Soil Requirements Stone fruits are notoriously fussy about soil moisture and fertility. Where the soil is saturated for long periods during the dormant season, or for more than a few days continuously during the growing season, trees will not thrive. The best sites are upland gravelly or sandy loams. Soils with high clay or silt content can be improved somewhat for stone fruits by installing sub-soil drainage lines or surface water diversion ditches. Mounding up the area where trees will be planted into raised beds several feet above grade is also helpful.
Peach trees require ample soil nitrogen and water during the growing season.
It is essential to keep them growing vigorously because most of their fruit is produced in lateral buds on one-year old shoots. Water during the month before harvest is also important to develop adequate fruit size. This moderate stress will slow down the new shoot growth in early autumn, allowing the woody shoots, trunk and roots to store carbohydrates and other nutrients in preparation for the next winter. Pest Management Many birds, mammals, insects, fungi, and bacteria compete with humans for the tender, nourishing stone fruits. The two most serious diseases of all stone fruits are brown rot and perennial cankers.