Should I Remove Fruit From Young Peach Tree?

16 years ago

I recently purchased and planted a young (1 to 2 year) Elberta Peach tree from a local nursery. The tree is approximately 4' tall and the trunk of the tree is approx. 3/4" diameter and the branches are 1/2" or less. The tree has numerous blossoms, some of which are already developing into fruit.

Since it is a very young tree, should I remove the young fruit to allow the growing energy to be directed into the tree? If so, at what stage should I remove the fruit?

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fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX

16 years ago

It's all right in my book to leave a few fruit but very few. Maybe 3-4 total and only near the base of the limbs so it won't pull the limb down. Pull the other fruit off as soon as they form.

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Comments (7)

softmentor
16 years ago
My grandfather used to say every one you pull off the first year will give you 3 the next.
Jewish law says "take no benefit" from a new tree until the 4th year. Most folks won't wait 4 years, but I think it's worth cleaning them off the first year, and just grow a tree.
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mr.ed
16 years ago
There have been studies that state, there is no benefit from culling the fruit off a new tree. Blueberries show a benefit, but not trees. That being said, it sounds as if your branches are too small to support the fruit. Possibly leave one on a strong branch for tasting, but peaches are notorious for "self thinning" and it may drop off on its own.
donnieappleseed
16 years ago
Just thought I'd tell a funny story.....

Years ago I planted some fruit trees for homeowners in Utah....I told them to take the BLOSSOMS off (if any showed up) so as to allow the tree to have more vigor to go into the vegetative growth the first year or so....

In the Fall, I called back these homeowners to see how their trees were doing that I had planted.

I was shocked to hear one man say his tree had died.

"What happened?" I asked, feeling rather anxious, and wondering if I had done something wrong.

"Well, sir, I took off all the LEAVES like you told me"

(Geesh! true story)
redoredone
10 years ago
donnieappleseed...Groan...and it just aggravates me to see how people pay to have trees so severely scalped that there are not enough leaves to feed the trunk and stubs of the remaining branches. Sheer butchery! This is a late comment on this topic, but still applicable as I see this kind of thing all the time.
insteng
10 years ago
Most likely they will fall off on their own. I have a small tree planted this year that was loaded and they all dropped except for one. The tree is growing like crazy and the remaining peach is almost ready to pick.
lala_e
10 years ago
Birds and my German Shepherd have taken all the peaches off my young tree just as soon as they started to turn from green to golden. This happened over 2 summers. It's now fenced off and I may also net it this year. I haven't seen a signifcant upward growth spurt or benefit, but it did bush out more. I hope I can finally enjoy the fruit.