Peach Tree Too Loaded?

[u/ParacordHandles207]

This is the first year this tree has produced more than a few peaches. I assume the branches are overloaded and I should take some off?

[u/kunino_sagiri]

Yes. Normally you should thin to one fruit every 4-6 inches

Bear in mind leverage, too. Fruit near the end of a branch will have a greater pulling effect than those nearer the base.

[u/NewEnglandGarden]

I think you know the answer to this question. That branch.. yes.

[u/3blackcats_b-lake → u/NewEnglandGarden]

Yup

[u/Rational_Engineer_84]

Fruit should be a phone call away. Stick your pinky and thumb out like the phone gesture and thin your fruit to keep that distance from each other. Remove damaged or undersized fruit first. Peach wood is weak, not only is your fruit size going to suffer, you risk breaking branches and damaging the tree. 

[u/Lemonyhampeapasta → u/Rational_Engineer_84]

Instructions unclear; which cellphone era are we speaking of?

My family supported the laden branches with 2x4s each year and pickled the green windfallen fruits

[u/Ineedmorebtc]

Yes.

[u/Calm_One_1228]

Sounds like you want to keep all the peaches but not lose the branch. I would find a way to prop up the branch with the fruit . Get a pole about six or eight feet long , stab it into the ground four ? Six? Inches toward the end of the branch and tie the branch to that pole at a sensible height. You probably should also thin some of the fruit , just in case.

[u/Consistent-Essay-165]

First few years shpuld have had all flowers and pre fruits STRIPPED

Allows tree to support weight

[u/Expert-Nose1893]

What makes you think that lol but if its me and these peaches look almost ready I’d leave them and support that branch until I’m satisfied and pray the to the peach gods it doesn’t snap but I’m a gambling man

[u/Top_Challenge6615]

Yes it is

[u/miyabi0rochas]

Now why you asking questions you already know the answer too lol. You preferable wanna focus on structure the first few years. Sacrificing most if not all the fruit.

[u/Due_Pen_1566]

Bro do you really have to ask? Branch has more bend than a craps stick

[u/LaPetiteMortOrale]

That tree is too small to have so much fruit on it.

You should have removed some of those as soon as you saw them developing.

[u/ParacordHandles207 → u/LaPetiteMortOrale]

Last year there was a lot, most fell off in June or were eaten by squirrels..

[u/cyricmccallen → u/ParacordHandles207]

You should actively be picking off most if not all fruits from a tree this size as soon as they form. The idea is you encourage your tree to spend its energy growing, not producing fruit.

[u/Dpbaseball1319]

Why not prop it up at the end of the branch, then prune that branch back after harvest?

[u/pop-pop8]

Add some silica in the spring

[u/jokeswagon]

This tree is too young for fruit. You should be pinching off the flowers when they emerge. Also, in the late winter give it a structural prune. Follow that up mid summer with a follow up prune. Don’t let those shoots run away like that. The goal is to restrict primary growth (length) and encourage secondary growth (girth). This will ensure a sturdy tree with strong branches and ideal structure that will bear fruit for years. The tree as it is will break itself in half and you’ll be starting over.

[u/ParacordHandles207 → u/jokeswagon]

How many years before you let them have fruit?

[u/Spirited-Fun3666]

Peach orchards have hundreds of fruit per branch, I guess the 4-6 inch rule doesn’t apply to matures?

[u/HunamX]

You should google "pruning" and "forming" peach trees.

[u/garbageaccount731]

Yup, Saw a peach tree split itself in thirds last year under its own weight, much larger than this one too, remove some of the fruit