Patio peach

[mark smyth]

Homebase has lots of patio peaches in stock clothed top to bottom with flowers. I'd love these for the garden just for the blossom at this time of year.

Am I wasting my time? Will the always be covered in flowers at this time of year? How hardy? Will they grow in  a big pot?

[Anthony Darby]

We have a bog - standard white peach in the front garden. I rarely get more that a couple of peaches as you need several trees to get cross pollination and fruit. Never tried a patio version.

[ArnoldT]

Here peaches are magnets for all kinds of pests and other pathogens.  Requires much spraying to actually get fruit if you can beat the squirrels to them.

[Anthony Darby]

If I don't pick the one or two I get, they ripen and fall off the tree. The tree does suffer from "leaf curl", but the tree is rented, so I can't turn it into fire wood.

[johnstephen29]

I had a peach tree years ago Anthony and it suffered badly with the leaf curl. The is a way to combat that by keeping the tree indoors or by spraying twice a year, I forget what you use or if it's still available. On the other hand the tree could be leaf curl resistant.

[Anthony Darby]

Keep it indoors. Okay for a patio peach. Mine? Mmm. I'd need a JCB to dig it out of the front lawn, and even then it would be too big to fit in the front room. 

[Neil]

I composted mine, they were too much hassle, and did not produce fruit. 

[Anthony Darby]

I think my landlord might object. I've already composted some Agaves, and a big pink succulent, both of which overgrew the front path.