PEACHES AND NECTARINES
Plant: November to December
Harvest: July to September
January: Cover with a layer of fleece if really cold.
February: Learn the difference between buds. Fruit buds are round and plump; leaf buds are pointed. Keep ground weed free. Mulch around established trees with rotted manure or compost to provide nitrogen. Add a sprinkling of powdered seaweed for potash.
March: First flowers are self-fertile, but use a paintbrush to ensure that enough of them set fruit.
In the first year after planting, rub off all fruit buds. In the second and third years after planting, allow a few buds to form fruit, and in the fourth year the tree can bear a full crop.
Remove any crossing branches or any that are diseased.
April: Water regularly while fruit is swelling. Once flowering has finished spray over the leaves with water.
May: Feed with liquid seaweed while the fruit is swelling. Thin clusters to a single fruit.
June: Remove any deformed or discoloured fruit. Leave only the best to grow on.
July: Keep spraying over leaves with water until fruit starts to ripen. There should be some ripe fruit by the end of the month.
August: Ripe fruit is slightly soft when pressed, is well coloured and gives off an intoxicating scent. The fruit should lift from the stalk without any need for force.
September: Cut out side shoots after you have finished harvesting, but leave the new shoot, or a bud, at the base to grow as a replacement.
October: Clear any fallen leaves.
November: Plant new trees when branches are bare. Prepare a plot at least 120cm/4ft square and 60cm/24in deep. Dig in plenty of rotted manure or compost and use lime on the surface of the soil to adjust to a pH of 7.
December: Peaches and nectarines in the polytunnel should avoid peach leaf curl. If growing them near a door, try to keep this closed from November to April.
PEACH AND NECTARINE TROUBLES
Red spider mite: May to September
Aphids: March to November
Powdery mildew: May to October
Wasps/ants/earwigs: July to September
Birds: July to September