Peach tree management technology in July

July is a month of high humidity and temperature, and some mid- to late-ripening peach varieties will mature one after another. However, if the peach trees are not pruned properly at this time, peach diseases and pests will be more likely to breed. Let’s learn together the key points of peach tree management in July.

1. Pruning management

The purpose of pruning peach trees in July is to solve the problem of overcrowding of the trees, with the focus on thinning out the dense branches inside and outside. When there is insufficient light in the interior, the dense back branches and old and weak branches should be thinned out to improve the light conditions. Appropriately thin out the dense branches on the periphery to promote ventilation and light transmission; for the nutrient branches that grow too vigorously, twist them to make them droop obliquely to slow down the growth rate.

2. Ditch cleaning and drainage

Peaches will enter the ripening period in mid-July, and rainy weather at this time will have a significant impact on the sugar content of the fruit. Peach orchards need to check and clean drainage ditches in a timely manner to ensure that there is no water accumulation during rainfall in order to maintain normal root absorption and fruit quality. If drought occurs, irrigation should be applied appropriately, but it should not be applied within 7-10 days before harvest.

3. Fertilization management

For late-maturing varieties such as Jinxiu Yellow Peach and Kawanakajima, early to mid-July is the critical period for fruit expansion. Fertilizers mainly based on phosphorus and potassium should be applied in time, and the proportion of potassium fertilizers should be appropriately increased.

4. Intertillage and Weeding

In the hot weather in July, peach tree leaves may droop at noon. It is not necessary to completely remove the weeds during intertillage weeding. They can be cut short to 5-10 cm and covered around the tree trunks to increase soil water retention and reduce surface temperature.

5. Unpacking the Fruit

10-15 days before peaches mature, unpack and observe the fruits with good light conditions. When the peel changes from green to white, it is the best time to open the bag. The bags should be removed on a cloudy day or in the evening to avoid sunburn; tear open the bottom of the bag first, and then completely remove it after 3-4 sunny days.

VI. Pest and disease control

July is hot and rainy, which easily causes a variety of diseases and pests, such as bacterial perforation, anthracnose, scab, brown rot, etc. For pests such as pear borer and peach borer, cypermethrin, diflubenzuron and other pesticides can be used for prevention and control. For diseases such as bacterial perforation, you can use ningnanmycin, mancozeb , fenpropimorph and other agents for prevention and control.

In general, July is a critical period for peach tree management , involving pruning, drainage, fertilization, weeding, fruit unbagging, and pest and disease control.