Prunus persica 'Duke of York' (F)

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  This plant will provide nectar and pollen for bees and the many other types of pollinating insects.

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Cultivation

Grow in a moist, but well-drained soil in full sun. Protect flowers from frosts with horticultural fleece. Best grown fan-trained, although in the south of England can be grown as a free standing bush

Propagation

Peaches are propagated by grafting onto a rootstock for fruit. Or propagate by seed, although the fruit from the seedlings is likely to be inferior in flavour to the parent. Seed-raised trees take four to five years to bear fruit

Suggested planting locations and garden types

• Cottage and informal garden
• Wall side borders

Pruning

Prune established fans in spring and summer. Free standing peaches are pruned in the same way as pruning acid cherries

Pests

Glasshouse red spider mite, aphids, and scale may be problematic, especially on wall-trained specimens or those grown in a glasshouse. Squirrels may damage fruit

Diseases

Protect peaches against peach leaf curl, by covering the plant from autumn to spring. Bacterial canker, silver leaf, brown rot and replant diseases may cause problems