Another problem that can affect peaches and other stone fruit such as cherries and plums is brown rot.

In a bad year, even established trees of these varieties can get some Peach Leaf Curl, but will outgrow it and not suffer the branch loss seen in non-resistant varieties. Resistant varieties including Frost, Betty, Avalon Pride, and Salish Summer may need spraying when young, but develop resistance as they become established. This spray will control leaf infection of Peach Leaf Curl. Spray again 3 weeks later, and a third spray should be applied 3 weeks after that.

At bud swell (usually mid-January), spray sulfur, copper sulfate, fixed copper, or Bordeaux with a spreader sticker such as NuFilm or Bonide Turbo Sticker.Both are controlled by timed sprays that have copper or sulfur as an ingredient. The two main diseases that cause problems in our climate are Peach Leaf Curl and Bacterial Canker (the link is to bacterial canker on cherries, which also are subject to the disease). Because peaches are subject to some diseases, it is important to apply preventative sprays before problems exist.Visit our Disease and Pest Management in the Home Orchard page for a general overview of proactive disease and pest management for all your fruit trees. Remember the goal in the home orchard is to keep the trees healthy and productive. Leaves distorted by peach leaf curl fungus.

You can check to see if you are watering adequately by digging a hole, 6″-8″ deep, near the tree 24 hours after watering. It is especially important to water adequately while the fruit is approaching ripeness. Irrigate thoroughly during the summer months, watering infrequently but deeply.A very thin mulch (less than 3″) can be used to keep weeds down. Keep grass and weeds away from the tree to reduce competition.Late frost can mean blossoms are killed by low temperatures (28☏ and lower) rather than setting fruit, and late frost can also increase the chances of bacterial canker by creating tissue damage that opens the trees up to infection. If your site regularly gets hard frost in late April and early May, you may have trouble growing peaches. Peaches are best grown where there is a low chance of late frosts.If the soil is heavy or poorly drained, build a raised mound 3′-4′ in diameter, 8″-10″ high. Choose a site that is in full sun with well-drained soil.If you’re just planting fruit trees for the first time, also look at the Learn to Grow Fruit Trees page.

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