Methods for propagating peach by cuttings in summer: instructions and useful tips
Once upon a time, the peach tree was grown only in warm southern regions. Today it is often found in the central zone of the country. Summer residents grow juicy and sweet varieties on their plots, many of which appeared in gardens by propagation by cuttings. This method cannot be called simple, but if you follow the recommendations, even a beginner can grow a peach tree from a cutting on his property. We will consider in detail how to propagate peach in the article.
Is it possible to propagate peach from cuttings in summer?
Cuttings are the propagation of peach by green or lignified cuttings. The procedure is carried out in spring or summer - depends on varieties and climatic conditions of the growing region.
For cuttings, shoots are prepared in advance and a planting site is selected. The advantage of the summer event is that the earth is already warmed up, which means the peach will take root faster and adapt to the new place. Also, the fruit tree will be less sick, which will have a positive effect on the future harvest.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of the summer procedure are that it does not require special agrotechnical knowledge and skills. All a gardener needs is planting material and step-by-step instructions for propagating peach trees. Before summer there is time to prepare the hole and fertilize the soil with organic and mineral fertilizers.
There are few disadvantages to cuttings.Summer residents note the fact that a new tree will not take root well in the garden if it has been infected with fungal or infectious diseases or damaged by insect pests.
This usually happens with cuttings purchased from garden nurseries. Therefore, when purchasing, it is recommended to carefully inspect the planting material for the presence of such lesions.
Optimal timing for summer cuttings
In the southern regions of the country, cuttings are carried out in early summer, in the northern regions - until mid-July. It is important that the earth warms up and possible frosts pass.
When choosing a day, pay attention to the weather: suitable air temperature is about +22°C, humidity is 80-85%, there should be no precipitation or winds. It is recommended to propagate peach early in the morning, before 9:00, while there is no hot sun.
Attention! If for some reason it was not possible to propagate the peach in June and July, the procedure is postponed to the beginning of August. The main thing is that the weather is suitable.
Favorable days
To choose a favorable date for the procedure, many gardeners turn to the lunar calendar for help. It shows which days are ideal for cuttings, and which days it is better not to carry out any work in the garden at all.
In 2020, suitable days are July 22-26, 28-31 and August 21-24, 26-31. If you propagate a peach on these dates, it will quickly take root and get stronger.
Suitable peach varieties
For cuttings, varieties are used that retain the taste and commercial characteristics of the fruit. These are the varieties Veteran, Saratovsky early, Novoselovsky. They are distinguished by juicy and sweet fruits and attractive commercial qualities.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the region in which the crop is grown. Experienced gardeners recommend choosing zoned “domestic” varieties.For example, for the middle zone this is the Belgorod peach, for the south - the varieties Nadezhny, Sochny and Crimean fireworks.
Selection and preparation of cuttings
When propagating, gardeners use green, woody or aerial cuttings.
The most common method is cuttings from woody shoots. They are prepared 2-3 months before landings. If shoots are cut from your own tree, do it early in the morning and then wrap it in a damp cloth. The length of the cutting is 20-25 cm, thickness is 10 mm.
Cuttings with green shoots are common among gardeners who grow peach in the southern regions. The side shoots are cut with a sharp knife into segments with 2-3 internodes. The bottom layer should be oblique at a distance of 1 cm from the kidney.
Summer residents also use propagation by air layering—fruit-bearing branches that gardeners artificially stimulate to form roots by sprinkling them with moist soil.. Soon the cuttings will form their own root system, and after 3-4 years the peach produces its first harvest.
For this method of propagation, choose a healthy and fruit-bearing branch, well-lit. Most often these are 3-year-old shoots as thick as a pencil.
Ways to root them
There are several ways to root cuttings - in water, substrate, growth stimulant, soil.
Each of these methods is available to any gardener and does not require much effort and time:
- In the substrate. Peat, sawdust, sand, and purchased soil are used as a substrate. Sometimes summer residents use coconut fiber - a simple and convenient option. The substrate is placed in a container, moistened, then the cutting is placed there, covered with polyethylene and put in a sunny place.
- In water. After cutting, the peach cuttings are placed in a container with clean water at room temperature. Water must cover the lower buds, otherwise they will dry out and the cutting will die. Shoots are prepared for rooting in May or June.
- With the help of a growth stimulator. Gardeners identify 2 affordable and effective stimulants - “Kornevin” and “Heteroauxin”. The shoot cut is treated with powder and immediately after that placed in the prepared soil.
- In the ground. This method is suitable for the southern regions. The procedure is carried out in April. The cuttings are cut and placed in the ground, where they remain until June - July. And already in the summer, the peach is planted in individual holes.
Planting ready-made cuttings
Plant peaches in prepared soil. 1-2 months before planting, the soil is dug up, cleared of debris and weeds, and fertilized with urea or ash (30 g per 1 sq. m). The depth of the hole is about 70 cm, the width should be no less than the diameter of an adult tree, so it is selected individually for each variety. Fine crushed stone and sand are poured into the bottom of the pit in a 1:1 ratio. The drainage layer makes the soil lighter, more air- and water-permeable.
Ready cuttings are planted early in the morning: they are carefully placed in a hole, the roots are straightened and sprinkled with earth. The soil temperature should be about +25°C. Immediately after this, the peach is watered generously and mulched with straw, grass clippings or sawdust. The root collar should protrude 3-4 cm above ground level.
Attention! If there is strong wind or rain on the planned planting day, it is better to reschedule the procedure. Otherwise, you can forget about a rich harvest and a healthy tree.
Features of cuttings depending on the type of peach
There are early, mid and late ripening peaches.When cutting cuttings of early and medium varieties, gardeners recommend paying attention to the rooting method.
It is better to use a substrate; with its help, the cuttings will become stronger, and the trees will be less sick in the future. This is due to the fact that early-ripening and mid-ripening varieties are not frost-resistant, so they require additional protection.
Attention! For cuttings, summer residents use large-fruited, self-fertile, disease- and pest-resistant varieties. They are suitable for any region and are characterized by high productivity.
Depending on the region
When propagating peach in central Russia, it is important to take into account the composition of the soil. The cuttings are planted in loose and fertile soil with a neutral acidity level. To improve the quality of the soil, gardeners fertilize it in the spring with an infusion of rotted manure or chicken droppings, and in early summer add potassium salt. Fertilizers help the peach adapt and take root faster and avoid diseases in the future.
When growing peach in the south, make sure that the cutting always remains moist during rooting. Summer residents regularly water the soil. When rooting in the substrate, the cuttings are taken out into fresh air and ventilated. At the same time, the peach should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
Further care
Further care peach care consists of watering and fertilizing, loosening and treatment against diseases.
Water the tree so that the ground is slightly moist, but not wet. For irrigation, use clean water heated in the sun.
Irrigation using a drip system is popular: water gets directly under the root, bypassing the stems and leaves. Liquid consumption is economical; such a system can be used to water all garden trees and shrubs.
Before each procedure, the ground is loosened and cleared of weeds so that the young peach grows healthy and strong. If weeds are not removed, the plantings will be neglected and dense, which will provoke the proliferation of pests.
Attention! Preventive measures are a mandatory stage of caring for both young and mature trees. Gardeners treat the plant with a solution of Bordeaux mixture (1%) or an infusion of nettle and garlic once every 2 weeks. Prevention protects the tree from curl and powdery mildew.
Advice from experienced gardeners
Experienced gardeners share tips on how to take peach cuttings:
- cut cuttings in the morning in cloudy weather - at this time the buds have the most juice, and the plant will quickly take root;
- place the cuttings in the shade;
- cut with sharp pruning shears;
- treat the cut areas with garden varnish;
- keep the substrate or soil slightly moist;
- choose healthy and fruit-bearing trees for cutting;
- When planting on a site, maintain an interval of 2 m between plants;
- Prepare the planting hole in advance (1-2 months in advance).
This is interesting:
How to properly prune a peach in spring and why it is so important
How to properly prune a peach in the fall and why it is needed
Conclusion
Peach cuttings begin with the preparation of planting material. These may be green or woody shoots. They are cut from a fruit-bearing and healthy tree. Next, they are rooted - placed in water or substrate or treated with a growth stimulator.
The cuttings are planted on a cloudy day. The pit is prepared in advance, fertilized with organic matter and dug up. The cutting is placed in the ground at a slight slope, sprinkled with earth and watered. With proper further care, such a tree will produce a harvest in the third year.