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?Peach tree #767291

Asked August 14, 2021, 8:08 AM EDT

I planted a peach tree ?5 years ago. It had peaches when I bought it from Countryside. I haven't had them since. I did mulch, fertilize and have been really good about watering. This year, I had 8 flowers stay and started growing into ? fruit. I only have one left and it looks like a cherry. What am I doing wrong? Why does it look like a cherry?

Muskegon County Michigan

Expert Response

Before I refer your question to one of our fruit tree experts, could you please take a couple more pictures? This one is too blurry.

1- try holding a plain cardboard behind the branch with the fruit and take a picture from about 10 inches away. (If you can do this while safely on the ground) The cardboard background should help get a clear picture of the fruit and some leaves, which is what we need.

2- take a picture of the whole tree from soil line to top of crown- this might mean you have to stand 20-30 feet back.


3-please include any info on care you give the tree, like watering, fertilizing, pesticide sprays or pruning.

This info will greatly help our expert assist you. I will watch for your updates. Thank you.


Thank you for your question!   Laura S.     Michigan State University Extension Advanced Master Gardener Volunteer You may also contact the toll free MSU Extension lawn and garden hotline at 1-888-678-3464 with your gardening questions or visit www.migarden.msu.edu for Smart Gardening resources. Replied August 14, 2021, 9:06 AM EDT
I did mulch in the spring. I watered or it rained about every 2-3 days. The soil has sand and dirt. When I bought it from Countryside Greenhouse, it was a peach tree, that had peaches growing on it. This year, there were about 7 or 8 blossoms that turned into fruit. On the last pic, you can see a little red fruit. It looks like a cherry, it was a little transparent, and red. I received your email and went to look at it again and the fruit is gone. I didn't see it on the ground. When I sent this to you earlier, there was the only one fruit left growing.


On Saturday, August 14, 2021, 09:06:30 AM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied August 23, 2021, 1:48 PM EDT

It is stressful on a tree to bear fruit at a young age. One of my thoughts is that this tree was probably very stressed when you bought it, given that it was bearing fruit. It seems like the road to recovery from that stress is going to be a long one. A healthy peach tree should be putting on 12-18 " of new growth per year. I am guessing, based on the photos, that this tree has not been growing anywhere near that much. I would start with a basic soil test and then some fertilization based on the soil test results. I am also a little concerned that the tree may have been planted too deep. There should be a visible graft scar above the soil line from where the tree was grafted to root stock in the nursery. Is there a graft union visible? If so, please let me know how far above the soil line it is. 

An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 26, 2021, 12:03 PM EDT

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