The peach, also known as the “Persian apple”, has also been cultivated in Germany for many centuries. The fruit was even known to the famous abbess and healer Hildegard von Bingen. It's all the more surprising that the sweet and aromatic peach isn't found more often in German gardens.
What conditions does a peach tree need in the garden?
A peach tree in the garden needs a sunny location, loose and humus-rich soil, enough space and regular pruning. The right variety is important because peaches are cold-resistant and susceptible to fungal diseases.
Peaches are demanding
Apples, cherries, pears – these types of fruit can be found in almost all gardens, but peaches are a rarity. This may be because many people don't even know that the sweet fruit also thrives here - but also because peaches are quite demanding in terms of care. In addition to the optimal location, a peach needs a lot of attention, must be fertilized, watered, cut and protected from diseases and pest infestation.
Peaches grow almost everywhere
Basically, the peach is a sun-hungry and warmth-loving tree. However, many new varieties as well as some old varieties are bred for robustness and cold resistance, so that cultivation can also be worthwhile outside of the southern wine-growing regions. The most important thing is to choose the right variety, because not every peach thrives in every climate. However, all peaches need
- Sun, sun and more sun
- a loose, humus-rich soil
- nutrient-rich soil
- lots of space
- as well as regular tree trimming
Peaches need to be pruned every year
The peach grows almost exclusively on annual shoots, which is why the tree must be pruned vigorously and professionally every year after the harvest. Otherwise, the tree will quickly become bare and the result will be a severe decline in harvest. In addition, young peaches in particular grow very quickly. Depending on the variety, the tree can grow between one and eight meters high, with most varieties reaching a height of three to four meters.
Peaches are susceptible to fungal diseases
Fungal diseases in particular, such as the dreaded curl disease, affect peach trees and reduce yields. The only thing that helps against these and other infections is preventative measures such as spraying fungicides in spring. Due to the high risk of infection, you should especially plant less sensitive varieties. Although they are not immune to frizz disease and the like, they usually develop significantly fewer symptoms and are therefore less restricted.
Tips & Tricks
Many hobby gardeners swear by mothballs to ward off curl disease, which are simply hung in the tree in spring - before the leaves emerge. However, these only work if they contain the active ingredient naphthalene.
