Growing peach trees in the maritime Pacific Northwest is the pits. There I said it, because for thirteen long, relatively futile and fruitless years, I’ve tended almost every known peach-leaf-curl-resistant peach tree variety on the market with negligible results. The first couple of years seemed promising, but then insect borers, peach-leaf-curl disease, bark-gnawing vermin, and thatch ants with an appetite for flower buds and fruit did them (and my desire to continue) in. While I try to never say “die,” the peach trees said it for me.
Denial was my disingenuous playmate, always trying to convince me that next year would be different, that I just needed to give Prunus persica a chance to take root, and gain strength and disease resistance. Well, let me just say that never happened. In fact this year, Seattle’s rainiest winter on record, provided the perfect storm (so to speak) for all of my peach trees to succumb to severe and debilitating peach leaf curl disease, Taphrina deformans.
The only peach-leaf-curl-resistant tree I am keeping in the orchard is Nanaimo peach, because it is the only peach tree that consistently produces good-tasting peaches while remaining healthy-ish.
This year I will remove the other peach trees. It takes a lot for me to cut down a tree, especially one I planted, but every time I walk by a gnarly, suffering anemic peach tree, it’s a painful reminder that my favorite fruit is being forced to endure a slow and ugly death. And because I don’t spray chemicals on my trees, there’s little I can do…or is there?
Growing Peach Trees in the Pacific Northwest
But Wait…There’s a Happy Ending
Not one to give up when it comes to growing the fleshy nectar-drenched orb of the gods, I opted for Plan B, and planted my new peach trees under a cover – greenhouse cover that is. And because they are sheltered from the nonstop winter rains in a protective, heat-retentive tunnel, peach leaf curl no longer plays a dastardly role in the tree’s demise.
The results of growing peach trees under cover surprised me. My first three trees responded to added heat and dryness like Seattleites visiting Palm Springs in February: happy, happy, happy to be there. These first trees I planted were dwarf. I had kept them in large pots for quite some time, and they resembled robust topiaries at only five feet tall. Once released from their pots, they filled out, greened up, and produced a prodigious amount of peaches for trees their size—plus they were absolutely beautiful in bloom. As for what peach trees are now planted in my greenhouse, varieties include: Polly, Galaxy, El Dorado, Snow Queen and Baby Crawford.
While not everyone has a greenhouse at their disposal, let me offer this advice. If you want to plant a peach tree in the Pacific Northwest, plant Nanaimo for the best results and skip the rest, including Frost. If you’d like other another peach-leaf-curl-resistant variety, then I suggest you plant it under a south-facing eave where it gets added heat and protection from incessant winter rains, which cause leaf curl. You just have to make sure the roots get well-watered.
If I didn’t have my greenhouse, I would see that every structure on my property enjoyed an espaliered peach tree or two on its south-facing wall. And again, Nanaimo peach seems to be self-fertile and can stand on its own unprotected and still produce fine peaches.
So my peach-pals, keep fighting the good fight; there is hope for growing peach trees in the Pacific Northwest, but only with proper care and consideration for variety, and if all else fails, undercover.
Have you had any experience with oregano oil for leaf curl? We have a newish reliance peach tree that only got curl in maybe 4 leaves this year and has fruit at the north end of the island. Planning to try oregano oil since we avoid spraying and copper too. Very cool you have space to put them under cover!
Wow, Lauren, that’s great to hear, especially if it did well this record-breakingly wet winter. I’ll check out the oregano oil.
We have not tried the oil yet (but did acquire a bottle). We are going to spray the tree to see if it helps in future years. I am excited to watch these little babies grow this summer and hopefully be delicious!
For leaf curl…spray with permanganate de potassium. You will have 100% result for fungus Taphrina deformans. I use it this year just one time and the tree was ok all summer. Use 3 gram / 5 L water and spray the tree well wend the fungus start. I plant my peach seeds outside in spring! Not in a pot!
Thanks Evelina, tell me how do you plant your peach seeds, in the hull or out of the hull and how deep? Do you stratify in the fridge first?
I would never try to grow a peach tree in the PNW. How did that Harko Nectarine get in my orchard? 😉
Perri, it’s funny how absolutes melt into maybe’s in life, especially in the garden. 🙂
Sorry to hear you have had such bad luck with your peaches. I too have tried several different varieties and have lost trees to excessive curl and those darn little borers. I just pulled out a nectarine last weekend due to borers that did too much damage. The tree was still partly alive so that just made it harder to pull it up. But on a good note a new one will soon be replacing it. You said you don’t spray your trees? Is there a reason why. Copper is the best thing you can do for peaches around here. It is an organic fungicide & when used correctly it is very safe to use on your trees. I have a Frost peach that does excellent with just the basic spray schedule. I also have Reliance which does ok, had a Betty peach (very good peaches) but borers killed it. I will be planting 4 new peaches & a nectarine next month. There is nothing like the taste of a peach off the tree so i will keep working on them and would suggest to anyone who has the time & patiance to grow some peaches. I am at the foothills of Mt.Baker in a valley & get 60″ to 75″ of rain a year (had 62″ last year & it was a very dry summer). But the trees are growing on a South facing slope with good airflow. NorthWest Washington can be very challenging to grow most fruits but it can be done. I also thought of building some sort of structure over my rows of peaches to keep the rain & frost at bay. Good luck with your greenhouse peaches. I am going to be building a larger one next year & may try some small trees in it.
Jim
Some great info, Jim, thank you. I’m pretty happy with my covered peach trees now, as they are pretty happy without being in seven months of rain. 😉 Keep growing the good stuff Jim, and report back in when you get a chance.
Hi Tom, did the Indian peach seeds I sent you sprout for you? The tree they came from got a desease in the base and had to be removed. It was planted from a seed 27 years ago. Sad to see it go. We have issues here in Redding CA with curl leaf and Beatles in peach and nectarines. Happy to hear you have a solution for your trees. Happy gardening.
Hi Betty, the wonderful peach seeds you sent, have yet to sprout, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I kept them in the fridge, as peach seeds need a chill period (from what I read), and they are planted and ready to go. Perhaps a watched pot never sprouts. I would be happy to send you a new start when a seedling emerges. Talk about a full circle. Take care and thanks for the seeds, and I’ll touch base again when they sprout. Cheers!
Betty, I thought the Beatles had disbanded. Sorry to hear they have returned and are causing trouble in California orchards. :)-
Nothing quite so satisfying as a happy ending to an otherwise fraught orchard tale. (Also, nothing quite like that stubborn streak we gardeners are possessed of, is there.) In the fruit belt just north of me, along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, a lot of orchardists have had dismal luck these past couple of years….warm days in January, subzero weeks in mid-March, and not only have there been no peaches, but no blackberries and no sweet cherries, either. So some of them are adapting to this climate change by also beginning to put shelters around their trees and small berries. I don’t have a greenhouse here, but had one when I lived in New Hampshire, and in winter it always seemed Odyssean to somehow, a little temperate island in the midst of that frozen landscape. I’m glad your trees have landed safely on such shores.
Anne, what a lovely read this morning, with my own noisy punctuation provided by a crowing rooster and snoring bulldog. I love your reference; the greenhouse can indeed be a little escape just a short walk away (and no cyclops to worry about, either). Our weather pattern has been “goofy” over the last decade with super wet winters and prolonged summer droughts. So here’s to the cherries and peaches we can get when Mother Nature cuts us a break. Well wishes!
Hello Tom and Buddy from V and the Furry Gang!
“Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.” F Scott Fitzgerald
Tom, Now that you’re growing peaches in a greenhouse, do you have to hand pollinate them (even though they’re self fertile)?
Susan, I’m surprised that I don’t need to hand pollinate, but there must be some invisible pollinators in the greenhouse that do the job handily. Fruit set didn’t seem to be a problem.
Hi Tom
I get a fatal buffering message w any tries on your headers………sometin weird goin on!
Also weeks ago sent you an email w a dinner invite but had no response so I think you never got it…..
Thanks Catherine, I’ll try to get to the bottom of this.
Thank you for updating all information Tom.
Happy to do so Vincent. I can’t believe it but I’m cutting down all my peach trees except Nanaimo, and only growing other varieties protected under cover in the greenhouse. Good luck!
This is a pretty ironic question, but is there anywhere I can buy Nanaimo peach… in Nanaimo?? I’ve been through hell trying to get this thing in the place it was originally made. It seems like every vendor is in Washington!
Miles that is funny, and crazy! I tried to track one down for you, and to no avail. I read this on a Canadian garden forum< "It's ridiculous isn't it? Yes I came across Nanaimo at few US nurseries too, a cultivar clearly developed in Nanaimo about an hour from where I live. How is this cultivar not available locally!?? Drives me crazy. It's the CFIA rules that don't allow imports of fruits that are commercially produced here. It is nonsense. Diversity is the key to fighting disease, not isolation." It seems they may not be available in Canada, which is hard to believe. I'll keep you posted if I find out otherwise.
Thanks for the help Tom. Emailed some of our local profs to see if they knew but of course many are off for the Summer right now. We’ll see what happens
Miles I could save you some seeds, as peach pits grow true to the parent.
[…] if you are looking for a backyard peach tree, I plead my case and share the evidence that Nanaimo Peach beats the leaves off other peach leaf […]
Tom,
Glad for the happy ending, but still quite devastated to hear the fate of your other trees! Having followed your blog (and peach saga) since before we moved to Bainbridge Island six years ago, we first planted Frost, then Charlotte, Nanaimo and Indian Free. The four Frost Peaches are planted near buildings, but not under the eaves; even after this past winter, we haven’t had a serious problem with peach leaf curl. The other trees are younger, out in the open, and struggling more — but the deer are the biggest problem! I hope it’s not just a matter of time until our trees meet the same fate that yours found.
Felix, It took all I had to fully admit my peach trees were doomed after struggling for years. Of course, that doesn’t mean yours are, and I so hope that is the case. I have one healthy Kreibich nectarine tree, but it produces no fruit, just healthy leaves, which for now is enough. I consider it a small shade tree (not a fruit tree) at this point. 😉
Hi Tom. I stumbled on your fascinating website when doing a google search on garden gates – up came the picture of the one you hung the cowbell on. It’s lovely, am I right you made it yourself? And have you instructions?! Anyway, back to peaches. Could I ask what temperature your greenhouse gets to? Unlike your trees, mine has to be in large tub – greenhouse is heated to frost-free so I have to trundle it outside in winter to get frosted. But having reached 110 degrees even when vents and doors open (who knew that was possible in Highlands of Scotland!) my tree seems to be pretty heat-stressed with red and falling leaves. Yours look so incredibly green and healthy.
Hi Fiona, how lovely to hear from you all the way from beautiful Scotland. Yes, I made the gate myself. I must admit it was made easier by having borrowed a friend’s pneumatic nailer, for all the tricky angles. I wish I had instructions, but I don’t. My math whiz friend, Jon, helped me cut the angles, otherwise it would have been the most basic of designs. 😉
As for the peach trees, when they were in pots for a couple years, I had to water them everyday in the summer, mainly to keep the soil cool, or so was my theory. My greenhouse gets up in the high 90s on hot days, but it is well vented. The entire length on both sides is rolled up in the summer and the end doors always open along with the upper vents. I am please with the results. My white nectarine produced lovely flavorful sweet fruit, and the peaches are about two weeks out from ripening. I also sited my greenhouse on the eastside of a forest as I think the big problem with most greenhouses is too much heat. With this placement, shadows cool things down from 3pm on when things really heat up. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Thanks, Tom, that’s so helpful. I can’t vent my greenhouse sufficiently, so next year I’ll try some shading and more watering. Meantime, outside it goes and hope it isn’t discovered by the deer (another issue we share!). Thanks also for info on the gate. That sounds far beyond my basic DIY skills, so I’ll just have to make something more basic and admire yours from a distance! Best wishes, Fiona.
Hi: Your story was very helpful and well presented, thank you for sharing. One reader suggested oregano oil to prevent/combat leaf curl and that sounds great! Essential oils, organic food, fresh air and water free of chlorine and fluoride are my anthem. It’s very nice to read that I’m not alone regarding avoiding copper to treat leaf curl (where’s my hasmat suit?) because copper also kills beneficial fungus. Despite dire pruing to kill leaf curl, our 4 beloved northwest peach trees are cheerfully leafy and sporting delightful sunset-hued fruit. To thwart next years’ curl I thought of planting garlic around each one. Hopefully that and organic chicken manure will keep the trees healthy for many more than their 5 years. The idea of protecting the trees with a tunnel greenhouse is wonderful – the dear, succulent fruit deserves the best treatment year round.
Interesting read, Tom. I am a resident of Nanaimo and happened upon your blog purely due to searching for PNW peach varieties (as I’m too comfortable to go outside and read the tag on a rrecently acquired tree to jog my memory).
I have visited all of the nurseries in the area, some several times per year and I’m confident to say that Nanaimo isn’t readily available in….Nanaimo.
I’ll make it my quest to find a few to supplement my orchard.
Ps-> My Frosts are three summers in the soil and so far so good. Fingers crossed the hold onto their health.
I have had Frost trees i the ground for at least 10 years , no problems great producers very flavorful
no sign of curl .Even last year with all the rain and cold at blossom time .
Live a little south of your island but with similar weather .
After 3 years of trying to locate for purchase a Nanaimo peach tree, I’ve come to the conclusion that they really do not exist and are just a folk tale myth. The only “supplier” that exists is One Green World in Oregon but even though I get on their waiting list every year they never get any. I call almost every day during the bare root season only to hear that “oh you just missed them”. They say they only get about 10 trees each year and you have to be on a “special” list to get one. No response when I ask them why they even offer them on the waiting list route. If anyone knows where to obtain one of these trees then please post the information. Thanks
Talk about frustrating, so sorry Craig. I will keep my eyes open and should I see one become available, I’ll shoot you an email.
Hi Tom,
I was so pleased when I found this. We planted 2 dwarf Redhaven Peach trees in our greenhouse last Spring. We on the Sunshine Coast and with all the rain Peach trees outside here don’t do well. It just made sense to try the greenhouse but I hadn’t until now found any information with other people doing this. So we’ve just been winging it….and so far it gone great. Our trees are thriving with lots of fruit set already!!! I did use a paint brush and self pollinated them. And then had to thin the fruit as they had set a ton of fruit. How often do you water? And how much? Last year they were just part of our soaker on the other plants in there that I think went on every day or two. I felt that was a too shallow and too frequent watering. This year I was trying the heavily once a week. But this week one of the trees the one with the most fruit and the hottest side of the greenhouse looks like it needs water again. I watered 4 days ago. Do you find they need more water as they have fruit on them?
Also would love “Nanaimo” Peach trees too!!! I have been on the waitlist on that same website another person was referencing😆.
Hi Kasey, So great to hear from you about your peach trees in the greenhouse. The way I water mine is pretty haphazard and it seems to work for me, but I just keep an eye on the leaves and if they look droopy or wilting a wee bit, I hand water. I’ve created a bit of berm and trough around each tree and I just refill twice. That seems to do the trick. In the summer I probably do that every third day or so. My greenhouse collapsed this winter under the weight of snow and took out about four peach trees and three apricot trees. I won’t replant the apricot, they’re not worth it, very fussy, and hate to cooperate by producing actual fruit in the greenhouse. I will replant the peach trees though, as picking and eating a ripe peach is one of my favorite summer treats. Keep me posted on future peach moments! Cheers
Tom
I just bought a miniature and a dwarf Frost in pots in 2018 and they got rained on all winter ( 50 miles north-west of Nanaimo) . This spring they were attacked and I used copper spray just once to kill it. Miniature is in the ground in a very sheltered area with other fruit trees and is about 6’ tall and produced a wonderful crop of 20 peaches. I built a frame out of tree branches and covered it with netting for the birds and spread the netting around on the ground to discourage the raccoons who pull the fruit off the tree. I did have raccoon visitors but they got no peaches or apples where I scattered the netting on the ground. The dwarf is still in a pot (2 feet tall) and was badly damaged but lived and is looking healthy now. I will move it under the eaves on the south side of the house and see if it survives. Thanks for all the good advice.
Hi Bruce, my pleasure, glad the info was helpful to you. It’s so fun and rewarding to get peaches, but wow, are they challenging at times.
Hi Tom, Thanks for the helpful article! I rescued a peach plant that sprouted in my compost three years ago. I planted it in a pot and have taken it into the hot house each winter and moved it outside in the summer. It is doing well in the pot so, I think, the time has come for it to be planted on a south facing wall and grown in a espalier style. Do you have any recommendations on covering it with plastic in the winter? or do I just leave it alone?
Hi Natalie, yes if you plant it on a south-facing wall and one with an overhang, that should be enough to protect the tree from fungal spores from curl leaf. Protect the tree with a cover of clear plastic, if it gets rained on from December until first bud break. Good Luck Natalie!
Hi Tom, you wrote “I had kept them in large pots for quite some time” – did they fruit while in pot? Reason I ask is because if they did then I’d plan to grow one in pot due to my limited space. Put myself on wait list with OneGreenWorld for Nansimo too. Thanks, Xin from Redmond, WA.
Hi Xin, the only ones that ever produced in pots for me, were varieties categorized as genetic dwarfs, that is they were grafted to a super dwarfing rootstock and perform admirably in large pots. I would recommend looking for any genetic dwarf variety if you have an outdoor covered space in the winter to keep them out of steady rains which cause fungal diseases like Peach Leaf Curl (PLC). You’ll still need to water the trees when needed, but keeping the branches dry prevents PLC. They’re usually available in late winter when local nurseries restock bareroot fruit trees. On the eastside, maybe check in February or March with Wells-Medina, Gray Barn, Flower World or Molbaks. Good Luck Xin!
[…] I swear I’ve planted every peach leaf curl resistant variety available, and finally I must admit, peach trees are a real challenge better suited to warm, dry places. Here’s are my findings: Peach Tree Summation (Peach Leaf Curl Resistant Varieties) […]
For limited, small or confined spaces, it is worthwhile to read Ann Ralph’s “Grow a Little Fruit Tree” in which she offers a specific pruning schedule for trees on standard root stock producing easy to manage trees.
Lars, that is uncanny. I’ve never heard of this book, and then today I had you reference and recommend it, along with a friend who encouraged me to do the same thing. Thanks for thinking of me, and I’ll check it out. Most appreciated, as I have some peach trees in the greenhouse that I’ll have to maintain to a smaller size. cheers, Tom
Whoah, Tom — I’m SURE I heard about this book a few years ago, on your blog! Because I had never heard of it, and ordered a copy immediately. I then boldly ordered a slew of fruit trees and planted them in my new garden in Bend (where we have kind of opposite growing problems from yours) and they have been growing in miniature splendor ever since. I’m thinking this was 4 years ago. (Full disclosure — no fruit yet, but a few blossoms. I may have my trees planted in too shady a location — I planted them on the north side of a fence to encourage them to bloom later, since late spring frosts are the biggest challenge to growing tree fruit in our area). And re Nanaimo Peach, has anyone tried Googling actual Nanaimo and looking for local nurseries there? And in closing, for those who cannot find a Nanaimo peach tree, may I recommend finding a good recipe for Nanaimo Bars and taking comfort in that? 🙂
Well Kathy I like your plan B: make Nanaimo Bars if unable to find the namesake peach tree. Here’s a recipe for those unfamiliar with the chocolatey creamy, crunch treat: https://www.theendlessmeal.com/the-best-canadian-nanaimo-bars/
Ok maybe this was already answered in a previous response but I would really like to find some Nanaima peach trees but not having any luck, where can I buy them in
The only place I’ve been able to find them is onegreenworld.com mail order or in Portland where their nursery is.
Where the heck can you find a Nanaimo peach in Canada???
Hi Rafal, I’ve had several Canadian friends ask me the same thing, and none of us can find a source in Canada. Surprising since the tree was first found in B.C.. If I hear of a source, I’ll let you know. The only place I know in the U.S. is One Green World in Portland, Oregon.
I just wanted to share my experience: I planted the much-vaunted “Nanaimo Peach” at my Oregon property this spring, and every single leaf cluster developed leaf curl. Over half of the leaves on it are already gone. If it survives till next spring, then I plan to spray it before the new leaves emerge. Maybe it can survive on its own, but it’s not meeting my expectations so far.
Hi Jeff, sorry to hear your Nanaimo peach tree suffered from peach curl. My newly planted ones did too this year. Not sure what’s different in the weather, but I have confidence they will rebound. When these trees are young, they are more susceptible to Peach Leaf Curl, so hopefully yours will out grow it like mine did. If you are in coastal Oregon, you may well have to spray, but drier inland Oregon I would think this is an anomaly or age-related (the tree). Good luck, keep the faith, they may just surprise you.
Wow, thanks Tom! I’ve been looking for a good variety and I happen to live in Nanaimo and have never heard of it. Since they hail from here hopefully I can find it locally:)
Good luck on finding it Michael, other Canadian pals tell me they can’t find it up north. Go figure. I get my trees from onegreenworld.com in Portland Oregon.
Hey! nice and much needed commentary on the regional peach/curl enigma.
I have about 2 cents worth of sense to share.
On a hill in Stanwood, 7 lakes area. South slope. Good air circ..
Keep in mind some folks may be getting mislabeled plants. As I did once.
Got 4 peaches 3 years ago from Home Depot for over $100 in bags marked “Frost peach”. When they fruited after two years they turned out to be small honey sweet white fleshed orbs on severely infected trees. Obviously not Frost. Wife loves them. Trees are vigorous and out grow the curl by mid summer so I kept 2 for her. Look like heck until then. Yep – Home Depot said Ha Ha only cover plants for a year.
Share my experience;
Frost; Little curl when young. Goes away in few years or less. Kinda like my hair. Medium size great taste. Had 22 at one time. 25 years
Indian free; No curl. Beautiful red purple flesh. Tasty , small to medium, more acidic than others. Wine may be exceptional. 3 years
Muir: No curl. Large sweet greenish yellow late fruit. 2 years.
Never give up, unless it’s Apricots you want to grow.
Hi Bob, thanks for sharing your experience with Peach Leaf Curl resistant trees. Some great info and chuckles here, finding your last sentence especially funny, though true. I have three apricots planted in my hoop house, only one has yet to produce, but I’m hopeful or maybe just a chump. The ‘cots are laughing at me for trying. I’ll keep you posted this year, if they produce. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and humor and happy growing! Tom
Whatever happened to the peach variety “Pacific Gold” ? We planted one in 1992 on the south side of our cottage, not really any overhang to protect it from rain. It produced 3000 peaches in its third year, less but bigger every year after for 15 years and died it’s slow death by its 25th year. It’s only pest was earwigs in the pits. It also got a mild case of leaf curl three times in its life. I’m ready to plant another peach tree but can’t find this variety anywhere. I live on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Thanks for any and all input. Anyone else grow a Pacific Gold?
Wow Karin, that’s the first I’ve heard of the Pacific Gold peach. Wish it was still available, or available in the states. My favorite is the Nanaimo peach but I fear it’s only available in the US, ironically enough. I’ll look into Pacific Gold, it sounds wonderful. Thank you
Oh look what I found, an old write-up about Pacific Gold Peaches: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/274271#page/3/mode/1up
Hi there!
What are your thoughts on Redhaven peach? It was a marked down tree I got last year at home depot due to branch damage and it was the last one late in the fruit trees-for-sale season, likely left behind because it didn’t look well. I think I got it for $30?/$40?? It was abundant with little fruits last year, which I plucked off. A garden coach that came to my house said they are great and says they are better than Frost variety, but I didn’t have any questions beyond soil and pruning. So far it’s looking healthy.
How does it hold up to leaf curl? It’s on the SE corner of my property inside my fenced back yard (like a rook) with full sun allllll day. Should I consider creating a seasonal/removable greenhouse type enclosure for the winter? Like some sort of tent/canopy?
I forgot to mention I live in Seattle proper, near Greenlake.
I live in Auburn, WA. I inherited 2 beautiful and lush adult peach trees. I have no idea what type i have but these two tree produce more peaches than i can handle. In the past 2 years, fruit has grown smaller but quantity has increased. I am looking for some advice on care and maintenance as well as advice on how to increase fruit size. Anyone have some secretes to share?
Hi Chuck, it’s likely that your trees are Frost peaches as they are the ones that don’t get peach leaf curl and produce mightly in our climate. There’s the newer variety Nanaimo that does a good job too. To increase peach size you need to thin them when they are about the size of grapes. You want to look for the healthiest little peaches to keep and remove others that are bunch up or runts. It painful to remove peaches but if you do thin them, you’ll be rewarded with bigger and better quality peaches. Here’s a good video on the process: https://ourstoneyacres.com/how-to-thin-peaches-in-your-home-orchard Good Luck!
s
Tom Hi. I am buying 22 ac of land in Pierce county and would like to meet with you if it is possible. I plan to plant some new culture here in WA and will need some of your advice.
Can we meet somehow?
I found a dwarf barefoot Nanaimo peach tree that I ordered last fall from Rain Tree Nursery in Oregon. Planted it a few weeks ago along with some apricot trees. Didn’t know apricots are also hard to grow in this area too. I live in Port Angeles, Wa. Hoping my little microclimate at the base of the mountains allows the trees to thrive, despite the odds.
Thea, Port Angeles does have nice little drier microclimate so it may be just the place to give apricot trees a try. Your Nanaimo peach should do fine there, as it does fine for me on the wet side of Puget Sound. It’s the best choice I think for growing in western Washington. Keep an eye on them in the dry summers around here and make sure they get ample water, letting the ground dry out between waterings. Good Luck!