I just moved into a house in Enterprise, Alabama and was surprised to see that the previous owners have two (seemingly) mature peach trees in the backyard. It looks like it's getting close to harvesting time but I don't know what kind of care the trees have been under. It looks like I'm going to lose one of the trees. The fruit skin seems like it's cracking and oozing a clear gel like liquid. Might also NOT be a peach tree but I can't tell.
The second tree is beginning to blossom and by the looks of it, the fruit is ripening. The branches are so heavy with the fruit that some are breaking and that concerns me. I was told pruning the branches so that the fruit is spaced approx 8-10 in apart extends tree life and allows more fruit growth.
Insecticides and fertilizers are also concerns. What do I look for and how often do I apply?
I can provide pictures of the trees and fruits tomorrow as it's already getting dark here.
I would really love to keep these trees alive and wouldn't mind sharing some of the harvest if this one is a good one. Any help would be much appreciated!
-Karl
You don't prune the branches for the weight of the fruit, you go out there and remove the fruit, piece by piece, until what is left is nicely spaced out.
Sometimes with a young peach tree, you also put crutches under the limbs for additional support. I wouldn't expect that to be necessary for a mature tree.
East coast sprays are very different from here in the Pacific Northwest, so I can't help you with that. You will need to do a copper spray in the fall after leaves fall and a dormant oil spray either fall or spring-- you will have to find out about local conditions.
Both those dormant sprays are still considered organic. Then you have to decide if you want to try to go organic all the way or join the better living through chemicals crowd.
I suspect you will need to set up a spray program for plum curculio to keep them from laying eggs in your peaches. If they get onto your peaches, you will have worms in your peaches.
The oozing clear gel on the peaches does not ruin them. Just rub it off when you are ready to eat them. The cracking might be due to excessive rain or watering.
Once you take over care of the trees, you will get better fruit.
That's serious good luck to discover you have 2 mature fruit trees.
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