I transplanted this nursery-bought Elberta peach tree here in Augusta, GA almost exactly two years ago. It produced some flowers/fruit last year, but I took all the fruit off when very small, in order to let the tree's energy be used primarily for structure and root growth.

This year it flowered profusely and created MANY fruitlets. I took off close to 100 I'd bet, leaving those you see pictured below. Among those I left, the spacing is approximately 6" - 10" except for a couple of double sets.

The fruits seem to be developing nicely - they are just shy of golf ball size now - but they are also taxing the tree from a weight standpoint. It's a young tree and most branches just aren't very stiff yet.

Perhaps I shouldn't be letting ANY fruit grow on such a young tree?

Or, maybe I need to eliminate some of it?

Or, perhaps I can prop up the most problematic branch - the one that grows *toward* the incline of the hill the tree is planted on, thereby touching the ground at the branch tips currently due to the bend from the fruit weight.

Actually, I installed a prop of sorts (with a stake and some nylon cord) AFTER I took these photos, but forgot to take a picture. seems stable and has lifted the branch ends off the ground by a couple of feet at least.

But I'd still like to hear the advice of some more experiences peach growers. I'm a first timer at this!