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Long summer days, cool nights, and a mostly dry season are ideal conditions for growing fruit trees.
Fruit trees require freezing or close to freezing temperatures during the winter, but generally need
at least 150 days between the last spring frost and the first fall frost so that blossoms are not
damaged in spring and so that the fruit will mature in the fall.
Peaches and nectarines do best in areas with full sun, good air movement, and well-drained soils
at least 4 feet deep. The best soils are fertile, sandy loam soils, free of alkali or salinity.
They cannot tolerate soils without drainage whether from hardpan or clay pans. Avoid sandy, high-clay,
or shallow soils. Peaches and nectarines are best adapted to areas with 600 chilling hours for
low-chill
varieties to 900 for higher chilling varieties. Chilling hours are defined as the number of hours
that the temperature is below 45° F. It is important to make sure that your area has adequate chilling
hours because inadequate chilling will result in delayed foliation and uneven fruit development.
Late frosts can also damage newly developing flowers and fruit, as peaches and nectarines bloom
early. Adequate heat is required in the summer to ripen fruit properly. Cool, wet climates are not
typically
good for growing high-quality peaches and nectarines.
Do not plant in low spots or areas that flood frequently. Do not plant trees too close together,
as this may cause poor growth. |
Peaches
and nectarines need good drainage |
