Q&A – Why do my peaches stay small and hard and never ripen?
Question:
Why do my peaches stay small and hard and never ripen?
Answer:
There are several possible reasons for this. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison says peach trees will put on 80-90% more fruit than the tree can support. With this much fruit the tree does not have the energy to grow and ripen all the fruit, so the fruit does not grow. Pruning and thinning reduce the amount of fruit to a level that the tree can support and results in better fruit. Mike also says small, non-ripening peaches can also happen when the top of the tree has died and the tree has come back from the rootstock. The rootstock is not a good fruit producer.
Related Videos:
Thinning Peaches
Pruning Nectarines, Peaches, and Plums
Related Resources:
Fruit Trees: Thinning Young Fruit
Home Fruit Production: Peach and Nectarine Culture
Pruning Peaches & Nectarines
Why do my peaches stay small and hard and never ripen?
Answer:
There are several possible reasons for this. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison says peach trees will put on 80-90% more fruit than the tree can support. With this much fruit the tree does not have the energy to grow and ripen all the fruit, so the fruit does not grow. Pruning and thinning reduce the amount of fruit to a level that the tree can support and results in better fruit. Mike also says small, non-ripening peaches can also happen when the top of the tree has died and the tree has come back from the rootstock. The rootstock is not a good fruit producer.
Related Videos:
Thinning Peaches
Pruning Nectarines, Peaches, and Plums
Related Resources:
Fruit Trees: Thinning Young Fruit
Home Fruit Production: Peach and Nectarine Culture
Pruning Peaches & Nectarines