How to grow peaches

Planted in a sunny, sheltered spot, ideally trained against a warm wall, a peach tree will reward you with pretty spring blossom followed by a crop of sweet, juicy, succulent fruits in summer. Compact varieties can also be grown in containers. 

© Shutterstock

Grow peaches in a warm, sunny location outdoors or in a greenhouse

Peaches (Prunus persica) are very similar to nectarines (Prunus persica var. nectarina). Peaches have a fuzzy, velvety skin, compared to smooth-skinned nectarines. They are both grown in the same way, although nectarines usually need slightly warmer conditions to ripen in the UK.

There are many peach varieties to choose from, producing fruits of different sizes, flavours and levels of sweetness. Rounded or slightly flat, the fruits ripen to various shades of red, orange and yellow on the outside, with golden, red or white flesh inside. Fruits can be ‘free-stone’ – where the flesh separates easily from the stone, or ‘cling-stone’ – where the flesh doesn't detach easily from the stone.

Depending on the variety, the crop will ripen at different times from July through to September, and some varieties are more hardy and reliable in the UK climate. A few offer some resistance to peach leaf curl. All peach varieties are self-fertile, so you only need one tree for a good crop. Peach varieties are usually grafted onto a rootstock called ‘St Julian A’, which restricts the tree’s vigour and size.

If you want to grow a peach tree in a container, choose a dwarf variety such as ‘Bonanza’, ‘Crimson Bonfire’ or ‘Garden Lady’. Varieties specifically bred for container growing are often sold as ‘patio peaches’, reaching only about 1.8m (6ft) tall and needing little pruning.

Although it is possible to grow peach trees from seed (stones), the resulting trees may not suit the UK climate, can take many years to bear fruit and often produce fruit inferior to the parent plant. There are also biosecurity risks associated with growing from the seed/stones of supermarket-bought fruits, so this should be avoided. If you want a tree that will fruit well, it’s worth investing in a good quality tree, of your chosen variety, from a reputable UK supplier.

If you visit any of the RHS gardens, you’ll find many fruit trees grown in various ways, so you can easily compare different varieties and pick up useful growing tips.

Late autumn, when the soil is warm and damp, is usually a good time to plant a peach tree, but between November and March is also fine, which is when bare-root trees are available. Container-grown trees are available all year round and can potentially be planted at any time, but will settle in best from late autumn to spring. Planting in hot, dry conditions should be avoided.

Peach trees are best planted against a south- or south-west-facing wall or fence and trained as fans. They can also be planted as free-standing trees, but make sure they are supported with sturdy tree stakes until well established. Compact varieties can be grown in containers. As peaches flower early, it’s vital to choose a planting site that isn’t prone to frosts, which can damage the blossom. Protecting the blossom is only really practical with fan-trained or container-grown trees, so only plant peaches as free-standing trees in really warm, sheltered locations where spring frosts are unlikely.
 
Peaches like deep, fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid poorly drained conditions, which can cause the roots to rot. They will struggle in light or shallow soil. If you have decent garden soil, additional soil preparation before planting shouldn't be necessary. However, if your soil is poor, dig a bucketful of organic matter, such as garden compost, into the soil you remove from your planting hole and use this to backfill after planting. This minimises soil disturbance and helps your tree get off to a strong start.

Prepare your tree by giving it a good watering if it’s in a container or by standing a bare-root tree in a bucket of water for half an hour directly before planting.

Newly planted peach trees and those growing in containers need some regular attention to ensure they establish well and produce a good crop. Once established, trees in the ground need little ongoing maintenance other than annual pruning, and blossom needs protecting from frost to ensure a good crop.

A sunny wall, offering warmth, light and shelter is ideal for a fan-trained peach tree

• Newly planted peach trees should be pruned soon after the buds open in early spring
• Established fan-trained trees should be pruned in spring and after fruiting in summer
• ​Established free-standing peach trees should be pruned in summer, after fruiting 

Peach trees are best grown as fans against a sunny wall or fence, so they produce a good crop that ripens well. Fans have a short trunk topped with a flat fan of radiating branches. They are usually kept at a manageable size of about 2m (6½ft) tall and up to 5m (16ft) across. Fans make an attractive garden feature and are also useful if space is limited. However, they do need careful pruning and training – see our guides below. 

Peach trees need a warm, sheltered location and lots of sunshine to fruit well and ripen fully outdoors in the UK. Fruiting problems may include: 

• Lack of fruit – may be due to frost during flowering and/or poor pollination, so protect blossom from frost and cold winds, and hand-pollinate with a small paintbrush. For more information, see our guide to unproductive fruit trees

• Failure to ripen – may be caused by cool weather and lack of sun. Training trees against a sunny wall will help to ripen the fruits. In colder regions, consider growing in a greenhouse or polytunnel

• Poor fruit development or unripe fruit dropping – may be due to insufficient or inconsistent watering

• Split fruit – may be caused by overwatering or wet weather during ripening

• Loss of ripening fruit – protect peaches from birds and squirrels by covering them with sleeves or netting. Ensure any netting is taut and fastened securely so birds and other wildlife don’t get entangled in it. Alternatively, grow trees in a fruit cage or move container-grown trees into a greenhouse once the fruits start to colour up

Peaches may be affected by some pests and diseases, see Common problems below.