Planting a peach in spring: timing and rules for planting a seedling

Not so long ago, a peach could be found only in the south of the country, but now the problem of growing in regions with a harsher climate is being solved by the correct choice of a suitable variety grafted onto a frost-resistant stock, as well as by strict implementation of the basic rules of agricultural technology. Naturally, one of the determining factors for the further successful cultivation of a peach is its competent planting.

Next, you will learn how to properly plant a peach seedling in your area.

Content

1 When to plant peaches in spring: optimal timing
2 How to properly plant a peach in spring and what you need to consider
3 Features of further peach care after spring planting in open ground

When to plant peaches in spring: optimal timing

The peach enters the growing season early, so it is necessary to have time to plant before active sap flow in the shoots begins, in other words, when the seedling is still "sleeping".

In this case, a prerequisite must be met: the air temperature should not be lower than +5 degrees. Thus, depending on the region, spring planting of a peach is recommended from late March to early April.

When is it better to plant - in spring or autumn

However, it is believed that it is still better to plant a peach in the fall (since during this period only roots grow, the seedling will definitely not grow). Moreover, before the onset of stable frosts, you should have about a month (3-4 weeks) in stock. Thus, the approximate dates for planting peaches in autumn in different regions is the second half of September - the end of October.

Important! It is also not recommended to plant peaches too early in the fall, because the shoots must have time to ripen in order to survive the winter successfully.

In addition, many people prefer the autumn planting of a spring peach, because stone fruits start growing very early, which means that you can simply not have time to plant when the seedlings are still "dormant", which will definitely negatively affect (disrupt) their natural cycle development.

However, if you are late, and frosts are expected within 1-2 weeks, then it is better to play it safe and postpone planting the peach until spring.

By the way! Some gardeners plant peaches in containers in the fall and put them in a basement or cellar for the winter, others drop them in the garden. Whoever is comfortable and more like it.

However, planting a peach in spring has its own benefits:

Throughout the season, the gardener has the opportunity to react in time to any negative factors that prevent the development of the seedling (drought, diseases, pests) and take measures to eliminate them.
A sufficient amount of moisture in the soil in spring improves the survival rate of the tree, which reduces the period of its adaptation to a new place.

Thus, when planted in spring, the peach tree has an excellent chance to grow stronger during the season and be well prepared for the coming winter.

Planting dates in spring in different regions

Naturally, depending on climatic features, the timing of the spring planting of a peach in different regions differs:

In the South of Russia, you can plant a peach in March or early April.
Gardeners of the Middle Strip and the Moscow Region should plant a peach no earlier than 1-2 decades of April.
In Siberia and the Urals, it is possible to plant a peach in open ground only in late April-early May.

According to the lunar calendar in 2020

Choose the optimal time for planting seedlings can help you moon calendar.

Favorable days for spring planting of a peach in 2020, according to the lunar calendar, are:

in March - 26-29;
in April - 11-15, 24, 25;
in May - 2-10.

Of course, it is not always possible to get to the dacha on favorable days, therefore, the main thing is not to plant a peach and any other crops on unfavorable dates according to the lunar calendar - the days of the New Moon and Full Moon, as well as the period when the Moon is in Aquarius, because it is a barren and dry sign -in italics.

Unfavorable days, according to the lunar calendar, for 2020 for planting peach seedlings in spring are the following:

in March - 9,19-21, 24;
in April - 8,15-17, 23;
in May - 7,13-14, 22;
in June - 5,9-11, 21.

According to the lunar calendar, from the magazine "1000 Tips for Summer Residents".

How to properly plant a peach in spring and what you need to consider

Peach is a fairly fast-growing tree, which, subject to all planting conditions and further care, will begin to actively bear fruit in 3-4 years.

Sapling requirements

For planting, it is recommended to select zoned varieties peach that have a sufficient level of winter hardiness for the selected region. The tree must not be older than two years, since it is at this age that the seedlings are minimally stressed when planting.You should also pay attention to the following criteria when choosing a peach seedling:

the height of the seedling should not exceed 1.5 m, otherwise this is a sign of excessive fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers, which negatively affects the immunity of the crop;
the root system must be sufficiently developed, that is, in addition to the main root, there must be 2-3 lateral ones;

In addition, they should be fibrous (fibrous is the quality and type of rootstock).

the place of grafting must be clearly expressed on the trunk, which confirms the grade of the tree;
there should be no obvious signs of violation of its integrity on the bark.

Worth knowing! Until the moment of planting, the peach should be in a dormant stage, that is, it should not have any signs of the beginning of the growing season.

Seat selection

First of all, for the successful cultivation of a peach, you need to choose the right place for planting it.

This thermophilic culture prefers to grow exclusively on sunny and open areas, but at the same time be protected from drafts.

Lack of sunlight has a depressing effect on southern crops, so your harvest can be not only scanty, but also tasteless.

The best solution would be to plant a peach near a fence or walls of other buildings (which will cover the tree from cold north and north-west winds), while the tree, of course, should be placed on the south or south-west side.

The culture does not like lowlands (it is corny it is colder there) and even more wetlands, so it is better to plant it in more elevated areas.

Note! The main condition for the successful cultivation of fruit crops with a "weak" root collar (which include peach, apricot) in the zone of risky farming is planting on a hill.

Also, when planting a peach (like any other crops), it is worth considering the level of occurrence of groundwater - no closer than 1.5-2 meters.

At what distance to plant

As the peach grows, it forms a powerful tree with a spreading crown, therefore, if you plan to plant several seedlings at once or next to other plants, then initially you must maintain the necessary distance so that the trees do not interfere (shade) with each other in the future.

Thus, it is recommended to plant peaches on such distanceso that between the trunks there is at least 2.5-3 meters, or even better 3.5-4 meters.

Remember! The closer you plant the seedlings, the more difficult it will be for you to control their crown in the future, in other words, mandatory pruning, including summer pruning, will be required.

Suitable soil

The peach tree will grow well on light soil with good moisture and air exchange. Besides, soil acidity must be neutral (in other words, the soil should not be acidic).

Thus, the best option for growing peaches are loamy and sandy loam soil with a low level of acidity.

Sandy and clayey soil is least suitable for him, but if good drainage is created during planting, then the culture can grow in such conditions.

Important! When planting a peach in overly sandy soil, add some clay, and in clayey soil, add sand to help balance the soil.

Planting pit depth

To plant a tree, you need to prepare a planting pit in advance, having done this in the fall or at least 1-2 weeks before the procedure.

Planting pit depth for a peach tree should be within 50-80 cm, like width - 50-80 cm.

As a rule, the minimum size of the landing pit is 50 by 50 cm, and on average, 70 by 70 centimeters.

By the way! Planting hole for a seedling closed root do 2 times larger than the container itself.

The bottom immediately fits drainage layer 10-15 cm from broken brick or small stones (crushed stone, expanded clay), and the depression is filled with a prepared nutrient mixture. During this period, the soil will be able to settle to the desired level.

How and what to fertilize before planting (fill the planting hole)

When planting, it is necessary to add the whole complex of nutrients that will help the tree adapt in a new place and strengthen for further growth. To do this, a prepared mixture is poured into the planting pit (which is thoroughly mixed until a uniform consistency), which includes the following components (mineral and organic fertilizers):

all horse fertile soil (upper 20-30 cm), which you removed when digging a hole;
a bucket (8-9 kg) of good humus or compost;
a bucket (8-9 kg) of non-acidic peat (if possible);
a bucket (8-9 kg) of sand (if you have relatively heavy soil);
1-2 cups (200-500 grams) superphosphate or 400-600 grams of bone meal (organic phosphorus fertilizer);
half or 1 cup of potassium sulfate (100-200 grams) or 2-4 cups (200-400 grams) wood ash (organic analogue of potash fertilizer).

Either instead of superphosphate and potassium sulfate, just take 300-400 grams of nitroammophoska (it contains 16% nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) or even better diammophoska.

Worth knowing! When planting a tree, no need to add nitrogen fertilizers, since they stimulate vegetation to the detriment of root development (especially when planting in northern regions).

Important! However, many gardeners do not recommend laying mineral fertilizers in the planting pit, but applying them in the future.

Algorithm for direct planting of a seedling in the ground

Correctly carried out planting of a peach will allow the tree not only to quickly get used to a new place, but also to immediately direct all its forces to rooting. As a result, the seedling will be able to take root safely during the season and prepare for the coming winter.

Step-by-step instructions for planting a peach in spring:

Make a depression in the planting pit to fit the size of the seedling root system.
Place a small mound in the center of the planting hole.

Immediately before planting, the roots of the seedling should be washed from the old soil, then soak them in a clay mash, and then renew the tips of the roots by cutting them slightly.

Drive in a wooden support (peg) to support the young seedling in the future.
Place the seedling in the center of the mound and spread the roots along its (mound) sides.

Important! If you have a seedling that was grafted with an eye (budding), then the place of budding (peephole = new shoot that has grown from the grafting) should face north, and the place of cut - south.

Sprinkle soil over the roots while shaking the seedling to eliminate voids between the roots.
Compact (tamp) the soil, starting from the edges at the base of the seedling.

In this case, the root collar (the place where the first root originates from the trunk) should be located 3-5 cm (you can simply attach 2 fingers) above the soil surface.

Next, you need to make a hole (roller) along the diameter (perimeter) of the trunk circle 10 cm high.
Spill abundantly with water, pouring out at least 2-3 buckets (pour out gradually - wait for it to be absorbed and add more).

Tie the tree trunk to the prepared support using a soft twine.
Smooth out the roller, loosen the soil in the near-trunk circle and mulch it with peat, humus or compost.

Worth knowing! Mulch should not be placed close to the trunk of the tree, as this can ultimately cause the bark to undergo heating, which will cause the development of fungal diseases.

Video: how to plant a peach tree - basic rules for planting peach seedlings

Video: the result of a spring planting of a peach

Features of further peach care after spring planting in open ground

Immediately after planting, a peach seedling must cut and shorten the crownto level the root system with the aboveground one.

How to do it correctly (start shape peach tree), read in this article.

For the successful rooting of a peach, it is required to monitor the soil moisture and, if necessary (in the spring and autumn, water 2 times a month, and in the hot period - 1 time in 7-10 days) carry out abundant watering.

Advice! Either make a new hole every year, or initially not very deep, so that moisture does not accumulate in it in the winter-early-spring period and the root collar does not get wet.

In this case, the soil should not be allowed to dry out, but it should not be poured either.

Advice! To determine that it is time for watering, you can do the following: dig a hole on the bayonet of a shovel (25-30 cm), and then take a handful of earth from the bottom of the hole - if it is dry, then urgent and abundant watering is required.

Additional top dressing it is not worth it this year, since the seedling has already received all the necessary complex of nutrients even during planting, and it should be enough for 2-3 years.

Although, if desired, the trunk circle can be immediately mulched with humus or compost with a layer of 2-3 cm.However, in no case you can not use manure, and also shovel a pile directly onto the tree trunk.

Throughout the season, it is recommended to carefully monitor the condition of your tree so that it does not suddenly get hit by any diseases and pests.

By the way! Two-year-old peaches can start bearing fruit on small, annual twigs. However, this should not be allowed after planting so that the seedling hardens better.

And in the future, in any case, you will need to conduct annual peach treatments with fungicides and insecticidesso that protect the tree from diseases and pests.

By the way! The site has a detailed article about how to properly spray a peach in the spring against diseases and pests.

It is also very important not to forget correctly prepare (cover) the peach for winter.

And in the spring, quickly remove the shelter after the snow melts. The fact is that the peach is not afraid of small frosts, however, it still can get stuck under cover.

Thus, if you decide to plant a peach in your garden, it should be understood that this culture in the future will require increased attention from you and compliance with all the rules of agricultural technology. Well, now the most important thing is to choose the right place for the peach and correctly plant it.

Video: how to plant a peach correctly

planting fruit trees in spring