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.
Grow peaches in a warm, sunny location outdoors or in a greenhouse
Although you may think peaches can only be grown in warmer climes, many varieties will crop successfully in the UK in a sunny, sheltered spot, such as against a south- or south-west-facing wall or in a container on a sunny patio. In fact, there is a long history of growing peaches in the UK – you’ll often find glass ‘peach houses’ in the walled kitchen gardens of stately homes, where peach trees were fan-trained against the back wall to provide ‘exotic’ fruit before the era of refrigerated transportation. Today, peaches can be grown outdoors as well as in a greenhouse, and in even the smallest of gardens. Peaches and nectarines (Prunus persica) are stone fruits, closely related to plums, cherries and apricots. They make an attractive garden feature with their fragrant white or pink blossom in spring and luscious summer fruits – and what a treat to be able to pick and eat your own delicious, sweet peaches fresh from your garden!
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Facts about peaches
Peaches are a delicious summer fruit that evoke images of warm sunny climates. But did you know it’s possible to grow peaches in the UK? With the right conditions, certain peach varieties can thrive in Britain. In this article, we’ll look at how to grow peaches in the UK, from choosing varieties to planting, caring for and harvesting your crop.
Choosing Peach Varieties for the UK
While peach trees originate in temperate regions of China, over centuries varieties have been bred that can cope with cooler climates. Not all are suitable for the UK, so choose wisely. Consider factors like:
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Ripening time – Early and mid-season varieties ripen better in our climate, Choose July/August types
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Disease resistance – Some newer types resist peach leaf curl disease, Peregrine has good resistance,
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Compact size – Dwarf and patio trees are ideal, especially for growing in containers. Bonanza is a good patio peach.
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Flavour – Peaches range from sweet to tangy. Rochester peaches are known for their lovely aroma and flavour.
The Royal Horticultural Society awards its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM) to varieties that perform well in UK gardens. All the above have the AGM.
Where to Buy Peach Trees
Purchase from a reputable UK nursery that sells trees suitable for our climate. Options include:
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Mail order – Specialist fruit nurseries offer the widest selection by mail order.
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Garden centres – Limited choice of potted trees.
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Online – Wider varieties available, often sent bare-root in winter/spring.
For compact trees, buy a 2-3 year old fan-trained plant. This has side branches already trained out “fan” shaped against a wall or fence. More expensive but skips tricky initial training.
Planting Your Peach Tree
Peaches need a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained but moisture-retentive soil. Avoid frost pockets. Ideal positions include:
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South/southwest-facing wall – Plant 30cm out, angle towards wall.
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Large patio container – Use 45cm+ pot with peat-free compost.
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Greenhouse – Can plant in ground or container.
Plant bare-root trees November-March. Potted types can be planted year round but do best autumn/winter. Water well before planting. Dig in plenty of organic matter to enrich soil.
Caring for Peach Trees
Once planted, peach trees need:
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Water – 2x daily for potted trees, weekly for ground-planted. Vital once fruit developing.
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Feeding – High potassium feed in late winter and liquid feed for containers during summer.
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Pruning – Train new wall fans. Prune established fans each summer.
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Protection – Fleece flowers against frost. Net trees against birds/squirrels once fruit develops.
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Pollination – Hand pollinate using a small paintbrush as not many pollinators about early in year when they flower.
Harvesting and Enjoying Your Peaches
Check peaches in high summer/early autumn. Harvest when soft with lovely aroma. Enjoy fresh picked from the tree for best flavour. Ripen any unripe fruits indoors.
So with the right variety and care, it’s perfectly possible to grow peaches in the UK. Why not give it a try this year and enjoy sweet juicy homegrown peaches straight from your garden?
What and where to buy
Peach trees may be sold bare-root (without soil), root-wrapped (in soil but without a pot) or in containers. Bare-root trees are only available while dormant, from late autumn to early spring, for immediate planting. Potted peach trees are available all year round. Specialist fruit nurseries offer the widest choice of peach varieties, usually by mail order. Bare-root trees are generally only sold by specialist suppliers and larger online plant retailers, while trees in containers are more widely available. Bare-root trees are often cheaper than those in containers. As peach trees crop best when grown as fans, it’s easiest to buy a partially trained two- or three-year-old fan. This will save you the time and trouble of training it from scratch. Trained trees are more expensive than younger untrained trees, and are usually only available from specialist fruit nurseries.
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Buying: mail order plantsVideo: choosing a tree to buyAdvice on buying trees
Dwarf variety, ideal for pots. Large, juicy, red- and yellow-skinned fruits. Self-fertile.The
Heavy and reliable crop of white-fleshed, red-flushed fruits, ready in early August.The
Large white-fleshed, golden-skinned fruits that usually ripen in mid- to late August.The
Peach trees are usually bought as young trees, either in a container or not (bare-root or root-wrapped). While it is possible to grow them from the stones of shop-bought fruit, the resulting trees may not be suitable for the UK climate. If you want a tree that will fruit reliably in the UK, it’s worth investing in a good quality grafted tree, of your chosen variety, from a reputable UK supplier. Peach trees are best planted against a south- or south-west-facing wall or fence, where they can be trained as a fan, soaking up the heat and getting as much sun as possible to ripen the fruit. They will only fruit successfully as free-standing trees in the warmest, most favourable locations. As peaches flower early in spring, it’s vital to choose a planting site that isn’t prone to heavy or late frosts, which can damage the blossom. See our guide to positioning fruit trees. Peaches like deep, fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Avoid poorly drained conditions, which can cause the roots to rot. Peach trees will struggle in light or shallow soil. See our guide to assessing your soil type. Dwarf peach trees can be planted in large containers, positioned on a sunny, sheltered patio or courtyard, ideally beside a sunny wall. They can also be kept in an unheated greenhouse, for either all or part of the year when in a container. Peach trees are easy to plant, and this is best done while they are dormant, between November and March. Bare-root trees are only available during this period. Potted trees are available all year round and can potentially be planted at any time, but will settle in best from late autumn to spring. Prepare your tree for planting by giving it a good watering if it’s in a container or by standing it in a bucket of water for half an hour if it’s a bare-root tree. See our guide below for full planting instructions.
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How to grow peaches in UK playlist. Tree from Blackmoor Nursery.
FAQ
Can you grow peaches in the UK?
In fact, there is a long history of growing peaches in the UK – you’ll often find glass ‘peach houses’ in the walled kitchen gardens of stately homes, where …
Can peaches grow in Europe?
Westwards they are also an introduced species in Afghanistan, Iran, and all the countries of Central Asia. Transitioning to Europe they also grow in the North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, and Turkey. In Europe the peach trees are partly naturalized.
Are peaches available in the UK?
Peaches are rich in zinc which is thought to have anti-aging properties, and oils from the fruit are widely used in the cosmetics industry. Despite their exotic origins, peaches have been successfully grown in the UK for hundreds of years, and they are a beautiful addition to any garden.
How far north can you grow peaches?
About Peaches
Peach trees can be grown in USDA Zones 4 to 10, but do especially well in Zones 6 to 8 (learn more about plant hardiness zones).