Peach Trees

Peach trees are the heaviest feeders among common deciduous fruit trees, requiring more nitrogen than apples, pears, or cherries because peach fruit has higher nutrient content and peach trees translocate fewer nutrients from leaves back to the tree in fall — essentially losing more with each harvest. Penn State research shows peaches remove about 0.27 pounds of nitrogen per 100 pounds of fruit produced. The target for mature bearing peach trees is 12-18 inches of new terminal growth annually, and achieving this requires split nitrogen applications: half applied between bloom and petal fall in March, a second dose in May, and optionally a post-harvest application if any fruit was harvested. Nitrogen must not be applied after June 15 to avoid stimulating tender growth that will not harden off for winter — this is critical in zones 5-6 where winter injury is the leading cause of peach tree failure. Crop load dramatically affects fertilizer needs; mature trees with no crop (due to frost or biennial bearing) should receive half the normal nitrogen rate. The relationship between nitrogen and peach quality creates a genuine trade-off: sufficient nitrogen produces good fruit size and yield, but excessive nitrogen reduces red skin color, delays maturity, and decreases sugar content. Calcium is especially important for peach cold hardiness in northern climates, and adequate soil calcium levels improve winter survival rates significantly. Foliar analysis (50-100 leaves sampled mid-July through mid-August) provides the most accurate picture of tree nutritional status and should be conducted regularly in established orchards.