Training and pruning of Peach

Training and pruning

        Of the conventional training systems, modified leader and open centre are usually adopted to train peach trees. If sunlight exposure is a limiting factor (hills), 

vase or open centre system of training is generally used. In this system, at the time of planting, stem is cut to a height of 60–80cm from the ground level and only 3–4 branches are allowed to develop on it. In the following dormant season, these 3–4 branches arising in opposite directions with wide angled crotches are headed back. The unwanted branches are thinned out. In the second year, 5–7 secondary limbs on the main scaffolds are selected and headed back. On secondary scaffold, diseased, weak and dry shoots are thinned out and 2 or 3 secondary laterals are selected at this stage. All the side branches which grow towards the ground, centre of the tree or vertically straight should be thinned out. The main stem is kept clear up to 45cm above the ground.

         Peaches require heavy and regular pruning because fruiting occurs laterally only on previous season’s growth which bears only once in its life time. The pruning of peach has two important components—thinning out and heading back of the shoots. Pruning should be done so as to produce 25–50cm of growth annually under temperate condition, which is sufficient for maintaining optimum productivity. During early bearing, the selected shoots should be lightly pruned by removing 20–30% linear growth after corrective pruning of the tree. After 7–8 years of bearing, the corrective pruning should be followed by removal of linear extension growth to the extent of 70–80%. The remaining 50% of selected shoots should be headed back by removing 20–30% linear growth. In general, fruiting shoots should be lightly pruned and alternate ones severely headed back to get sufficient yield and following year’s growth respectively. In subsequent years, the pruning severities in these two branches are changed which maintains the trees in growing and fruiting condition.

         In July Elberta peach, pruning should be done to retain 40 fruiting shoots and each shoot is headed back to 15 nodes. Where heavy pruning is required, three-fourths heading back + 40% thinning out is recommended. Mid-winter is best time of pruning.