Spring Garden Update - Peach tree

As I approach the tree I can smell the peaches over ten feet away. They are close to being ready, probably a few of them already are. But I plan on waiting a couple more days before harvest. They are still quite firm and I think in less than a week they will be completely ripe. Glad we got some this year, as not every year we are so lucky with the spring starting on time.

I have had this peach tree for over ten years now, it is my oldest fruit tree on the property. And since its planting we have gotten peaches about half the time.

Living in North Georgia, I did not realize at the time of planting that these Peach trees tend to do better in South Georgia. As our winters are still going on when this tree tends to flower. If a freeze comes by while the blooms are open the fruits will fail to form. So I have about a 50/50 success rate in getting fruit every year. Compared if I lived near the GA/FL line I would pretty much be guaranteed peaches every year.

Another issue is the cultivar of Peach tree I picked, at the time I did not know much about fruit trees. Being my first I just went ahead and purchased it. But in the last few years I have visited other peoples peach trees. And there are some variety that bloom later and I really wish I had those.

Many peaches are on the ground around the tree, we pull them off if they stick straight up or if two peaches are touching each other. This requires us to pull off about 25% of the peaches. Otherwise fungus will grow and the branches of the tree will be too heavy and may break.

The shape of this peach tree is unique to how I trim it every year. A technique called "bowling" is used to help more light and air get into the middle of the tree. I will trim off branches that are growing inwards and growing straight up. Only leaving horizontal growth, and doing this for 10 years has given me a peach tree about 20 feet wide!

The trunk has grown massive over the decade, and I have had to treat it numerous times for crown boring insects. Using a mix of old teeshirts and a natural bug barrier called Tanglefoot it has saved this tree from being quite sick. Fruit trees need more care than most trees it would seem.

I planted this tree next to a wall, so I can stand up and pick them by hand instead of having to use a ladder for it all.

The peaches hang down and make it easy to reach for the most part.

A close up of the peaches, they look ready but when touched they are very firm. I bit into one and they still taste a little "green".

Its hard to count how many I have, probably over 50 peaches. We will make pies, jams and save them for smoothies.

Not all the peaches are doing fine though, some will have to be discarded or have some of the meat cut out thats bad.

There are ants living on the tree as well, though they are protecting the tree from nasty bugs and I do not mind having them.

Though when picking them sometimes you get ants on you, but they are pretty minor in annoyance.

Lastly, the birdhouse I fixed seems to have something storing twigs in it. I have not seen any birds use it, but something seems to be adding more and more sticks and twigs to it. Maybe soon it will be in use? I do not hear any baby birds coming from it or seeing any activity yet though.