The best peach varieties for growing in central Russia, planting and care

Subtleties of wood care

After planting, an adaptation period begins, during which the seedlings are left alone.

Formation

For areas with low winter temperatures, peach tree pruning in a bowl shape is recommended. This is necessary in order to increase the protective powers of the peach.

Formation begins immediately after planting the seedling: it is cut off, leaving 20 centimeters. Over the summer, he must increase the supply of wood and restore the trimmed crown.

1. Spring pruning is carried out after the frosts have stopped, and damaged branches are removed.
2. The peach tree needs autumn pruning for adjustments.

Feeding and watering

During the growing season, peach trees need regular feeding. At the beginning of summer, minerals are added to the soil. Additional fertilizing with phosphorus is carried out if the tree is slow to form an ovary. Peaches are watered regularly starting in April. When drought occurs, make sure that the soil is not too dry.

Preparing for winter

The crop needs additional shelter by the time the first frost begins.

Protection against frost is a two-level shelter system:

1. The soil is mulched with pine needles or sawdust.
2. The above-ground part is covered with plastic film or agrofibre.

By the end of November the trees should be covered. Before this, they are treated with Bordeaux mixture and spilled. To insulate the trunk, additional agrofibre windings are used.

Varieties of peaches for different regions

Like other crops, peaches are divided according to the speed of harvest ripening into early, medium and late. In the south, harvests are formed according to the biological ripeness of all three variety groups; in the middle zone and, especially in the cold zone, even when grown in heated greenhouses and greenhouses, they are limited to growing early and, much less often, medium and mid-early varieties.

In the southern regions and areas close to them in the middle zone, the following early and mid-early varieties of peaches are most acceptable: Kyiv early, Redhaven, Collins, Sochny, Favorit, May Flower, Early Sycheva, Rossoshanskaya early, Nadezhny, Fluffy early and others.

Of the mid-ripe varieties in the southern region, the Cardinal peach variety produces high yields of good quality, the fruits of which reach a weight of 140-150 g.

In the middle zone, the mid-season peach variety Kremlevsky is quite winter-hardy. Large-fruited. The fruits reach a weight of more than 200 g. Other varieties that are in demand are Veteran, Skazka, Zakatny, Smolensky.

We can recommend winter-hardy varieties of peaches from American and Canadian selection (nectarines, peaches with fig-shaped fruits) - Harbinger, Harnas, Inka, Harko, Suncrest and others - for growing on your own plots. Naturally, the listed varieties are given as examples. The market annually offers new, more improved varieties for winter hardiness and resistance to diseases and pests. Before purchasing a new peach variety, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with its characteristics so as not to get into trouble a few years later when it turns out that the variety is unsuitable for the region.

Treatment of peach trees against pests and diseases. Mary H. Dyer

Peach varieties resistant to curl

Until now, many gardeners are tormented by the question: are there varieties of peaches that are resistant to curl? Pear and apple trees have long developed immunity to scab, but peach trees still have to be sprayed to get rid of pests and diseases. And if it is quite easy to remove aphids using special means, then coping with the “heat deficiency disease” is much more difficult.

A few years ago, peach trees were saved from leaf curl by insulating the root system. Unfortunately, this method is far from ideal. Plants continue to suffer, but a little weaker and less frequently. Varieties resistant to this disease became a way out:

• "Red Haven"
• "Harou Diamond"
• "Volcano"
• "Big Honey", etc.

But even this seemingly ideal option has its drawbacks. The yield of curl-resistant peaches does not exceed 12 kg per season. It is much more profitable to plant winter-hardy varieties and spray them with Strobi, Chorus, and Skor, which prevent the disease.

Growing peach in the Moscow region

Growing a peach on the plot is more difficult than cucumbers or tomatoes, traditional for the Russian climate. However, if you follow the basic rules of agricultural technology, every gardener can get appetizing and juicy fruits.

Planting a seedling

Peaches are planted in spring or autumn. For the Moscow region, the second option is suitable, since winter begins in accordance with the calendar, and not in October (which is typical for the northern regions of the country). In the autumn-winter period, the peach tree sleeps and is not disturbed by insects and rodents. The roots develop under dense soil, and the plant’s immunity is strengthened.

For planting, it is recommended to choose two-year-old seedlings. They should look strong and healthy, without wrinkled bark or wilted leaves.

Particular attention is paid to the root system - it should be fibrous. A few days before planting, the seedling is placed in a bucket of warm water, a growth stimulator is added, for example, “Zircon”, “Epin-Extra”

Peach is a sun-loving plant, so a warm and spacious place on the site is reserved for it. The planting site should not be shaded by other trees or garden buildings. An excellent option is a hilly area next to a hedge.

Care after landing

They begin to care for the peach tree in April - gardeners carry out the first treatment with Bordeaux mixture against aphids and other insects. After a month, excess ovaries are removed, leaving 8-10 cm between future fruits. The soil near the tree trunk is loosened and cleared of weeds. It is necessary to regularly maintain cleanliness between trees and beds - otherwise there is a high risk of developing diseases.

Gardeners recommend 2-3 root feedings before harvesting. Potassium mixture, Zdravy or Magic Watering Can plant complex are used as fertilizers. Apply fertilizers after watering - this way more nutrients will reach the roots. In the spring, peach trees are sprayed with a urea solution (0.5 kg per 10 liters of water) at the rate of 2-2.5 liters of solution per 10 square meters. m.

Late-ripening varieties are watered six times per season, early-ripening varieties - three times. One tree requires about 10-15 liters of water. The first watering occurs at the beginning of summer, the last - about 20 days before harvest. Water in the morning or evening to protect plants from sunburn.

How to grow from seed

Planting and caring for peach pits is similar to traditional growing methods. First, prepare the pit - remove it from a peach variety suitable for the Moscow region. Dry it and put it in a dry and dark place until autumn. Two days before planting, it is soaked in water and broken along the seam, after which the seed is removed from the inside.

In the garden, prepare a planting site and dig a hole 10 cm deep. Place a seed inside, sprinkle with soil, water and mulch. After winter, they begin standard care - water and fertilize. The plant should grow to form a trunk as thick as a pencil.

In the second year, a tree is formed and the crown is cleared of dense branches. The peach tree bears fruit in the third or fourth year.

Regular feeding

To get a good peach harvest, it needs to be fed. The first feeding is usually carried out in early or mid-April with urea (30-50 g per 10 liters of water). In May or June, add 100 g of ash and 20 g of nitroammophoska, which can be replaced with mullein infusion with the same ash:

Fill 1 bucket of manure and 1-1.5 kg of ash with 5-6 buckets of water and leave for 4-6 days. Water at the roots, being careful not to get on the tree trunk.

The first feeding is carried out immediately after flowering, the second - 2-3 weeks after the first, half a bucket per tree.

Every year 30 g of potassium sulfate is applied under the tree, every three years the peach is fed with 30 g of double superphosphate. In areas with acidic soils, 300-500 g of lime are applied every five years.

• How to feed the garden in spring, summer and autumn

  Take care of the plants in the garden by applying the necessary fertilizers on time. Our calendar and useful tips will help you with this!

Features of cultivation

If the growing technology is followed, peaches and nectarines of early varieties ripen well even in the northern part of the Moscow region. To get a full harvest, you should follow all agrotechnical practices:

in late autumn, it is recommended to cut out the conductor of the plant, leaving only the four lower shortened shoots for the winter; It is very important to properly sprinkle the already cut trunk of the fruit plant with loose soil and foliage for the winter; watering should be carried out regularly, especially when the soil moisture capacity is insufficient and during very dry, hot periods; the standard water consumption rate for one adult fruit-bearing tree is about 40-50 liters; for fertilizing in the spring, it is imperative to use nitrogen-containing fertilizers, which have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of the vegetative mass of fruit plants; in summer and autumn, it is recommended to use fertilizers based on phosphorus and potassium as fertilizing; It is advisable to carry out timely rationing of the harvest, as well as to place special supports under the branches, since the branches of fruit trees such as peach and nectarine are quite fragile and can break under the weight of ripening fruits

Popular varieties

In Russia, the following crop varieties are in especially high demand.

Balconella

The Balconella peach is a compact tree that takes up minimal space. It grows up to a meter in height, has a spherical shape and is great for small gardens. Fruiting is high. Each peach weighs about 150 grams. It is fluffy, orange, with red stripes. It is characterized by a very juicy taste and rich aroma.

Balconella

In memory of Grishko

The tree is characterized by active growth. The variety is self-fertile and ripens at the end of August. The fruits are oval-shaped and can weigh up to 250 grams. The peel is fluffy, dark pink. The variety is winter-hardy, which is why this peach can be grown in central Russia without any problems.

Negus

Red-leaved peach Negus is not only a fruit tree, but also an ornamental one. It is characterized by very beautiful leaves of red-violet color. The fruits are medium in size and red in color. The tree grows to an average height of 3-4 meters. Despite the fact that the red-leaved peach is considered frost-resistant, it must be covered for the first few years. The variety is practically the most resistant to scab.

Negus

Columnar honey

Columnar honey peach is a very interesting variety of crop. It ripens quite early - in July. The tree has no side branches and is compact. The fruits grow large (up to 170 grams), round in shape, yellow in color with a pronounced red blush. The taste is excellent, the bone separates from the pulp well. It is frost resistant.

White Swan

The White Swan peach is characterized by medium height and a very spreading crown. White peach is winter-hardy and tolerates frosts down to -25 degrees without problems. The weight of the fruit is 150 grams, the pulp is white, with a slight creamy tint. White peach is often grown on an industrial scale because it not only has excellent taste, but also excellent transportability. The variety is self-fertile.

White Swan

Pontic

The Pontic peach is characterized by an early ripening period. The tree grows to medium size. Tree of medium height. The fruits are usually medium in size, weighing 100-110 grams. The skin is dark red, slightly blurred in the form of dots. The variety has an average heat tolerance and resistance to dry growing conditions.

Burgundy

The red-leaved Burgundy peach has a telling name. It has burgundy-red foliage and yellow-red fruits. The variety is columnar. Trees have medium vigor. Fruiting usually occurs in August. The Burgundy peach fruit is medium in size and weighs about 130 grams.

Burgundy

Redhaven

The variety is tall and can reach a height of five meters. If the variety is grafted onto almonds, it will grow very significantly in ten years. The fruits are large, slightly flattened on the sides. Their weight can vary from 120 to 190 grams. The velvety skin has a rich scarlet color. Frost resistance is high enough for successful planting of Redhaven peach in the Moscow region.

Other varieties

Speaking about the varieties of peaches cultivated in Russia, we can give a whole list of acceptable options, from which any gardener can choose the most suitable one according to any parameters that are significant to him. We are talking, first of all, about the following varieties: Redhaven, Golden Moscow, Greensboro, Melba, Early Kiev, Golden Jubilee, Pink Peach, Voronezh Bush, Khasansky, Veteran, Wild Phalaenopsis, Novoselkovy Cardinal, Uralets, Vector, Donetsk Yellow, Big Honey , Fury, Frot, Madeleine Pouille, Favorite, Beauty, Condor, Red-cheeked, Flamingo, Golden Triumph, etc.

If someone is interested in the Donskoy frost-resistant peach description or Collins description of the variety, they will find information on the Internet without any particular problems.

Peach Donskoy

Suitable varieties

The cultivation of peach trees in the Middle Zone has become possible due to selective selection, which has been carried out by scientists over the past decades. Several varieties have been bred that are frost-resistant and have increased adaptability.

Red Haven

The hybrid has been recommended for the central regions of the country since 1992. The tree grows up to 5 meters, the crown consists of large dark green leaves with a glossy surface. Single flowers are collected in bell-shaped inflorescences and acquire an orange tint when flowering.

The fruits of the Red Haven variety are classified as large, weighing up to 150-160 grams. The fruit's shape remains round until fully ripe. They have thin skin and juicy flesh. Brief characteristics of the variety:

Kyiv early

The hybrid was created in the middle of the last century, adapted to harsh climate conditions.

Kremlevsky

The hybrid is known for its quality - it can adapt to any conditions. It is suitable for cultivation in Siberia and the Urals. The fruits of the variety are large, up to 200 grams. Juiciness indicators are considered average compared to related hybrids.

Cardinal

The tree is 2.5 meters high, the fruit reaches 160 grams. The color of the peel is yellow, with a reddish tint, the flesh is juicy, the stone is easily separated.

Peach diseases

This is a fungus; when infected, the foliage begins to turn red, and the affected areas dry out and crumble. The bark also suffers, causing it to crack and glue to leak out. The tree dries out and dies.

Before and after flowering, you should use Horus or Topsin M in the concentration indicated on the package.

Also, before flowering, you need to cut off all diseased parts and lubricate the cuts with a solution of lime mixed with a 2% solution of copper sulfate, then treat the cuts with garden varnish.

Most often it appears during a long spring with an abundance of moisture. Swelling appears on the foliage, it becomes wavy, curls, and then turns white and crumbles. If left untreated, the peach grows poorly and dries out.

In the spring, disinfection with copper preparations is also carried out. Affected foliage and branches are immediately cut off and burned upon detection.

With powdery mildew, a white coating appears on the foliage. Branch growth slows down. When a disease is detected, they resort to remedies like Topaz.

Peach moniliosis leads to drying out of the peach. It also affects the fruits - dark areas form on them, and the flesh turns brown.

To cure a tree from moniliosis, you need to treat it with Horus before flowering, when the pink buds appear with Topaz, and 15 days after that with Topsin.

With Verticillium wilt, the foliage begins to turn yellow and fall off. If you cut a branch, you can see dark and brown circles on it. If trees are infected with a fungus that causes this disease, they must be destroyed and the soil disinfected.

Glue or, correctly, gum may be released from wood tissue. This substance usually appears when tissue is injured and serves to protect other tissues.

But with freezing, burns, excessive pruning and damage to the bark, as well as fungal diseases, gum begins to be released in excessive quantities. To prevent this from happening, you must follow all the rules of care and also avoid mechanical damage.

Disease and pests

Stone fruit crops often develop moniliosis. This fungal disease is spread by bees and affects trees during flowering. The main signs of moniliosis:

• damaged, dried leaves;
• falling buds;
• yellowing.

Agricultural technicians have developed a plan that includes stage-by-stage processing of trees. First, peaches are treated with fungicides, then sprayed with solutions containing potassium and phosphorus.

Powdery mildew is a fungal infection that affects the leaves, shoots and fruits of peach. Young trees are most susceptible to this disease. The first sign of powdery mildew: a whitish coating on different parts. Then the leaves begin to roll into tubes, and white spots resembling mold appear on the resulting fruits. Peaches begin to rot, and part of the crop becomes unedible.

The pores of the fungus can overwinter in the soil at low temperatures, so the fight against powdery mildew is reduced to the destruction of the infected parts of the plant; the remaining parts are treated with a solution of colloidal sulfur.

Many fruit and berry crops are subject to aphid infestation. Aphids are small pests that breed on the underside of leaf blades and eat buds. To get rid of the parasite, folk remedies are used. A good method is to treat with soap solutions, as well as tobacco infusion.

Shelter for the winter

For the winter, the trunk and skeletal branches of the tree are whitened with lime with the addition of 5% copper sulfate, and also tied with reeds, spruce legs, paper, burlap or other material (except plastic film). This protects them from frost, sunburn, and damage by rodents.

Every plant requires care and attention. Perhaps the peach needs them more than other plants in the garden. But the result will not be the most common for the middle zone: aromatic, juicy fruits, which, in terms of sweetness, are said to be in no way inferior to their counterparts from the southern regions.

Careful selection of variety

If you fail to choose the right variety of peach, then no matter how sophisticated and experienced a gardener you are, you are unlikely to be able to reap a rich harvest of this crop.

Since the southern regions are the homeland of peach, preference should be given to varieties and hybrids that will have time to ripen before the autumn cold snap.

Such varieties as Novoselkovsky, Donetsk White, Donetsk Yellow, Yelgavsky, Seyanets Starka, Loiko, Pamyat Simirenko, Kyiv Ranniy, Smolensky, Redhaven have proven themselves well for cultivation in the middle zone.

Peaches compare favorably with other “capricious” crops, such as apricots, in that they can quickly recover after not very successful winterings.

Recommended varieties

To obtain a harvest in the climate of central Russia, it is necessary to give preference to frost-resistant varieties. These types of crops tolerate diseases and sudden temperature changes.

Red Haven

The culture tolerates frost. When planted in the middle zone, it can produce a harvest. The fruits are yellow in color. Rarely susceptible to disease.

Kyiv early

The crop ripens early, the fruits are pink. Can tolerate frosts and bears fruit regularly. However, to obtain a bountiful harvest, it is necessary to ensure the application of fertilizers.

Kremlevsky

The plant ripens early in autumn and is distinguished by its juicy pulp and fruit size. The skin is soft, but the peach can be stored. With proper care, the plant can bear fruit in all regions.

Cardinal

A distinctive feature of the fruit is its bright pink taste and pleasant aroma. The pulp is juicy and separates from the seed; the plant can be grown from seedlings or seed. Tolerates frost.

Early

The tree is small in size and underdeveloped, the crown is sparse. The crop ripens early, the fruits are medium-sized with high taste characteristics.

Important. This variety is characterized by weak branches, so it is necessary to regularly install supports during the ripening period

Harrow Diamond

Early ripening crop, orange skin. A distinctive feature is its bright aroma and juicy pulp. Doesn't separate well from the pit. Can be grown on all types of soil.

A variety that can tolerate frost. The species is fruitful, medium-sized berries with a slight blush.

Saratov early

The tree is small in size, slightly spreading. The ripening period is early, the peaches are juicy with sourness. Can tolerate frosts in early spring and is resistant to drought.

Khasansky

The tree bears fruit regularly, with thin-skinned fruits. The pulp is orange, sweet. Tolerates frost and is rarely susceptible to disease.

Donetsk white

A winter-hardy peach variety with a light skin color. The ripening period for the crop is mid-August. The pulp is sweet and is used for canning.

Veteran

The fruits have an average ripening period. The orange fruit separates well from the pit. Suitable for storage and canning.

Dneprovsky

The tree is medium-sized, the harvest ripens at the end of August. The fruits are small, the pulp is juicy, and separates from the seed. When grown properly, it bears fruit regularly.

Classification of popular peach varieties in Russia

Peaches have been grown in Russia for a long time. But for successful cultivation, you need to choose the variety wisely. Early varieties are recommended for the middle zone and Moscow region so that they have time to ripen. Medium-ripening peach varieties can be planted in the south and Kuban. It is risky to plant late varieties of peaches in Russia. But with proper care, they will produce a harvest. A description of the varieties of peaches will help you make a choice.

Varieties of columnar peach that can be grown in Russia:

Varieties of peaches for central Russia

When choosing a variety that will grow in central Russia, you need to take into account that the types of this fruit must be winter-hardy, since the region is famous for frosts. It is necessary to choose early varieties so that they have time to ripen.

The following species are well suited for planting:

It is worth considering some features when planting a tree in the ground. The place should be sunny. Excess water should not accumulate in the place where this crop grows.

Varieties for the south of Russia

The southern climate is suitable for obtaining a large harvest from peach trees, as it is soft, hot and the fruit has time to ripen. But when planting, you still need to take into account a protected area from cold winds. Therefore, early, mid-season and late species can be planted in the south of Russia. In the southern part of Russia, late-ripening fruits are especially popular, as they have a high marketability:

Due to the hot climate, sometimes the tree requires watering for uniform development and early ripening.

Mid-season species of the southern regions of Russia:

Boxer and Temira are large-fruited varieties. They also grow well in Russia.

Varieties for Kuban

Heat-tolerant species work well. To plant a peach, you will need soil that includes black soil and mineral fertilizers. Planting should occur in early spring or late autumn.

The best varieties of peaches for the Krasnodar region:

Peaches grow well in the Krasnodar Territory. It is colder in the Rostov region; trees will need to be better insulated for the winter.

Varieties for Crimea

The ideal climate for beneficial growth and fruiting of peach. But still, the trees will have to be protected from cold winds coming from the north.

Varieties for growing peaches in Crimea:

Peaches for the Moscow region: the best varieties

Peach appeared in the Moscow region quite recently; growing was difficult due to the climate. It is better to opt for frost-resistant varieties of peaches.

Types suitable for the Moscow region:

The best early peach varieties with photos will help you understand which one to choose for your plot.

Peach Tree Care

If the peach is planted correctly, caring for the tree will not be so difficult. Before the onset of cold weather, the tree trunk circle should be sprinkled with a layer of earth 20–30 cm thick and covered with dense agricultural fiber, burlap or other material

Then you need to wrap the tree itself, carefully securing the cover so that it is not torn off by the wind. Next, as the seedling develops, it is important to form its crown, not allowing the tree to grow too high. Peach responds very gratefully to pruning, in this case forming larger fruits. Experts recommend carrying out the procedure in the spring, when the air warms up to a stable +6ºС and dry weather sets in. It is best to form the crown in the shape of a bowl. To do this, at a height of 35–45 cm from the grafting site, leave from three to five branches directed in different directions, located in relation to each other at a height of 8–15 cm

The main shoot is shortened at a height of no more than 85 cm. In subsequent years, they continue to form the crown, shortening the skeletal branches by 50–60 cm, and cutting off all others to 2-3 buds

Experts recommend carrying out the procedure in the spring, when the air warms up to a stable +6ºС and dry weather sets in. It is best to form the crown in the shape of a bowl. To do this, at a height of 35–45 cm from the grafting site, leave from three to five branches directed in different directions, located in relation to each other at a height of 8–15 cm. The main shoot is shortened at a height of no more than 85 cm. In subsequent years, they continue to form the crown, shortening the skeletal branches by 50–60 cm, and cutting off all others to 2-3 buds.

You can water the peach a little less often than other fruit trees, since it tolerates drought very well, which compares favorably with cherries and plums. To ensure that moisture is retained in the soil longer and the tree is not disturbed by weeds, it is useful to mulch the tree trunk throughout the entire season using freshly cut grass or turf.

Important! With a critical lack of moisture, peach fruits crack, and with excessive watering, they rot.

In the first years after planting, you need to feed the seedling from two to four times per season, in the spring focusing on nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea, manure diluted in water), and closer to autumn - on potassium and phosphorus fertilizers (potassium salt, potassium sulfate, superphosphate, etc.). Before fertilizing, the tree must be watered abundantly. To prevent pests and fungal infections from bothering the peach, in early spring it should be treated with systemic insectofungicides, for example, copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture, urea or Brunka.

To summarize, we can say that the doubts that many gardeners have about the prospect of growing a peach on their plot are mostly unfounded. This tree is indeed quite heat-loving and capricious, and also gets along very poorly with most other garden crops.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the basic rules for insulating a peach tree for the winter.

However, if you follow some tricks and choose the right planting material, creating your own peach orchard even in such an unfavorable region as central Russia is quite possible.

Growing peach: personal experience and advice from a gardener

A regular author and reader of the “Dachny Club” magazine, Tamara Bondarenko from Belgorod, shares her experience of growing peach in the south of the Middle Zone. _______________________________________

Peach loves careful and timely care, attention and warmth. What else does a southern plant need?

Planting peaches

We planted peaches near the house, on the south side - where it is warmest. There is a slate fence leading from the house, and in front there is an oak palisade 2 m high. Thanks to this, the trees are in partial shade and are ventilated.

When peaches were planted, Kornevin was added to the planting hole.

We bend the trunks

For the first two years, the young plants were not touched. And in the third year the fruits appeared.

1. This year we bent the peaches 45° to create an angle. They lowered them to the ground and tied the trunks with a strong rope to the palisade. We do this every year.
2. For the winter, we remove the rope so that the peach stands straight. We tie the branches together, put them on sugar bags, wrap them and tie them so that they do not open over the winter. You can wrap yourself in semi-wadding blankets.
3. In the spring, we bend the trunk back to the ground to keep the peach warmer.

Watering

We water it once every 10 days (if the leaves wither, more often) with regular water from a hose, which we lower close to the trunk. We move the hose from time to time. While the young animals are being adopted, we water them with settled water from the bath. Once the plants are established, you can use cold water.

Forming

When a tree is overloaded, the fruits become smaller, so the ovary must be normalized and the tree itself must be pruned during the season.

• We prune in warm, dry times, during the bud break phase, and then 2-3 times during the summer. The last time we prune is in August.
• On rejuvenated trees, we remove dry and weak branches.
• Leave strong branches located at a distance of 10–20 cm from each other.
• We shorten the remaining shoots by 6–12 buds (for fruiting) and by 2–3 buds (for replacement).

We feed

We scatter a bucket of humus (ours is from under a goat) around the peach in the fall and embed it in the soil. We hold the shovel with its edge so as not to damage the roots.

Don't forget to mulch in spring. We mulch with pine branches; you can use regular grass or sawdust.

Self-fertile peaches

Peach is a crop that requires the presence of a pollinator in the garden. But some varieties are able to pollinate themselves. It should be taken into account that in self-fertile plants, a nearby pollinator increases fruiting by 25-30%.

Inca

The variety was obtained in Poland using the open pollination method. Characteristics:

• grows above 5 m;
• frost resistance is excellent (up to -25);
• almost never gets sick;
• dessert fruits, juicy;
• the pulp is oily;
• the bone is completely separated.

The fruits are very attractive: they are pink and pubescent.

Volcano

Bred by Canadian breeders. Advantages of the variety:

• fruits of excellent dessert taste;
• fruits can be transported over long distances;
• fruits can be frozen;
• The variety produces stable yields.

The plant is not affected by curling.

Harnas

Product of Canadian breeders. Advantages of the variety:

• high productivity;
• precociousness;
• excellent dessert taste of fruits;
• fruits weighing up to 140 g;
• The bone is not completely separated.

When planting, it should be taken into account that the plant has a large habit.

Boxer

Product of folk selection. It has not been tested and is not zoned in any region. Distinctive feature: fruits weighing up to 1.3 kg. But there are very few of them on the tree.

Landing algorithm

If the time for planting has come, the hole is ready, and the seedling is prepared, proceed according to this plan:

• Insert a support into the hole - a wooden stake or a concrete column. The length of the support should be such that, having gone 50 cm into the ground, its height would be 20 cm lower than the base of the crown of the seedling.
• In the hole there is a loose soil mixture, laid in the fall - make a depression in it of such a size that the roots of the seedling can comfortably fit there.
• Pour two buckets of water into the hole you have made and wait until the soil absorbs the moisture.
• Having straightened the roots, place the seedling in the center of the hole. The distance from the root collar to ground level is 3-4 cm.
• Shaking the seedling from time to time, cover its roots with fertile soil. Shaking helps fill inter-root voids.
• Compact the soil around the base of the seedling with your hands.
• Form a 10 cm high shaft around the seedling.
• Attach the peach to the support with soft rope.
• Water the tree with two buckets of water. When the water is absorbed, level the shaft.
• A day later, loosen the soil near the peach, and then sprinkle it with mulch (learn about mulching here) - peat, straw, humus.

Distribution history

It is impossible to reliably say where this culture originates, although, according to one version, the homeland of the peach is the Celestial Empire. Wild varieties also grew in India. Then the Persians began to grow peach trees, and later the plant was brought to Europe - in particular, Italy. And gradually the widespread spread of culture began throughout the Eurasian continent.

The peach tree was also cultivated in North America, where these fruits were mainly used to make drinks, including alcoholic ones. The cultivation of peaches in Russia began in the sixteenth century. True, this garden tree could only be found in the southern regions.

The best peach varieties for growing in central Russia, planting and care

Peach belongs to the Plum genus of the Rose family. This is the same name for the tree and its fruit. A wild form of peach has been discovered for the first time in India. Classic peach varieties grow in Italy, southern Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Until recently, growing peaches in central Russia seemed almost impossible. With the advent of hybrid varieties adapted for growth in Russian regions, growing peach trees has become real.

Features of cultivation

As a rule, caring for planted plants is not difficult for both experienced and novice gardeners. The following set of measures is recommended:

• especially good and abundant watering, but without stagnation of water, is necessary for fruit-bearing plants during flowering, as well as at the stage of fruit formation;
• Fruit trees should be fertilized annually, applying fertilizers along the entire perimeter of the plant’s root system;
• at the fruiting stage, adult plants should be fed with potassium fertilizers twice a month;
• after watering and rain, it is necessary to shallowly loosen the soil in the tree trunk circles, which will prevent the formation of a soil crust.

Correct and timely pruning of fruit trees is of great importance. In the middle zone of our country, for normal development and abundant fruiting, peach trees must be shaped in the form of a bowl or bush. In the spring, it is necessary to leave no more than five fruit-bearing branches and approximately three new shoots on fruit trees.

My experience in growing Voronezh bush peach

I purchased a young peach seedling “Voronezh Bush” from one of the local nurseries. In the first year it did not bloom, but gained strength; in the second year, the peach bloomed with five flowers, which fell off without setting an ovary. I saw full flowering of the tree only in the third year. In the spring, when I arrived at the dacha (it was April 25 on the calendar), a wonderful picture was revealed to my eyes. The wind partially opened the shelter and branches strewn with soft pink flowers peeked out of the non-woven material.

When the flowering was over, I counted about fifty tiny ovaries, but only 25 of them reached full ripeness. Since we have only one peach tree on our site, I concluded that this variety is truly self-pollinating, as promised in the nursery.

The first fruits could be collected in early September. Interestingly, the peaches looked unripe and greenish, but in fact they were already ripe and ready to pick. We left some of the fruits so that within a week they would fill out and become more like the usual peaches.

When we arrived at the dacha again the next weekend, the peaches actually looked more appetizing and rosy. But, unfortunately, it was no longer possible to eat them, they were rotten near the seed and had an unpleasant aftertaste; some fruits continued to hang on the branches, and some fell off and were broken. Therefore, I came to the conclusion that the ripeness of this variety is best determined solely by touch. Its ripe fruits are also greenish, but they are much softer to the touch than unripe ones.

The taste of ripe Voronezh peaches turned out to be no worse than those from the south. They had just the right amount of sweetness, a distinctive peach flavor, juicy flesh and a tender, thin skin. The peaches themselves were small and the average weight of the fruit was 40-50 grams, that is, they were approximately the size of an average apricot. The bone was not separated from the pulp very well, but, in principle, it was possible to pull it out.

Currently, the bush peach tree is 4 years old, and it is slightly more than one meter high, quite branched. During fruiting, our peach is abundantly covered with fruit. It grows in light partial shade. When planting in the planting hole, I added humus and complex mineral fertilizers. The peach is watered by drip irrigation. I don't do any special care.

At the moment, I have not noticed any serious problems when growing peaches in the middle zone. The only thing is that it annually suffers from damage to the leaves in the form of through holes, which are preceded by crimson spots. This, most likely, may indicate that the plant is affected by clasterosporiasis. In severe cases of this disease, the fungus can affect the entire above-ground part of the tree. For prevention, sanitary pruning of the crown is recommended, as well as treatment twice a season (before and after flowering) with a fungicide solution.

But in my case, only single leaves were affected, the general condition of the plant and the yield did not suffer from this, so I did not resort to the help of drugs. No pest damage was observed.

Peach grows in a dacha in the Voronezh region, where in winter it can be quite cold and temperatures drop below -30 degrees. For the winter, I cover my peach tree with a homemade cap made of thick white non-woven material (density 90 g/m²).

In the second year after planting, there was a very severe frost in the winter; the shelter, apparently, was blown off in the middle of winter by strong winds (we don’t go to the dacha in winter). As a result, the young peach was very frozen, literally to the ground, and I thought that I had lost the tree. But that same year, a powerful shoot appeared from the root, which grew and branched very much over the summer. Therefore, the regeneration capabilities of this peach are very high even in the event of freezing.

Cultivation care

As described above, growing peach in central Russia is a rather painstaking task, but, as they say, very rewarding. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to devote a little time regularly, then you will definitely enjoy the sweet fruits grown with your own hands.

So, what care rules must be followed in order to reap a good harvest every year:

1. Starting in May and every subsequent month until September inclusive, water the peach generously. If the summer turns out to be hot and poor in precipitation, increase the frequency of moisturizing to 3 times a month.
2. The first year after planting, the crop does not need fertilizing, but the next year be sure to apply nitrogen preparations in the spring, and in the summer and autumn feed the peach with potassium and phosphate preparations, as well as organic matter. And of course, do not forget to apply fertilizer only after watering, otherwise you risk burning the peach root.
3. Regularly after watering, loosen the soil around the tree trunk.
4. With the onset of spring, carry out sanitary pruning. Get rid of all frozen, dry and defective branches. And closer to the beginning of summer, do the pinching.
5. With the onset of autumn, do not forget to clean the front garden and cover the crops for safe wintering. To do this, wrap the pre-whitened trunk with burlap and mulch the trunk circle with a thick layer of hay. And snow also helps the peach through the winter if it is additionally thrown onto the crown of the tree.

All these simple manipulations will help you successfully grow peaches in your front garden. The main thing is not to be lazy and follow the recommendations.

What fruits does the best peach produce for the middle zone?

The fruits of the “Voronezh bush” peach are round in shape, medium in size, the maximum weight of one fruit under favorable growing conditions will be about 110 grams, but they usually grow smaller.

The flesh of a ripe peach is porous, juicy and dark yellow in color. At the stage of technical ripeness, the fruits are yellow-green in color, and at biological ripeness they become bright orange with a dark burgundy blush. Since this variety belongs to the Brugnon peaches, the large stone is not easily separated from the pulp.

During the fruiting period, the peach requires moderate watering, since with high humidity the tree may lose some of its ovaries.

The “Voronezh bush” peach is a fast-growing crop that can produce a harvest the very next year after planting the seedling. This variety of peach produces good harvests, and on average, from one mature tree you can get from 20 to 30 kilograms of fruit.

The fruits of the Voronezh Bush peach have a higher percentage of glucose than acids, so the taste of the crop is sweet with very slight sourness and a characteristic peach aroma. Moreover, the more sun the peaches receive during the ripening process, the sweeter the fruits will be. Peaches are tightly attached to the stalk; they practically do not fall off, even after reaching biological ripeness.

The ripe fruits of the Voronezh bush peach are slightly greenish. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya The fruits of the Voronezh bush peach are small. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya Cross-section of Voronezh bush peach. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Planting seedlings

To plant peach, choose a sufficiently lit place, protected from cold northern winds (planting between trees in an old garden is unacceptable). The best option is near the southern wall of the building.

The optimal time for planting peach is early spring, immediately after the soil thaws and dries a little (late March - mid-April). You should not delay planting seedlings, otherwise they will take a long time to take root and may even die.

Autumn planting is undesirable, because there is a high probability that fragile plants will freeze in a harsh winter. A planting hole with a diameter of 60-100 cm (its depth depends on the type of soil) is dug in the fall. The top fertile layer is mixed with 10-25 kg of humus, mineral fertilizers are added (100-300 g each of nitrogen, phosphorus and microfertilizers). The seedling is planted in such a way that the root collar is either at the level of the soil surface or 3-5 cm below it.

When planting a seedling, ask your friends to help you

To reduce the effect of incompatibility, a peach grafted onto cherry plum or apricot trees is planted so that the grafting site is buried 10-15 cm. Immediately after planting, the plant is watered abundantly and pruned to the level of the future height of the trunk. The soil around the seedlings is mulched with a 5-10 cm layer of sawdust, peat, and straw.

Frost-resistant varieties of peach and nectarine

Since peach is a southern plant that is sensitive to the environment, not all species are suitable for growing in strict climatic conditions. So, gardeners in Russia and Ukraine should think about planting frost-resistant varieties. These include many representatives of Canadian, American, Polish selection, etc. (good frost resistance).

Redhaven peach variety. This guest from the USA is perfectly adapted to our growing conditions. Juicy and tasty yellow-orange fruits with red spots ripen relatively early. Peaches of the "Redhaven" variety reach 150 g in weight, the tree height is up to 8 m. The plant is resistant to curling, winter and spring frosts. If agricultural practices are not followed, the peach tree can be affected by various fungi.

The Collins peach variety is a representative of the crop, distinguished by a generous harvest of large and juicy fruits with a sweet and sour taste. Peaches ripen sequentially, so harvesting should be done gradually, in parts. The plant is resistant to powdery mildew, curl, winter and spring frosts. The peculiarity is the necessary agricultural technology, the need for regular watering, fertilizing, pruning, etc.

Early Kiev peach is an excellent option for private gardeners and professional entrepreneurs. The fruits of early peaches are usually bright or light yellow with a pinkish tint.

Plant seedlings are placed on a summer cottage immediately after purchase, and at first they pay special attention to it. This variety has a negative attitude towards excess moisture in the soil, but is quite resistant to pests and diseases.

Peach “Kremlevsky” is an early frost-resistant variety that adapts perfectly to any moderate conditions

The fruits are usually yellow or orange with reddish sides. The variety is slightly susceptible to low temperatures, many diseases and parasites.

Peach variety "Cardinal". Representatives of this category are distinguished by fruits with ideal taste. The variety is not very frost-resistant, so it needs additional care. The plant must be regularly kept in good shape, fed, watered, formed a crown, pruning branches.

All of the frost-resistant varieties of peach and nectarine described above can perform both better and worse, depending on the climatic characteristics of the growing region.

(Inka)

Peach variety - Inca

Polish variety obtained by open pollination of seedling 622485/CIRI5T77. In Poland it has a very good reputation and is in demand on the market.

The tree is vigorous, self-fertile, with increased winter hardiness, flower buds are relatively resistant to frost.

Ripening time is the end of August.

The fruits are large (120-180 g), oval-shaped, oblong. The skin is dark yellow, with a brick-red blush covering 30-50% of the surface of the fruit. The pulp is yellow-cream, slightly colored at the stone, medium dense, oily, easily separated from the stone.

Advantages of the variety: the fruits have a very attractive appearance, the variety is resistant to fungal diseases.

A dessert variety whose fruits tolerate transportation well.

Peach variety - Condor

An early peach variety of American selection.

Ripens in the first half of July.

The fruits are large, weighing 150-200 g or more, round in shape, yellow, almost completely covered with a bright red blush. The pulp is orange-yellow, with red veins. The bone comes off well.

Fruits of high commercial quality, transportable.

The trees are medium-sized, the yield is high.

Resistant to peach leaf curl.

Increased winter hardiness.

Nectarine

Nectarine variety - Red Gold

An American variety obtained by open pollination of the Sangred nectarine variety in the late 70s of the 20th century.

The tree is vigorous, winter-hardy, with a medium-spreading crown. Needs timely pruning into a bowl shape.

Fruits with yellow pulp, slightly fibrous in structure and easily separated by stone. Carmine-red color, weighing about 200 g, sweet. Well stored and transported.

Ripening date after August 10.

The variety is high-yielding, prone to overload and fruit drop. Therefore, it is necessary to collect them as they ripen.

Peach variety - Red Haven

The tree is medium-sized with a flat-round crown of medium density.

The fruits are medium or large, weighing 113-170 g, leveled, round-oval, slightly asymmetrical. The apex of the fruit has a small depression, sometimes with a small tubercle. The abdominal suture is superficial. The skin is dense, yellow with a bright red blurred blush, occupying over 50% of the surface of the fruit, the pubescence is delicate. The flesh of the fruit is yellow with crimson veins, medium density and juiciness, very good taste. The stone is semi-detachable, large, obovate, with a pointed apex and an oblique base.

The fruits are transportable, universal for table and canning use.

They ripen in early August.

Productivity is high.

Winter hardiness is below average.

Drought resistance is average. Not resistant to curl.

Resistance to powdery mildew and cluster blight is average.

Harvest and storage

Peaches reach technical ripeness by mid-July. From this moment, the gradual collection of fruits begins. The ripening of each individual fruit may be uneven, so gardeners recommend focusing on the appearance of the peach.

For long-term storage, not fully ripe fruits are chosen. They can ripen within 2 weeks at temperatures from 0 to +5 degrees. At room temperature, peaches, depending on the variety, can be stored for 5 to 10 days. For longer storage, the fruits are wrapped individually in parchment paper and placed on the floor of wooden boxes.

Advice! Plastic bags are not suitable for storing peaches. The resulting condensation contributes to the rotting of the fruit.

Proper care and selection of a hybrid variety make it possible to grow peach trees in areas that, at first glance, are not suitable for growing sunny fruit.

Peach “Voronezh bush” - description of the variety

The Voronezh bush peach variety was not bred by professional breeders, but arose as a result of the efforts of amateur gardeners, so the names of its creators are unknown. All we know is that this variety was the result of work on grafting Brugnion peach onto cherry plum (Brugnon is a peach that has pulp attached to the pit). The resulting cultivar inherited the characteristics of both the scion and the rootstock, and they turned out to be positive. The taste and appearance of the fruits of “Voronezh bush” come from peach, but from cherry plum it got the resistance to frost that the southerner so lacks.

According to the observations of amateur gardeners who grow this crop, the Voronezh bush peach can grow in the Leningrad and Moscow regions, in the Central Black Earth and Central regions, in the Far East and even in the Urals and Siberia.

In terms of ripening time, the Voronezh Bush peach is a mid-early variety. On average, it can be harvested in the first or second decade of September. However, depending on the growing region and weather conditions during the current season, these dates may shift, and sometimes the fruits are ready for harvest as early as August.

The Voronezh bush peach grows as a small bushy tree; the height of the main trunk of this peach usually does not exceed 2 meters. The trunk and shoots of such a stone fruit plant are very flexible. The foliage is typical of peach trees, the leaves are elongated with a pointed tip, thin, bright green, with small jagged edges.

The flowers of the “Voronezh bush” peach are very decorative - large and have soft pink petals. In appearance they are identical to the flowers of stone fruits from the Rosaceae family. That is, they consist of five petals and many stamens, have a pleasant aroma and attract pollinating insects. The Voronezh bush variety blooms in late April-early May. The variety is self-pollinating, and you can get a good harvest even with only one tree in the garden.

Young peach tree (Prunus persica), variety “Voronezh Bush”. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Don peach is frost-resistant. Description and characteristics of the variety

Frost-resistant Donskoy peach has a medium-late ripening period and belongs to medium-sized varieties - the maximum tree height does not exceed 3.5–4 m. The crown is compact, no more than 2 m in diameter, the branches have an average degree of density and branching. The plant does not need shaping or pruning. In spring and autumn, it only requires the removal of damaged and withered branches. Life expectancy is about 20 years.

Drought and frost resistance

Frost resistance is a distinctive feature of this variety - the tree can easily withstand temperatures down to -40°C. Moreover, Donskoy frost-resistant has the ability to recover from freezing in winter.

However, being a light and heat-loving plant, it has low drought resistance. Lack of moisture negatively affects the general condition of the tree and the quality and taste of the fruit. Therefore, systematic abundant watering is the main condition for growing this variety.

Did you know? The homeland of peaches is China, but for a long time it was considered Persia, through which this fruit was brought.

Pollinator varieties

Frost-resistant Donskoy peach is a self-pollinating variety, and therefore does not require planting nearby pollinating neighbors. However, despite the fact that even one tree will produce a good harvest, planting several plants nearby will provide the opportunity for cross-pollination, which will have a positive effect on the final result.

Productivity and fruiting

This variety of peaches is distinguished by early fruiting and high yield rates - the tree produces its first fruits already in the third or fourth year of growth in the garden, and a plant at the age of 10 years can produce 10 buckets of harvest (about 40–50 kg).

Peaches are characterized by their yellow color and pink blush on the sides. The average weight is 60–80 g. The pulp is white, without veins, dense and juicy, and has a characteristic aroma. The taste is sweet, with a faint sourness. Taste characteristics are rated 4.5–4.6 points out of a possible 5. Donskoy frost-resistant peaches are versatile and can be used both fresh and canned.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The frost-resistant variety Donskoy has a fairly stable immunity to various infectious diseases, among which powdery mildew and leaf curl are among the most common diseases of fruit trees.

Advantages and disadvantages

• The frost-resistant variety Donskoy has a lot of advantages, among which the most significant are:
• early pregnancy and high productivity;
• excellent taste characteristics;
• high rates of transportability;
• stable immunity to various diseases;
• self-pollinating.

The disadvantages of these peaches are minor - low drought resistance, which can lead to loss of fruit quality in the absence of timely watering, as well as the need to plant several trees at once for cross-pollination.