Peach and plum tree - Ask Extension
Hello, I got a superior plum, and a reliance peach tree starts, and I really want to make sure they don’t die on me, and establish well. I’m looki...
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Peach and plum tree #627405
Asked April 24, 2020, 9:34 PM EDT
Hello, I got a superior plum, and a reliance peach tree starts, and I really want to make sure they don’t die on me, and establish well. I’m looking for information to help these little trees grow healthy and strong. I live three rivers south in deschutes county, I’ve been told we have a microclimate here that is considered zone 3, instead of zone 6 like Bend.
Deschutes County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello, plum and peach trees are very marginal in our area especially as you go further south in the region. Though Bend shows up as zone 6 on USDA hardiness maps we recommend you plan on zone 3-5 for real success in Bend. As you live both south and in higher elevation you should consider your area to be 3-4 at best.
I see that both of the fruit trees you purchased are rated to a zone of 4 but the problem in central Oregon is when the freeze occurs in relation to flowering. In your area I would expect you to get earlier and later freezes. These later freezes will surely kill the blossoms on the trees and most if not all years they will not produce fruit. There are steps you can take to help mitigate this but it may not be enough in your area.
Here are a couple of links .about fruit trees that may be of interest to you. https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/ec1622
https://www.mofga.org/Publications/The-Maine-Organic-Farmer-Gardener/Summer-2000/Peaches
I see that both of the fruit trees you purchased are rated to a zone of 4 but the problem in central Oregon is when the freeze occurs in relation to flowering. In your area I would expect you to get earlier and later freezes. These later freezes will surely kill the blossoms on the trees and most if not all years they will not produce fruit. There are steps you can take to help mitigate this but it may not be enough in your area.
Here are a couple of links .about fruit trees that may be of interest to you. https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/ec1622
https://www.mofga.org/Publications/The-Maine-Organic-Farmer-Gardener/Summer-2000/Peaches
