Description
Growing a Snowcrest Peach Tree can be delightful, offering beauty and delicious fruit.
Snowcrest peaches are freestone, medium-sized, round-shaped fruit with a slight point. The skin is a light green with blushed red all over. The flesh is juicy, firm, and smooth, with a fine texture.
Snowcrest Peaches are prized for their exceptional flavour, making them a favourite among peach enthusiasts for fresh eating and culinary purposes. Whether enjoyed straight from the tree or incorporated into various dishes, Snowcrest Peaches will surely delight with their sweet juiciness and aromatic appeal.
Peach trees are are self-fertile so fruit well from a single tree.
Position
Peach trees thrive in regions with a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot summers and mild winters. They require a certain number of chill hours during the winter (typically around 200-300 hours below 7°C) to break dormancy and promote fruit production.
Plan the site before planting, keeping the tree away from external walls, electrical lines (about 5m) and other trees. Plant in a protected area if possible, as strong winds can damage branches and leaves.
Select a sunny location for planting the tree, as peach trees require at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Allow adequate spacing between peach trees to ensure good air circulation and proper growth.
Size
Peach trees are known for their manageable size, (3.7 – 4.6 m) making them suitable for home orchards and smaller garden spaces while producing a satisfying amount of delicious fruit.
Proper pruning and care can help maintain the tree’s size and shape, ensuring healthy growth and optimal fruit production.
Soil Type
Peach trees are not fussy about soil type although they prefer slightly acidic soil. Loosen the soil in the area before planting about 1.5mts depth in your normal garden soil and good drainage is important.
Add one 200-gram Bag of Superfrass added to the soil when planting.
Mulch
Use from 2 to 5 centimetres of pine bark mulch to protect the roots from UV damage and drying out. It retains moisture, and maintains an optimal pH. Do not let the mulch touch the plant stem, as it may cause infection or rot.
Fertilising
Apply our slow-release Berry/All-plant Fertiliser. For young trees, apply 1 teaspoon every 4-5 months. The roots will absorb what they need.
Alternatively, apply a balanced fertiliser (such as 10-10-10) in early spring before new growth begins. Thereafter fertilise annually in early spring.
Watering
Water newly planted trees deeply once or twice a week during the growing season to help the roots establish.
Once established, provide regular watering, especially during dry spells. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Water every couple of weeks if there is no rain. Too much water can cause root rot, but do not allow the roots to dry out completely.
Thinning Fruit
Thin fruit in early summer when they are about the size of a dime to promote larger, healthier fruit and prevent branch breakage due to excessive weight.
Harvesting
Harvest Snowcrest Peaches when they are fully ripe on the tree. To harvest, gently twist or lift the peach from the tree. When ripe, it should come off easily.
Pruning
Prune your tree in late winter or early spring before buds break. Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches, and shape the tree to promote good airflow and light penetration.
Cut out dead or diseased branches completely whenever they appear and dispose of them immediately.
Pest and Disease Management
For good-quality fruit, Peach trees need regular spraying before the onset of fruit and immediately after buds turn to small fruit. Regularly inspect the tree for signs of pests such as aphids, scale insects, fruit fly and peach tree borers.
They can be susceptible to diseases such as peach powdery mildew, leaf curl and brown rot. Use organic products to control as needed and practice good garden hygiene by removing fallen fruit from the soil beneath the tree.
We recommend Effective Microorganisms (EM Control) and organic Neem Oil to prevent and control the spread of these pests and diseases.
EM Control puts you firmly on the green path when using it in your garden. EM is certified organic, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. Because EM boosts the soil, your garden will flourish without the use of any chemicals. The soil’s vitality equals the vitality of the plants and fruits they produce. EM is a biocontrol measure, controlling pests by releasing microorganisms into the soil. With EM, pests and pathogens are controlled or suppressed by means of natural processes.
Agricultural Neem Oil is a powerful oil that is kind to your garden, fighting against even the most challenging infestations. Our Neem oil is an agricultural grade and is highly effective in controlling roughly 600 different types of insects! Targeted at insects that suck and chew leaves, it doesn’t extend its damage to the rest of the plant or its surrounds. It is Biodegradable, cold pressed and 100% organic.
