How many years after planting does a peach tree bear fruit, and how should it be managed during the full fruiting period?

Peach is a small deciduous tree native to China. Its flowers can be used for ornamental purposes, its fruit is edible, and peach gum can be used as medicine. It is cultivated all over the world. So how many years after planting does a peach tree bear fruit? How should it be managed during the full fruiting period?

1. How many years after planting does a peach tree bear fruit?

1. In general, the juvenile period of a peach tree is 1-3 years after planting. At this stage the peach tree grows vigorously and its branches grow quickly, but the fruit-setting rate is low, so the main focus at this time is crown training and shaping.

Therefore, a peach tree generally begins to bear fruit 3 years after planting, and years 4-15 after planting are the full fruiting period of the tree. The flowering period of the peach tree is March-April every year, and the fruit ripening period is August-September every year. Of course, depending on the climate and the variety grown in each place, the fruit ripening period differs.

2. There are now some superior varieties produced through artificial grafting that not only bear large fruit but also bear fruit quickly, generally bearing fruit in about two years.

3. During the juvenile period of the peach tree, care must be taken to control the application of nitrogen fertilizer, otherwise excessive vegetative growth is easily caused; after the full fruiting period, increase the application of nitrogen fertilizer to strengthen the tree vigor, and pruning is mainly winter pruning and summer pruning.

2. How should a peach tree be managed during the full fruiting period?

If a peach tree is managed properly during the full fruiting period, it can not only increase the yield but also, to a certain extent, extend the duration of the full fruiting period. The key management points are introduced below:

1. Pruning of the peach tree's tree shape

Because peach tree branches are dense and the foliage is thick, they easily block sunlight and cause the peach tree branches to age quickly. Therefore, the “open-center” shape should be used, and pruning must not be done blindly in summer, to prevent gummosis in the peach tree. In addition, aged peach branches should be cut off gradually, and for excessively vigorous branches, pay attention to controlling their vigor and shortening the branches.

2. Reasonable fertilization of the peach tree

During the full fruiting period of the peach tree, reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizer and increase the amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, to fully supply the nutrients needed for fruit ripening and for root growth. Apply farmyard manure every year to increase soil fertility; it is best to dig trenches around the tree according to the size of the crown each year and apply organic fertilizer in a ring. In addition, the base fertilizer for the peach tree is applied in October-November together with deep soil plowing, mainly using organic fertilizer. In addition, apply fruit-swelling fertilizer in April-May each year, and apply post-harvest fertilizer before and after harvesting the fruit. At the same time, carry out intertillage and weeding as needed, and pay attention to drainage when there is a lot of rain.

3. The number of fruits set on the peach tree must be controlled

A peach tree cannot blindly increase its fruit set; when necessary, fruit thinning should be carried out. Moreover, after the peach harvest is finished, careful management is required, appropriately supplementing with a little compound fertilizer to improve the tree's vigor, which also lays the foundation for a bumper harvest the following year.

4. Pest and disease control of the peach tree

During the growth of the peach tree, attention should be paid to preventing and controlling the invasion of pests and diseases such as crown gall disease, peach gummosis, peach aphids and peach leaf miners, and pesticides can be sprayed in advance for prevention and control; however, care must be taken to avoid the occurrence of pesticide damage.

The above is the complete introduction to peach trees. Everyone should pay attention to these points when planting and managing peach trees.