Many Randfontein residents have peach trees in their back yards but few know how to go about getting an edible end product. There are some guidelines to follow to help ensure a better harvest.
The Herald visited fruit farmer, David Horack, who has various strains on his farm in Brandvlei. The peaches are quite the attraction as he has Australian strains growing on his farm.
One of the most notable strains is his Crimson Delight. When the Herald visited the farm, the peaches were small and not in season yet.
Many of David’s workers were busy thinning the peaches. They were removing excess peaches to increase the size of the other peaches on the branch. David said this process can be performed only when the fruit are young and have not undergone pit hardening yet.
According to Home Guides, peach trees should be sprayed in winter (the dormant season), spring and summer. This is to eliminate harmful pests and diseases the trees are vulnerable to, to ensure healthy trees and fruit.
In an article for Home Guides, Joan Norton from Demand Media writes, “Sprays are recommended for the peach twig borer, scale and mites.
Less than one per cent of garden insects are harmful pests, but those that are [harmful pests] need to be controlled.
“Integrated Pest Management (IPM) teaches a method of encouraging natural predators to control the harmful insects on peach trees.
“Natural predators for peach tree insect pests include ladybird beetles, lacewings, assassin bugs, parasitic wasps and hover flies. The peach tree borer is not subject to natural predator controls so spraying is recommended.”
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