Content
- The peach tree - a profile
- The peach belongs to the rose family
- Flowers and fruits
- Great diversity of varieties
- Cultivation of peaches in Germany
- Tips & Tricks
The peach tree - a profile
The peach is one of the fruit trees that have been cultivated for many millennia. This is hardly surprising, because the juicy fruits are very sweet and also healthy. Hardly anyone knows that the peach also grows and bears fruit in the German climate. In this short profile, we introduce you to the peach tree once.
The peach belongs to the rose family
The Latin name for the peach is "Prunus persica" and means "Persian apple". This name goes back to the origin of the peach, because the fruit has arrived from today's Iran to Central Europe. Actually, however, the peach comes from China. The peach, like other stone fruits, belongs to the rose family and is mainly related to apricot and almond, but also to native varieties such as plum and cherry.
Flowers and fruits
In Germany, peaches grow mainly in the form of bush trees, which can grow up to three or four meters high. Depending on the variety, however, the tree reaches heights between one (dwarf peach) and eight meters. The white to pink flowers bloom very early in the year and sometimes even break in March. However, most varieties do not blossom until April. The apple-like fruits may be white to bright red and contain a woody seed kernel inside the pulp. The actual seed is inside the woody shell and looks like an almond. Unlike this, however, it is poisonous and therefore should not be eaten. The fruits ripen in the months between July and September.
Great diversity of varieties
Worldwide, there are about 3000 different peach species, which are mainly distinguished by the color of their pulp. There are white, yellow, red and red peaches. Special varieties are the plate or flat peaches and the nectarines. The latter are special, hairless breeds. However, not all varieties are equally suitable for cultivation in German gardens. Here grown peaches should be robust and frost tolerant to a certain extent.
Cultivation of peaches in Germany
Especially in the German wine regions, peaches are grown. Basically, peach trees tolerate very cold temperatures, the problem is mainly in the frequently occurring late frosts. These let the flowers freeze and thus ensure a failure of the harvest. However, the flowers can be protected with the help of a fleece.
Tips & Tricks
Peaches are quite prone to fungal diseases. The careful selection of the right location as well as preventative spraying measures can help to avoid an infestation.