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Planting a peach in the fall is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. In addition to the fact that this tree itself is quite capricious, the proximity of winter is also an additional deterrent. However, subject to certain rules, such a procedure can be carried out quite successfully, and this does not require any super-efforts.
When to plant a peach: in spring or fall
Most gardeners agree that the best time to plant fruit trees (and peaches in particular) is spring. Indeed, a tree planted in spring will have time to take root over the summer and autumn, adapt well to a new place and go into hibernation without any problems. However, during this time, the seedling will spend energy not forcing shoots and green mass, without sufficiently developing roots.
The positive aspect of the autumn planting is that the seedling in the winter is not disturbed by diseases or pests. During this time, the root system manages to get strong enough to quickly enter the vegetative period in spring and ensure the plant grows rapidly.
Of course, there is a danger that a peach planted in autumn will simply not have time to settle down and die before the onset of cold weather. Therefore, it is possible to recommend autumn planting only in those regions where autumn is warm and long, and winter is short and mild. If frosts begin in October, there is no alternative to planting a peach in spring.
Planting dates for peaches in autumn
Exact timing autumn planting of peaches it is rather difficult to determine, since they are different for each region. For the procedure to be successful, 2 conditions must be met:
- The plant must be dormant.
- There should be at least 6 weeks before the onset of frost.
In the southern regions, the best time for this is the first half of September, in the Crimea and Krasnodar Territory - until mid-October.
How to plant a peach in the fall
Before planting a peach, you need to evaluate all the possible consequences of such a step. The peach will not always grow and not everywhere, but it will yield a crop - and even more so. It should be borne in mind that a peach tree lives for 20-25 years, and it is highly undesirable to replant it.
Choosing the right place
A peach needs sun and warmth, therefore, it is usually planted from the south side of the site. It is good if there is a fence or structure from the north that will protect it from the cold wind. In this case, the distance to it must be at least 2.5–5 m, otherwise it will interfere with the growth of the crown and roots.
The peach will survive hot weather and the absence of rains without problems, but excessive moisture can become a real disaster for him. When planting, you should avoid lowlands, wetlands, any places with a high level of groundwater. The best location would be the southern or southeastern slope of the hill.
When planting a peach, you need to consider what has grown in this place before. Do not plant it after nightshade crops:
- tomatoes;
- potatoes;
- eggplant.
The place is not suitable for planting if strawberries, watermelon or melon were previously grown on it. Also, don't plant a peach after an old peach tree.Even if the clearing is done well, it is better to postpone the planting procedure for several years and wait for the soil to clear up. To speed up the process, you can sow the area with oats or rye.
Soil preparation
Peach grows well on loose loamy and sandy loam soils, and black soil is also suitable for growing it. But on saline soils, it will not grow. Before planting, it is advisable to clear the area of weeds and dig up, thereby saturating the soil with oxygen. Planting holes are dug based on the size of the seedling. Their diameter can be from 0.5 to 1 m, and their depth can be up to 0.8 m.
The earth taken out of the pit must be set aside. It will need to be mixed with humus (about 2-3 buckets) and add 1 glass of wood ash. This soil mixture must be filled with an even cone into the planting hole at about 2/3 of the depth. The prepared pit should stand for at least two weeks, and preferably 1-2 months.
Selection and preparation of a seedling
Quality planting material is half the battle. Therefore, you should not save on seedlings. It is better to take them from reliable suppliers or specialized nurseries. It is better to choose a zoned variety intended for cultivation in a specific area.
Before buying a seedling, be sure to take a good look. For autumn planting, two-year-old seedlings are preferable. By this time, their height should be at least 1.2 m, thickness - at least 1.5 cm. The seedling should have a developed crown of 3-4 branches, as well as fully formed buds. The root system should be well developed, if there is only one root, problems with survival are possible.
In appearance, the seedling should look absolutely healthy. It should not have mechanical damage, wilted foliage or root rot. If you peel back the bark on the trunk, there should be a green layer of cambium underneath.
You need to purchase seedlings just before planting. During transportation, the roots must be wrapped in wet burlap and wrapped in polyethylene. The day before planting, the seedling must be placed entirely in water, into which a growth stimulant can be added.
How to plant a peach in the fall
The landing procedure itself is not difficult if all the preparatory measures are made in advance. It is produced as follows:
- Having retreated from the center of the pit, you need to drive one or two supports into the bottom, to which a two-year-old sapling tree will be tied up later. A garter will protect him from wind and snow damage in the first two years of life. You need to install the support before planting, otherwise there is a great risk of damaging the roots.
- Try on the seedling by placing it on the top of the mound piled in the pit. The root collar should be 3-4 cm above ground level. If the seedling is located higher or lower, you need to add earth or remove it a little.
- Water the soil in the planting hole. This will require 5-10 liters of water, depending on the type of soil and the size of the pit. The soil under the roots of the future seedling must be completely moistened.
- Set the seedling strictly vertically, straighten the roots and gradually fill the planting hole with the prepared soil mixture, controlling the level of deepening of the root collar. Drizzle with water, tamp lightly.
- Form an earthen roller 50-60 cm in circumference and 10-15 cm high around the seedling. It will act as a barrier and prevent water from spreading after watering.
- Mulch the trunk circle with peat, humus, needles or bark chips. For a mild winter, a layer of mulch of 5 cm will be enough, but if severe frosts are expected, then it can be doubled.
Follow-up care of seedlings
If the seedling is well developed, then immediately after planting it is cut off, thus starting to form the future crown. For the winter, the seedling must be covered, the peach is a thermophilic tree. The easiest way to do this is to use burlap or other breathable material. The tree needs to be wrapped several times, and then covered with earth from below.
You can use thick cardboard by rolling it around the seedling with a pipe and stuffing hay, straw or wood shavings inside.
A video about planting a peach in the fall can be viewed at the link below.
How to transplant a peach in the fall
Transplanting a peach is undesirable. Therefore, it is so important to choose the right place for planting. However, circumstances may develop in such a way that a transplant to a new location will become necessary.
When to replant a peach: in spring or autumn
You can transplant a peach no older than 7 years. This is the maximum age, it is better that the transplanted tree is no more than 5 years old. The transplant procedure can be done only in late autumn, when the tree is completely ready for winter and is in deep dormancy.
Transplanting a peach to a new location in the fall
Transplanting a peach in the fall is a rather long and laborious process. It is necessary to try to preserve the soil on the roots as much as possible, therefore, dig around the tree with a moat about one and a half meters in diameter and 1 m deep.All this earthen lump together with the tree must be transferred to a new place, where a ready-made planting pit of the same size should already be waiting for it.
At the bottom of the new pit, you need to pour a layer of turf soil mixed with ash. You can also add a little superphosphate. After this, the pit is watered abundantly with water. After planting, all voids must be filled with earth, and the root zone must be watered abundantly.
Peach care after transplant
After transplanting, it will be necessary to restore the balance of the root system and crown. When transplanting, some of the roots will be irretrievably lost, and some will not take root in a new place. The surviving roots simply cannot feed the entire above-ground part of the tree, so some of it needs to be cut off. Watering must be carried out systematically until the very cold, making sure that the soil is moist.
Conclusion
Peach planting in autumn is widely practiced in the southern regions of our country. If climatic conditions permit, it is worth performing the procedure at this particular time. In other regions, it is more advisable to plant peaches in the spring. The main thing to remember is that both of these methods will lead to the desired result, if you follow all the necessary rules and deadlines.
