Peach

Selection of Variety:

Medium, Early and late-growing varieties are available for peach cultivation. Farmers can choose the suitable variety according to their conditions. Farmers who have limited land and those who want to earn extra income from the cultivation of vegetables in the orchards, they should prefer early and medium varieties. Whereas farmers who have sufficient resources can also earn more income by planting late varieties of peach.

Selection and preparation of land:

Peaches can be cultivated in all types of soil, except water logged soil, well-drained loamy soil is suitable for its cultivation. Plants can be planted after digging pits of suitable size (3 cubic feet) in the ground and filling them with equal amounts of sweat soil, soil and manure. Top soil (one foot) should be used for filling of pits as it is fertile. Complete the pit work by November to December. Peach trees are planted in a square or rectangular system with a plant spacing of 10 feet and row spacing of 15 to 20 feet. Emphasis is laid on increasing the number of plants per acre for modern scientific research and production purposes. Besides from this, more income can be obtained by inter cropping between the rows.

Transplantation of plants:

After digging a pit for planting, add 300 g of single super phosphate or triple super phosphate, 800 g of (SOP) and transplant the plant in the center of the pit in such a way that the grafted joint of the plant is 6 inches above the ground. If necessary, trim the roots of the plant as needed and keep the plant size 2-3 feet if the stem growth is high to maintain the balance of the plants and increase their chances of success.

1) Fungus:

A white powder forms on the leaves or black spots form on the leaves, the plant becomes weak and eventually growth stops and the plant dies.

Control:

Spray the Bordeaux mixture. Spray a pesticide of the sulfur group Dithane M-45 or Ridomil at the recommended amount.

2) Leaf Wilt:

In this disease, the leaves become wrinkled. The diseased plant cannot make food. Spray the pesticide of sulfur group.

Control:

• Spray the recommended amount of Ridomil.

A spray program for orchards needs to be continued throughout the year as needed since both the peach plant and the fruit are very tender and delicate. Give proper fertilizer to protect the plants from diseases so that the plant does not suffer from diseases easily.

1) Aphid:

It is found in green and black color and sucks the sap of the leaves. Attacks in early spring or at the end of rainy season. The leaves wither and the process of Photosynthesis is affected.

Control:

Spray Imidacloprid at rate of 2 grams per liter of water, Chlorpyrifos at rate of 3ml per liter of water.

2) Leaf Minor:

They live in the leaves by making tunnel and the leaves become shiny as the chlorophyll is eaten by the insect

Control:

Spray Chlorpyrifos or another suitable pesticide.

3) Leaf Hopper:

A greenish-brown caterpillar hides in the leaves. Damage leaves have holes in it.

Control:

For control, spray with an appropriate endosulfan group insecticide.

4) Fruit fly:

This insect attacks the fruit during the ripening process. The fly attacks and injures the fruit and lays eggs inside the fruit, which produces a maggot in the fruit.

Control:

• Place Pheromone traps in Orchards.
• Spray Diptrix powder at the rate of 3 grams per liter of water. Wrap paper envelopes on the fruit.

Peach plants only need more water during fruit growth. Irrigation depends on the weather and soil. In heavy soil, water should be applied less and Sandy loam, hilly soil, light water should be applied. Farmers can change it keeping in view the soil and weather conditions. Increase the water interval in heavy soil and when irrigating, apply light water instead of heavy watering and take into consideration the drainage capacity.

Since the growth of the peach plant is quite fast in the early years, if the pits are well prepared, they have sufficient amount of balanced diet. In the third year, when the peach begins to bear fruit, its nutritional requirements increase. From the third year it is necessary to provide chemical fertilizers to peaches which should be given according to the following table.

All  amount of single superphosphate and potash should be spread under the canopy in mid-December and irrigation with light water, then half  amount of Urea/Ammonium sulphate should be applied under the canopy after flower dropping, when it is the size of a pea. Pour and add water.

As the peach fruit near ripening, its color changes and the fruit become soft. Ripe fruit deteriorates by keeping it in the store, so when the color of the fruit changes, it should be clipped from the plant in a slightly hard condition so that the fruit is not injured. Harvest the ripened fruit and keep it in an open airy place in the shade. Properly grade the fruit before packing it into cardboard boxes. Pack high quality and light quality fruit in separate boxes. Before closing the fruit, put a layer of grass in the boxes, then a second layer of newspaper, apply maximum three layers in a box.