1 Exploring the Peach Industry for North Florida Steffany Dragon-Ag & Natural Resources Agent Hillsborough County Extension Service.

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Exploring the Peach Industry for North Florida

Steffany Dragon-Ag & Natural Resources AgentHillsborough County Extension Service

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Suitability for Florida

• In the 1960’s, there were about 3,000-4,000 acres of peaches in N Florida

• Now, about 450 acres and fewer than 1,000 acres in the entire state

• Cultivars were not improved or adapted to Florida’s conditions, had to be picked before ripe to prevent injury, and never fully ripened on the shelves

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Suitability for Florida

• During the last 10 yrs., many new peach and nectarine cultivars have been released by the University of Florida

• These new, improved peach and nectarine cultivars have increased the potential for expansion of commercial peach acreage in Florida

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Opportunity for Florida Producers

• New cultivars can be harvested when ripe b/c they can sustain the shipping and time interval better/ Non-melting flesh have a longer shelf life

• New cultivars take advantage of Florida’s mild winter climate & early spring season that offer unique opportunities for early season peach & nectarine production

• Peaches can be produced continuously from late April to late May in Florida

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Opportunity for Florida Producers

• Incentives for Growing Peaches in FL:-Production & Marketing of fresh Florida Peaches (& nectarines) before California, Central Georgia, or South Carolina, and -Production of Quality Fruit at a time when almost no other quality fresh fruits of any kind in the markets

• CURRENTLY, Florida produces some of the earliest commercial-quality peaches & nectarines in North Florida.

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Type of Operation

• Commercial peach operations in N Florida can have:preharvest production costs $1,250/Aharvest & marketing costs $3,700/A Total Cost/Acre: $4,950

• Because marketing costs on commercial groves are relatively high, U-Pick operations & roadside stands or farmers’ markets have the potential of greatly reducing costs. Total annual costs for a U-Pick operation average at: $1,678/acre*.

*Budget available conducted by Ag Economist and Food & Resource Economics Professor, Tim Hewitt, at North Florida Research & Education Center (UF/IFAS), Marianna, FL

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Getting Started

• Most commercial fruit trees are a combo of 2 different trees: rootstock + cultivar you are wishing to propagate

• Rootstock confers advantages: freeze hardiness, drought resistance, nematode resistance; Cultivar characteristics: higher yield and better quality fruit.

The Specialists: Dr. Jim Ferguson,Dr. Jose Chaparro & Dr. Wayne Sherman

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Getting Started

• Most peaches and plums cultivated this way bear fruit in the 4th year; sometimes a small harvest is possible in 3rd year

• If simply planted the seed, might take 3 yrs! Not like tropical/subtropical trees like guava or loquat

• An ideal commercial peach tree should produce firm fruit 2” or larger in diameter w/yellow flesh, capable of a week’s marketing life with more than 50% or more attractive red surface blush

• Max/peak production around 7th or 8th yr. and then should be replaced; They won’t last more than 7-8 yrs due to pest & disease problems

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• Budding is 1 type of grafting that involves removing a small, rectangular or oval patch of bark including a bud, from the donor plant (scion). The patch & bud is then inserted beneath the bark of the recipient plant (rootstock). The intention is for the bud to unite with the rootstock and grow there.

T-Budding

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Bottom Line:

Unless you’re really adventuresome, totally patient, and have a bright green thumb, buy a budded tree with an identifiable scion/rootstock label from a reputable

nursery in your area (gulfcrest/flordaguard)

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Rootstocks•Peaches must be budded on rootstocks resistant to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita & M. javanica)

•Okinawa, Nemaguard, and Flordaguard rootstocks are the ONLY rootstocks recommended for Florida

•Okinawa & Nemagard are susceptible to a new nematode (M. incognita race 3) but it is mostly found in S. & C. Florida

•Ask before buying! Other rootstocks: Elberta, Tennessee Naturals, Lovell, and local seedling rootstocks are susceptible to both root-knot species

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Purchasing Ready-to-Go Peach Trees

• Handout Available: Fruit Tree Nurseries with Newly Released Cultivars for North Florida

• For custom budding, place orders prior to May-June budding by the nurseries

with nursery producer in February or March if unfamiliar w/whether cultivars of interest are standard or require custom arrangements

• You will usually receive trees from nursery in late December or January

• New peach nurseries are beginning to grow peach trees in containers that can be planted year round

• Home Garden/Hardware chain stores often promote trees that are NOT adapted to this area

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Purchasing Ready-to-Go Peach Trees

• May or June-budded 1-yr. old trees 2 ½ to 4 ft. high

• Larger vs. Smaller• Generally planted bare-

root during dormant season (Dec./Jan.) so new root growth can develop before spring shoot growth begins

• Open & examine shipping containers for signs of disease or pests when trees arrive or before purchasing them; either don’t purchase, or return substandard trees

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Site Selection

• 2 Most Important Factors in Successful Peach Growing:-Site Selection -Cultivar Choice

• Location must provide sunlight, cold air drainage, H2O drainage

• Avoid low areas subject to late spring frosts

• Advisable to plant on RAISED beds b/c water damage is common in Florida

• Hardpan soil should be avoided

-Hillsides recommended. Colder, heavier air drainsaway from the tree’s fruitingzone to lower ground belowthe orchard. -Well drained soilfor tree health; good air drainagefor reliable fruit production.

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Cultivar Selection

• Depending on the cultivar, varying amounts of cold winter temperatures are necessary to break dormancy and set fruit

• Chilling should be complete around Valentine’s Day in North Florida

• On good, frost-free sites in N Florida , 350-400 chill unit (cu) cultivars such as Flordacrest or Flordaking (melting flesh) will fruit most years, even though the average amount of cus received may be 500-500(It’s a good idea to plant some low, medium, and high chilling cultivars to improve your chances of obtaining a fruit crop)

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Cultivar Selection•

People are sometimes tempted to choose cultivars that require more chilling to reduce spring frost hazards, but fruit set will be delayed and unsatisfactory during mild winters(C. & S. Florida Issue)

Issue for N Florida: Flordaprince has a 150cu requirement, but cultivars with a cus of 300-550 are recommended for N Florida

Chilling Requirement Too High Chilling Requirement Too Low

-light to no cropping-irregular fruit development-late/inadequate leafing-sunscald & damage to main framework

-Bloom too early-Fruit lost to Spring frosts

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N. Florida Cultivars

• Melting flesh-picked before optimum time-Flordaking, Flordacrest

• Non-melting flesh-picked & shipped at physiological maturity -Gulfprince, Gulfking, Gulfcrest (USDA, UGA, UF breeding program)-preferred for taste & texture

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Planting• Prior to planting, (3-6 months) do a soil pH test & apply

dolomitic lime as needed to bring soil within a pH range of 6.0-6.5

• Normal tree spacing is 20 ft. x 20 ft. or 108 trees /A. (Wayne Sherman recommends 20 x 16, 136 trees, to increase yields per acre)

• If planted too densely, difficult to handle and prune• All common peach cultivars are self-fruiting and should be

planted in solid blocks for easier spraying and harvesting• Some plums require cross pollination. Gulfbeauty, Gulfblaze,

and Gulfrose plums cross pollinate each other and should be planted tog

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Planting

• Peaches, plums, and nectarines benefit from mound or raised-bed planting

• Raised bed at least 3ft. wide/ 3ft. High• Never place bareroot trees in waterlogged soil• Rub off any latent buds on the rootstock that will

sprout after planting and develop into rootsuckers—this will reduce hand labor required later

• Plant tree slightly deeper than they were grown in the nursery

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Water Consumption

• Peach trees do not need to be watered at planting if soil is moist and packed well around the roots

• Appropriate cultivars for Florida ripen in late April and May….rainfall scarcest

• Peach trees reach optimum productivity with rain or irrigation intervals of no longer than one week

•Irrigation of fruit bearing trees has improved fruit development and increased young tree growth

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Water Consumption

• Actual water consumption for 1 acre of peach trees during peak water usage is 1.3-1.6 acre-inches of water/week

• 1 acre-inch of water=27,000 gallons• You should be prepared to operate an irrigation

system that delivers 12 gallons of water/tree /hr. 21-26 hours weekly or 7-8.5 hours 3 days/week at peak demand if there has been no rainfall

• The last 10 days peaches are on the tree, they increased most in size, so irrigation during this time is CRITICAL

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Microsprinklers

• Applications should be made before moisture stress becomes apparent

• Water management is a critical concern in FL• Low-volume, drip systems & microsprinkler irrigation are

recommended• Requires 1 sprinkler/tree at first, then up to 3 to cover

root zone

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Fertilizer

• 10-10-10 or similar• Nitrogen controls growth & fruiting in plants more

than any other element • 1st year: in a circular area, 6-24” from the trunk

as follows*:-1/8 lb per tree in February-1/4 lb in late May-1/4lb in July

*In wet seasons, apply ¼ lb of sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate or ammonium nitrate per tree in August

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Fertilizer

• 2nd year: in a circular area, 1 ft. from the trunk to 1 ft. beyond the branch spread:-1-1 ½ lbs in January-1-1 ½ lbs in May

• 3rd year: -Start broadcast applications-Mixed fertilizer, 3 applications (Feb, 1st week in June, beginning of Aug) that = between 80 and 100lbs of N/acre -Highest application in February-Add 15 lbs/acre of Zinc Sulfate to each fertilizer application

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Fertilizer

• All fertilizers should contain 1% or 2% zinc oxide (ZnO) equivalent for use on young trees

• On older trees, zinc may be applied as part of the regular spray program by including 2lbs of neutral zinc per 100 gal of water in 1 or 2 cover sprays each year or supplied with regular fertilizer

• If you suspect a deficiency, your county extension agent can submit a plant tissue sample to the UF Extension Soils Test Lab

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Weed Control

• An area 3-4 ft. out from the newly set trees should be kept free of weeds the 1st season

• Both mechanical & chemical weed control measures are used for proper orchard floor management

• Plant the middle strips with oats, rye, or leave a natural sod cover for protection from blowing sand and to help sand from eroding

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Weed Control• Apply herbicide to a strip down the tree row and

mow the sod middle

• For young, non-bearing trees the weed control strip should extend at least 5ft. On each side of the row (total of 10 ft. wide)

• Strip should be widened gradually to extend to the drip line of the trees as their sizes increase

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“There are 3 problems with peaches: 1. labor, 2. labor, & 3. labor” –Dr. Wayne

Sherman

-Hand Prune ($4/tree) -Hand Thin ($2-4/tree) -Hand Harvest

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Pruning

• Major time consuming and costly operation• Studies show 18-23 hrs. labor/acre • Necessary to form a well-shaped, strong tree and to

maximize production of high quality fruit

• Pruned to an open-center system to allow sunlight to penetrate the canopy & encourage spread-out growth

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Pruning

• After tree initiates growth in early spring, select 3 or 4 evenly spaced, vigorous, wide-angled shoots to be the major scaffold branches

• Should be 18-32” from soil surface

• Vigorous shoots that compete w/developing fruit for sugar & water resources and shade the fruit are ‘water sprouts’ and should be removed along w/ other suckers

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Pruning

• 1st winter: cut back main scaffold branches to 1/3; obtain lateral branch growth for spread

• Encourage spreading growth habit to enable harvesting fruit from ground

• Continue this training for 2nd & 3rd winters• Trees bearing fruit should not be pruned until January or

February to avoid winter injury• Prune 2 times/yr: During the growing season (June-Sept)

and during the dormant period (Jan/Feb)

More info on training/pruning: EDIS Pub Pruning and Training Deciduous Fruit Trees for the Dooryard

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Thinning

• Studies show 21-25 hours of labor /acre

• Left alone, fruit trees will bear many more fruit than can grow to adequate size, & may break branches

• If don’t thin, results in an abundance of little, unmarketable fruit

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Thinning Tips

• Thin before pit hardening (when fruit is about the size of a nickel)

• Leave 1 fruit every 6” along branch• Reduces total pundage, but profit depends

on price as it relates to fruit size• Determine extent of thinning based on

market demands & response of cultivar to thinning

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Thinning Tips

• For maximum effect on improving size & early ripening, thin as early as possible

• Some growers make a first thinning during bloom, when conditions favor heavy fruit set

• Every week after bloom that the tree carries too many fruit can cost 3 to 6% in fruit size

• Earlier thinning will allow more water and nutrients to be available for this year’s crop and for next year’s developing buds

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Peach Pests & Control

Successful peach production in Florida would not be possible without effective disease and insect control

Timing, Coverage, and Rates are the 3 most important factors

“Eastern growers must contend with plum curculio, bacterial spot, and increased incidence of fungal diseases. At present, commercial-scale organic production of peaches in the East would be very difficult, largely because of the plum curculio and the brown rot fungus, which is endemic under wet, humid conditions.” –ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas)

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Peach Pests & Control

• Caribbean Fruit Fly• Plum curculio (spray)• White Peach Scale• Stink bug damage• Scab• Brown rot

Refer to EDIS fact sheet: Insect Management in Peaches for most current spray schedule and recommendations

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Pest Control Tips

• Before planting peaches, remove or kill all wild plums within one quarter mile of the orchard to prevent plum curculio

• Spray mid-March, 10 days later, 10 days later (if not yet April 1st)

• The peach tree borer and lesser peach tree borer are a problem throughout N Florida

• The lesser peach tree borer requires sprays as soon as possible after fruit harvest

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Other Resources

• http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu

• http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu/

• 2005 Southeastern Peach, Nectarine, and Plum Pest Management and Culture Guide available online at: http://entomology.ent.uga.edu/peach/peach_guide/title.htm

• www.pickyourown.org

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James J. Ferguson Professor and Extension SpecialistHorticultural Science Department

University of FloridaUF/IFAS

PH: 352-392-1996 x302FAX: 352-392-5653Email: [email protected]

http://www.hos.ufl.edu/jjfnweb/index.htm

http://www.hos.ufl.edu/jjfnweb/peach/index.htm

“Our mission is to establish a profitable, sustainable stone fruit industry (peaches, nectarines, and plums) in Florida by annually providing useful production and marketing information.”

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Jeffrey G. Williamson, PhD. 

Extension HorticulturistHorticultural Sciences Department UF/IFASGainesville FL  32611-0690PH: 352-392-1996 x303FAX: 352-392-5653Email: [email protected]

His current extension and research programs relate primarily to commercial blueberry and stone fruit production in Florida

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Dr. Wayne ShermanPeach GURU

• Widely recognized as one of the world's leading fruit breeders • economic viability of peach growers across the southern United

States and in more than 70 foreign countries is linked directly to new and improved peach varieties developed By Sherman during the past 32 years

• In fact, were it not for his Florida Agricultural Experiment Station research and development work, the multimillion dollar peach industries in Florida, Georgia and many other temperature climate areas of the world would not exist

• His peach varieties are being grown commercially from Florida to California, and they're in commercial production in more than 30 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, Spain and Taiwan

• Developed 20 new or improved peach varieties for Florida and other subtropical regions, produced 15 new blueberry varieties and 11 nectarines along with apple, pecan, and plum cultivars

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Pop Quiz

• What are the 2 most important factors for peach growing?

• When choosing a location, what are the 2 main aspects to consider?

• When is irrigation most critical in terms of reaching optimum peach size?

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• Ferguson, J. (2001). Your Florida Dooryard Citrus Guide SP 178 Third Ed., IFAS Communication Services.

• Mattis, Pam (Personal Communications, September 10, 2005)• Sherman, W., Chaparro, J., & Ferguson, J. (Personal Communications,

September 9, 2005)• Williamson, J.G., Crocker, T.E., Sherman, W.B., & Hewitt, T. (2004).

Alternative Opportunities for Small Farms: Peach and Nectarine Production Review RF-AC018, UF IFAS Publication retrieved from: http://edis.ufl.edu

• Williamson, J.G., Anderson, P.C., Sherman, W.B. ( Rev. 2005). Peaches and Nectarines for Central and North Florida Cir 1159, UF IFAS Publication retrieved from: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu

• Young, M.J. & Crocker, T.E. (1998). Grafting, Budding, Layering, Making Cuts, and Other Ways of Propagating Fruit Plants in Florida SP 171, IFAS Communication Services.

References

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Thank You

• For more information visit the Small Farms web at http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu

• Take a virtual field day tour by visiting the Virtual Field Day web at http://vfd.ifas.ufl.edu

This presentation brought to you by the

Small Farms/Alternative Enterprises Focus Team.