Peaches
Most peach trees (either white or yellow-fleshed) are self-pollinated with a few exceptions. They generally don’t love clay and alkaline soil (which is Utah soil) so amend your soil if you can.
Requirements
Peaches are particularly prone to crop loss due to late spring freezes, especially if you plant in south or west-facing (warmer) areas. Avoid choosing the late-ripening cultivars as if your growing season is shorter. (Check your frost dates here.)
Size
Most trees grow about 20′ wide and 15′ tall – you want to prune it as open vase structure for sunlight penetration and space for fruits.
Climate
Most cultivars are hardy to -10 °F with a few hardy to -20 °F. Choose a site that it gets at least 8 hrs of sunlight during growing season. Check your planting zone here.
Chill hours
Chill hours (32 – 45 °F) are the time it needs to break dormancy. In Utah, peaches with higher chill hour requirements are typically better since the bud won’t break and grow during unseasonably warm weather conditions.
Water
Deep water once every week or two (18-24″ deep). Avoid using sprinklers to keep the tree canopy dry to prevent diseases.
Soil
Ideal pH <8.0 and low in salt. High ph soil causes iron to be insoluble and not available for root absorption (iron chlorosis) which results in yellow leaves.
USU soil testing
Pollination
Most of the peach trees are self-pollinated. A few cultivars require other types of peach trees to pollinate.
How to plant a tree?
After you decide on a good spot, follow this instruction to plant your tree.
Where to buy a tree?
You can purchase bare roots online and plant them in early spring. Or check out nurseries nearby for potted trees.
How to take care of them
Peach trees need proper pruning in Feb/Mar – to encourage growth and avoid branch breaking. To get bigger fruits, thin the fruits when peaches become golf ball size.
This timeline is roughly based on the climate in Salt Lake Valley. If you live in Southern Utah, you’ll need to start pruning earlier. If you live in high elevation, your growing season will be shorter (start later and end earlier.)
Pruning
Prune to an open vase structure to invite sunlight peaking through. Remove all water sprouts and branches that are too close to each other.
USU – how to prune a peach tree video
Fertilizing
<3 years young tree should grow 18-24″/year. If not, apply 20-0-0 (Nitrogen) in early spring (before the leaves form.) And the second application in mid May. No fertilize after mid-July. >4 years tree should grow ~1’/year. If not, apply the same fertilizer or balanced fertilizer of phosphorous and potassium are deficient.
Worm control
Peach twig borers can not just damage fruits but also trees. Check out this article from USU extension for organic (trap, biological control) or insecticides application.
Fruit thinning
A good rule of thumb is 3 peaches for 1′ of branch.
Harvesting
Depends on your varieties, ripening can occur from July to September. Once harvested, keep the fruit in a cool area for up to 2 weeks.
Storing
For unripe ones, keep them in a brown paper bag to ripe. Once the peaches ripen, you can’t leave them at room temperature for long. You can can them or make jam.