Grafted Peach, (Prunus persica) Aadu – plant

Description

Grafted Peach, (Prunus persica) Aadu – plant

The peach (Prunus persica) is a deciduous tree, native to northwest China in the region between the Tarim Basin and the north slopes of the Kunlun Shan mountains, where it was first domesticated and cultivated. It bears an edible juicy fruit. China is the world’s largest producer of peaches. The fruit is also produced in India.

Peach, (Prunus persica), fruit tree of the rose family (Rosaceae) grown throughout the warmer temperate regions of both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Peaches are widely eaten fresh and are also baked in pies and cobblers; canned peaches are a staple commodity in many regions. Yellow-fleshed varieties are especially rich in vitamin A.

Habitate

The peach Tree is very fast growing. The maximum height is about 4 to 6 meters and the diameter of the trunk is about 10-17 centimeters in diameter. Peach have a shorter lifespan than most trees. They are commonly used in orchards for about 10-20 years. Fruit can be produced as early as 3 years, depending on their resistance to diseases (Gilman 1994). Peaches generally grow best in well drained sandy loams, but can be found in thickets, roadsides, and other disturbed habitats.

Cultivation of Peach

Peach trees are relatively short-lived as compared with some other fruit trees. In some regions orchards are replanted after 8 to 10 years, while in others trees may produce satisfactorily for 20 to 25 years or more, depending upon their resistance to diseases, pests, and winter damage. They are intolerant of severe cold and cannot be grown successfully where temperatures normally fall to −23 to −26 °C (−10 to −15 °F). On the other hand, they do not grow satisfactorily where the winters are too mild, and most varieties require some winter chilling to induce them to burst into growth after the annual dormant period. The peach does well on various soil types but, in general, grows best on well-drained sandy or gravelly loams. On most soils, the peach responds well to nitrogen-rich fertilizers or manures, without which satisfactory growth cannot be obtained. Trees are usually pruned annually to prevent them from becoming too tall; the upright shoots are pruned back to outgrowing laterals to produce a spreading tree and keep it open to sunlight.