Peach (Prunus persica)
Rosaceae

Varieties
In April – May early season varieties like Killikrankie and Floridasun are suited for cultivation. Mid-season varieties like Shaw Pasand are suited for planting during June – July. However, Red Shanghai variety can be best planted during July – August.

Soil and Climate
 Red lateritic soil with good drainage and high organic matter is suitable. This can be grown at an elevation of 2000 m with a soil pH of 5.8 to 6.2.

Planting material
One year old budded plants are used as planting material.

Planting season
The ideal planting season is June – December.

Spacing
For commercial cultivation the spacing adopted is 4 x 4 m. Planting is done in pits of 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm.

Manures and fertilizers
Apply FYM 25 kg/tree, N 500 g and 1 kg in each of P and K per bearing tree.

Training and pruning
 Open centre system of training is adopted for getting higher yield. Dried, diseased, water shoots and criss - cross branches may be removed annually during December – January.

Plant protection
Lichens
Lichens growth can be controlled by spraying 1 kg of quick lime/20 lit of water immediately after pruning.

Pests
Fruit Fly
Spray Malathion 50 EC at the rate of 2 ml/lit of water. Set up Methyl Eugenol 1 % trap with Malathion 50 EC 2 ml/lit between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Use polythene bags fish meal trap with 5 gm of wet fish meal + 1 ml Dichlorvos in cotton. A total of 50 traps are required/ha, fish meal + Dichlorvos soaked cotton are to be renewed once in 20 and 7 days respectively.

Diseases
Leaf curl
To control leaf curl aphids spray Methyl Dimeton 25 EC 2 ml/lit.

Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew can be controlled by spraying Carbendazim 0.5 g/lit. or use Sulphur dust @ 25 kg/ha.

Yield
Under good maintenance on an average of 10 – 15 kg of fruits can be harvest in one year.

Source
1. http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/ifvn/volume14/images/peach_leaf_curl.jpg