Salvaging the peaches or How NOT to take care of fruit trees -- ARGH!

[Garrisonpea]

Hey, I watched this video about a year ago and I bought some dwarf fruit trees from Arborday foundation. What size are the trees in this video? Semi- dwarf or full size? I've read some comments from people who didn't have good results from the trees from Arborday foundation, I want to make sure I get some fruit so I bought a couple of trees locally which are semi-dwarf. Did you start another orchard in your yard? If so what did you plan?Thanks Joyce

[Michigansnowpony]

@Garrisonpea -- Hi, Our trees behind the house were supposed to be dwarf, but only the pears wound up being that small. The rest grew to semi-dwarf size. We are in the process of starting another mini orchard beside where the new garden is behind the horse paddock. I got a few trees / shrubs in last year, but this year plan to fill in the rest. I have / will have blue berry bushes, nanking cherry bushes, golden raspberries, dwarf pear, plum, peach, and apple, currants, and others.

[telemarker77]

you should have propped branch up. that is common even in commercial peach orchards. you're right your peach trees should be open center pruned with 3-4 main branches.

[Dixie096]

Renee, I'm sorry to hear about your peach tree woes. Hopefully next years better and your jelly looks delicious!

[marthale7]

If you have fruit that is not ripe put an apple and place it in a paper sack. will ripen them... We all learn from our mistakes! :)

[Michigansnowpony]

Thank you -- I"m going to definitely keep that trick in mind next year. But I'm going to MAKE myself thin the fruit if the tree doesn't have a fruit drop like it usually does (but didn't this year).

[ivankinsman]

Yes, I agree the pruning issue is a difficult one. I generally go on the principle of an 'upside down' candleabra i.e. keeping the centre of the tree clear. We have difficulty with peach trees owing to disease so buy them in from our local market when in season and bottle (can) them and make them in peach jam. Looks like you have nice, mature trees - ours are still too young!

[Michigansnowpony]

Avocados. . . Oh man, one of my favorites. Sometimes I can get them for a $1 a piece on sale. (definitely not buying local at that point!). Have you thought about drying your extra apples? I want to try that this year as well as make canned apple pie filling. Does one need a fruit press to make cider? I've thought of doing that, but those presses cost a small fortune!

[TheCassandraReview]

actually this happens to my avocado trees early with summer storms by the time it's harvest time sept/oct we have just a select bushel but wow are they soo good.

My star apple tree always drops more then I can pick. I want to learn how to can them and make wine from them this year.

If the peaches are not all te way ripe try to make some fruit cider (little sugar low alcohol content and good for cooking. the more sugar the more near to wine..good for barter as well.)

[CMLovejoy]

What part of Michigan do you live?

[Michigansnowpony]

I'd tell ya, but then I'd have to kill ya. . . ha ha I'm in the lower pennisula, about middle of the state, about 15 miles from Lake Michigan.

[hunt1803]

My sheep love to cleanup under my apple and pear trees. They can't get enough of them. But they don't seem to like peaches that much, although they absolutely love cherries and plums, they crunch the pits! A very disconcerting sound, makes my teeth hurt!

[hunt1803]

Thin, thin, thin that fruit early on. Then put up props under the brances. The dead branches, are they from peach leaf curl? Do you spray with copper in the early spring?

[Michigansnowpony]

OH, gosh you're psychic!!! I meant to ask about that in the video and forgot -- YES! I'm having a time with my leaves curling these last few years. I figured it was a fungus of some type, but didn't know that was the name of it. Copper? Okay, I'll try that. Is it really the metal copper in some sort of solution? Thanks for the info. You guys are great!!!

[qualqui]

Yep, this reminds me of an apricot tree i grew from the pit, it did mighty fine growin' , it'd fill with lotsa of flowers, but due to the frosts in my area, most of the flowers died, and in its 5th or 6th year, i said this tree needs prunin',...but i didn't and don't know nothin' bout prunin' and the tree dried up and died,...some wind came along and knocked it over.....thanx for sharin' your blunder,...definitely learn from our errors! =P

[KARStarla]

I'd be sickened if this happened to us, sheesh sorry abou this, Im thankful your sharing a blunder with us so we can learn from it ourselves, so this can benefit others anyway, not a total loss right?

Can I ask which state you live in? I am in SC but I heard you mention a site that sends peach trees in November, Im interested in that, how do you spell that? Can I plant peach trees in November too? I know I get my garlic in Sept, I still dont know what Im to do with it, Im new to all this lol

[KARStarla]

Can you put the branches in water to let them ripen that way?

[Michigansnowpony]

I don't know. . . I never thought to try that., and now the peaches on the fallen branch are pretty well dried up and shriveled. Maybe I have peach prunes now??? : )

[centervilletn]

there are a few things i wont eat...scrabled eggs and pig brains top the list...

[KARStarla]

Pigs feet are yummy :P

[Michigansnowpony]

Ackkkk! See my comment above. I hadn't come to your message yet. You and my Dad would have gotten along well.

[MrSkaramanga]

Intreresting video. I come from a country which has the worlds largest peach production in the world, so yes I am a big fan.

[KARStarla]

SC? Like where Im from? lol Or elsewhere?

[MrSkaramanga]

Greece

[MrSkaramanga]

BTW for to clarify, we are the largest producer of canned peaches as of 2008 statistics. I think we were either number 1 or 2nd overall in all peach products too.

[Michigansnowpony]

That's interesting -- I never would have associated Greece and peaches! Now, olives, yes. : )

[Michigansnowpony]

I would have LOVED to dry them and/or can them, but I couldn't get them to let go of their skin no matter how long I blanched them (and plunged them into ice water afterwards!) AND it was next to impossible to pit them too. They really could have used another week on the tree, but I just didn't dare leave them on, given what happened to the other tree.

So. . . I made jelly. Better than nothing I guess. Chickens loved the left-over peach "mash" too.  LOL

[centervilletn]

next time put them in a brown paper bag and keep them in your garage for a week..they ill ripen .

[Michigansnowpony]

Ahhhh! I'm going to remember that. I knew someone out there probably knew how to get 'em ripe. Thanks!

[centervilletn]

put a piece of ripened fruit in with them and the alcohol in the fruit will bring the others in ...its will artifically make the fruit breakdown and sweeten

[cousin229]

If a branch breaks by the weight of the fruit, take the fruit off and help the branch up with a wood frame and use burlap to wrap the area back together, some times it will heal well

[centervilletn]

peaches are long gone here...i love fried peach pies..dry peaches make the very best

[Michigansnowpony]

Okay, "fried peach pies"??? Is that like a turn-over? Or ????? You southerners have such exotic farmstead cuisine! : )

[centervilletn]

yeah its turnover to y'all yankee folk;)....and let me tell ya all fried pies/turnovers are finer than frogs hair if they are made from dried fruit...mmmm..,,got to fry em in butter.....you should also try hillbilly gumbo...its skillet fried onion, okra and potatoes...or pork and bean sandwiches....believe it or not ...they are awesome

[Michigansnowpony]

"finer than frog's hair" -- I love it!!! I'm stealing that one. The hillbily gumbo sounds interesting. . . I've heard of okra, never had nor grown it though. (Can we grow it up here?) Now, my paternal grandmother used to can pickled pigs feet and my dad was nuts for them. We kids would all about lose our lunch when she'd bring him some jars. My own favorite thing that most people make faces about are chicken gizzards and hearts. I wish I could make them like my Mom did. . . .

[centervilletn]

you can grow okra there...im sure youve seen pickled okra at the grocery...

and if its really really good its "finer than frogs hair split 4 ways"!..this is usually a complement for a very beautiful woman..

y'all have white bread dressing ...you should try cornbread dressing...

[cousin229]

you can make confits with dried peaches they are delicious you press the dried peaches and slice them into squares ..