A PASSION FOR PEACHES

By Rachael Leverton

Nothing beats biting into a sweet, succulent peach that has ripened to juicy perfection in the warmth of the sun. Despite possessing an exotic air, it doesn’t require great expertise to produce a worthwhile crop in your garden.

When we rented a house in the South of France one summer, there was a peach tree in the garden, and the owner invited us to help ourselves. We have never eaten so many sweet, ripe peaches. Nothing in the supermarkets here has ever compared to those fat globes of nectar.

A few years ago, I discovered that it was possible to grow peaches in this country, too, with a few caveats. In the far South, it’s possible to grow them against a south or south-west-facing wall. Further up the country, we need the help of a conservatory or a large greenhouse. The reasons for this are threefold: peach trees tend to flower very early, around February, when the UK can still suffer sharp frosts in the mornings; they also develop fungal diseases if the weather is too cold and damp and finally, our short summers generally don’t give enough time for the fruits to ripen. But if you have that south-facing wall or conservatory and would like to have a go at growing peaches (and who wouldn’t?), read on.

‘Peregrine’ is a white-fleshed peach quite well-suited to the English climate (the above warnings notwithstanding) though generally best grown under cover. ‘Rochester’ is a very reliable yellow variety that gives good harvests of large fruits in August. It also has the advantage of being a late bloomer, making it less susceptible to frost damage. If space is limited, which it often is in a conservatory, choose a plant grafted onto dwarf rootstock. Peaches are best grown as a fan. Fasten horizontal wires to the wall at 30cm intervals to allow the stems to be tied in and spaced out evenly. The plant should be positioned about 25cm from the wall with branches sloped towards it, and if planted directly into the soil, this should be enriched with well-rotted manure or compost. If planted into a pot, make it as large and deep as the space allows. Cover the plant with a light fleece at night when the flowers appear to protect the blossom. Because of the lack of natural pollinators early in the year, you can help things along by using a long dry paintbrush to dust pollen from one flower to another. Then water the plant regularly and feed with tomato food through the summer to keep it healthy. Prune any branches that grow away from the wall, and remove any that overcrowd the framework. Cut some old and fruited lateral shoots out each year to allow new ones to take their place.

Fruit is ready for harvesting after it has fully coloured and the flesh near the stalk feels soft. To pick, cup it in the palm of the hand and gently lift. It should easily come away from the tree. The tree will need regular visits for picking as the fruit will not ripen all at once. Peaches are best eaten directly after being picked. It might take a couple of years, but with a bit of care, attention, and a smidge of luck, you will reap the reward of harvesting your own peaches.

DID YOU KNOW?

● There are over 2000 varieties of peaches in the world.

● Scientifically the peach tree is know as prunus persica.

● Peach originate from Northwest China, but today it can be found in many parts of the world.

● The average lifespan of a peach tree is about 12 years.

● Besides color, peaches are also distinguished by how their pits separate from the flesh. Clingstone – the flesh sticks to the pit; Freestone – the pit is easily separated from the flesh.

● The Ancient Romans referred to the peach as malum persicum “Persian apple”, later becoming French pêche, hence the English “peach”.

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