GROWING PEACHES UNDER GLASS
Although in milder districts peaches can be grown outside, a good crop of fruit is more certain when you know how to grow peaches in a greenhouse. Unless the soil is a good, well-drained loam, obtain a special load of fibrous loam at the time of planting. The border in the greenhouse should be filled with this. The trees are planted about 12 ft. apart and fan-trained trees used. When planting, dig a semicircular hole 8 in. deep, with a radius 6 in. longer than the roots. Into the bottom of the hole, fork in 3 oz. Per square yard each of bone meal and sulphate of potash. The roots will then be spread out in the hole. Into the soil used to cover the roots add artificial manure as before. Tread the soil very firm and give a thorough soaking with Water. Take great care not to injure the roots as this will lead to gumming.
In the young stages the object of Pruning is to obtain a fan of branches covering the space allotted to the tree, in the same way as trees are trained on wall. Having obtained the framework the shoots are pruned twice annually The aim of summer pruning is to train new growth to replace the shoots that have fruited. As the shoots grow all are rubbed out except the uppermost or each branch, the one nearest the base and one half-way between these two. The lowest shoots will be tied in during the winter in place of the one carrying the fruit, but the other two shoots are left merely as sap drawers. .
After leaf fall, winter pruning may b . done. Cut out the shoots that hay fruited, just above the lowest new shoot Tie this in place of the old one. the house may now be cleaned and all the branches untied from the framework of wires; for convenience the branches are tied in bunches so that the buds are not injured. After cleaning the house they may be placed in position and at the same time washed with Gishurst as a preventative against red spider. Tie back the main branches first, then the semi-main branches, and so on.
Peaches grown in a heated greenhouse should begin to, break naturally before the heat is turned on or the buds will drop off. Bud drop is also caused if they ever become dry at the roots. Throughout the year, except when the trees are in flower and the fruit is colouring, they should be syringed with water daily.
A free circulation of air is important, also regular feeding. A general fertilizer of two parts sulphate of potash, one part sulphate of ammonia and two parts superphosphate may be given every ten or fourteen days, or liquid manure may be used.
The fruits must be gradually thinned, and this commences when they are the size of a pea. First remove those that are badly placed and likely to touch the wood or glass when they are larger and those that will be bruised by branches. Where several fruits grow from one point on the stem, all but one should be removed. Ultimately, the frdit should be about 9 in. apart.
Peaches ripen at different seasons and the following will give a succession: Hale’s Early (July), Peregrine (August), Belle de Barde (September), Sea Eagle (late September).
Nectarines require the same treatment as peaches, and the following three varieties are good: Early Rivers (July), Humboldt (August), River’s Orange (September), Victoria (October).