gardener

Most home gardeners in Minnesota automatically think about apples and pears when considering adding a fruit tree to their landscape. However, there are a few peach cultivars available now that can thrive in Zone 4, and they will reward you with peaches that are every bit as sweet and juicy (if not more so) than the ones you can buy at the grocery store.

Peach trees establish quickly if they like where they are planted, which would be in a warm, well-draining location that gets full sun for six to eight hours a day. Unfortunately, even when the tree is happy, a successful harvest is never assured in our climate because a late frost like the one we had this year can wipe out all of the buds and blossoms. Without flowers, the tree cannot form fruit. While I had a bumper crop of peaches last year before the plum curculio visited me, this year neither of my trees will produce because the buds were killed by frost. However, the trees still add visual beauty to my landscape, and I am hopeful that next spring will be kinder.

One of my favorite things about growing peach trees is that peaches are self-fertile. If you only have room for one tree, you will still get peaches, which is great for those with limited yard space.

If you are considering adding peach trees to your garden, here are some things to consider:

·        Choose a variety specifically designated for your zone. I am in zone 4b in northwestern Anoka County, and two cultivars that have worked well for me are ‘Contender’ and ‘Reliant.’

·        Peach trees like it ‘hot, hot, hot.’ It’s also a good idea to give them a sheltered location so they aren’t damaged from high winds when they are heavy with fruit

·        Too much fertilizer is more harmful than too little. If your mature tree is sending out at least eight inches of growth each season, no need to fertilize. If it falls below that rate, then add compost.

·        While peach trees are relatively easy-care, it’s important to be vigilant. Peach leaf curl, bacterial leaf spot, canker, and brown rot are diseases we see in Minnesota. Plum curculio is an insect that could visit you in the spring (especially if plum trees are around), lay its eggs in your fruit, and you may not notice you have a problem until you are almost ready to harvest. Monitoring your tree’s leaves, bark, and fruit on a weekly basis during the growing season is important for long-term health and a good harvest.

Home-grown peaches are much more accessible to those of us in Minnesota thanks to new cultivars that help them survive our harsh winters, and there is nothing quite like a fresh peach from your own tree. For more tips and information on growing peach trees, visit this link on the University of Minnesota Extension site: Growing stone fruits in the home garden | UMN Extension