Prunus persica

The common peach (Prunus persica, or Persica vulgaris) is one of the most cultivated fruit trees, but this deciduous tree of the Rosaceae family is also decorative due to its beautiful flowering. It has a characteristic shallow root system located close to the soil surface, a twisted trunk and a rounded crown. The leaves are narrow and elongated, with a serrated edge, bright green on the upper side. Blooming flowers in the spring on the branches of the previous year, single, light or dark salmon-pink, occasionally white. Fruit-drupe (fleshy fruit with seed in lignified intraplant) of rounded shape. It has a pubescent velvety pink or yellow skin (except for nectarine and brunyon) and white or yellow flesh (mesocarp). Especially appreciated as decorative: 'Cardinal' with semi-double red flowers; 'Clara Mayer' with double bright pink flowers; 'Iceberg' with lush semi-double pure white flowers; 'Prince Charming' with double pink and red flowers.

The common peach (Prunus persica, or Persica vulgaris) is one of the most cultivated fruit trees, but this deciduous tree of the Rosaceae family is also decorative due to its beautiful flowering. It has a characteristic shallow root system located close to the soil surface, a twisted trunk and a rounded crown. The leaves are narrow and elongated, with a serrated edge, bright green on the upper side. Blooming flowers in the spring on the branches of the previous year, single, light or dark salmon-pink, occasionally white. Fruit-drupe (fleshy fruit with seed in lignified intraplant) of rounded shape. It has a pubescent velvety pink or yellow skin (except for nectarine and brunyon) and white or yellow flesh (mesocarp). Especially appreciated as decorative: 'Cardinal' with semi-double red flowers; 'Clara Mayer' with double bright pink flowers; 'Iceberg' with lush semi-double pure white flowers; 'Prince Charming' with double pink and red flowers.

Cultivation

Common peach is grown outdoors primarily as a fruit crop that grows well in fertile, deep, well-drained soil of medium mechanical composition. If the soil is light, it is necessary to apply organic fertilizers. The peach does not tolerate carbonate or heavy clay soils. Planting in a permanent place is usually carried out in autumn or at the end of winter. During planting, it is recommended to apply fertilizers - both organic (manure) at the rate of 10-30 kg/m2, and mineral (with a high potassium content) at the rate of 50 g/m2. During the growing season, plants are fed a full mineral fertilizer approximately once a month, changing their types depending on the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium by season: in spring, a fertilizer with a predominance of nitrogen is used, and in summer and autumn-with a high content of potassium and phosphorus. When growing a common peach as an ornamental plant, pruning is not required.

Common peach is grown outdoors primarily as a fruit crop that grows well in fertile, deep, well-drained soil of medium mechanical composition. If the soil is light, it is necessary to apply organic fertilizers. The peach does not tolerate carbonate or heavy clay soils.

Planting in a permanent place is usually carried out in autumn or at the end of winter. During planting, it is recommended to apply fertilizers - both organic (manure) at the rate of 10-30 kg/m2, and mineral (with a high potassium content) at the rate of 50 g/m2. During the growing season, plants are fed a full mineral fertilizer approximately once a month, changing their types depending on the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium by season: in spring, a fertilizer with a predominance of nitrogen is used, and in summer and autumn-with a high content of potassium and phosphorus. When growing a common peach as an ornamental plant, pruning is not required.

Location

This plant requires a lot of light, so it is planted mainly in the open sun.

Temperature

Common peach in winter does not tolerate very low temperatures (at -20-25 °C, lignified shoots are damaged, at - 12-15 °C, the kidneys are completely damaged). In winter, during the dormant period, it requires some time to stay in the cold (from 400 to 800 hours at a temperature of -7 °C). Because of early flowering, the peach is afraid of spring frosts: the flowers fall off, and, as a result, no fruit is formed.

Watering

Common peach, although resistant to drought, grows better in loose and moist soil. Therefore, in the hottest periods, it requires abundant watering.

Reproduction

The most popular method of reproduction is eye grafting. Graft in August-September, using seedlings obtained in the spring of the same year. To ensure the best result, it is important to choose the right rootstock. First of all, seedlings obtained from seeds are used, as well as some hybrids obtained from crossing the common peach (P. persica) and the Davidian peach (P. davidiana), in addition, almond and plum trees.

Diseases

Common peach is easily exposed to diseases and pests. The lack of mineral elements, which causes, for example, chlorosis when grown on calcareous soils, leads to yellowing of the leaves and slowing down of growth. Treat the plants with preparations based on iron chelates. Peach leaf curl caused by Taphrina deformans is extremely common. As a result, the leaves become deformed, reddened, and swollen. They are treated with dithiocarbamates. Major problems are caused by gommosis due to the fungus Coryneum beijerinckii. A resinous substance oozes from the branches. the leaves first appear spots, and then holes. The affected parts are removed, treated with dithiocarbamates, and insects that carry the disease (aphids, worms, etc.) are eliminated using appropriate insecticides. Hyalopterus pruni covers the branches and underside of the leaves with a powdery waxy coating, which then dries out. Fruits fall off or do not grow. Peach aphids (Myzus persicae), biting through the leaves, causes the appearance of bloating. Later, the leaves dry up and fall off. These insects are eliminated by chemical treatment. California Scabbard (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus) clings to branches, young shoots, and sometimes leaves. Fruits grow poorly. Diaspis pentagona forms a crust on the trunk and branches, causing the plant to die. Insects are eliminated with the help of insecticidal preparations. The caterpillar Chiematobia brumata provokes the shedding of foliage. The eastern moth (Laspeyresia molesta) first affects the shoots, and then the fruits. Infected parts are removed and the plant is treated with appropriate insecticides. The spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) causes damage to the leaves, primarily when the air humidity is low; in this case, it is carried out treatment with acaricides.

Acquisition

Peach seedlings of various varieties are very easy to find in horticultural centers and nurseries specializing in ornamental crops. Choose plants that are suitable for planting in your soil.