Growing peaches is a year-round occupation. Pruning
usually begins after the first hard freeze in the fall and
continues until early spring. In most years, full bloom
occurs in mid to early March. Because peach trees usually set
far more fruit than they can ripen normally fruit, growers must
thin fruit on every tree to six to eight inches apart. This
time consuming task is necessary for fruit to size and ripen into
the high quality fruit that consumers have come to expect.
Weed, insect and disease control, water and nutritional management
are tasks that take place throughout the growing season.
Peach producers grow a number of varieties so that ripe fruit is
available throughout the growing season. Harvest usually
begins in early May and goes through the end of August or early
September.