How to Grow a Belle of Georgia Peach Tree

Belle of Georgia peach blooms in very early spring when frosts may occur.

Dating to 1870, the peach tree variety Belle of Georgia (also called Georgia Belle) produces white-fleshed freestone fruits in mid to late summer. Although peach trees grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 5 through 8, Belle of Georgia may grow better in zones 6 through 8 where winter temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit aren't typical. Expect a heavy crop of pale yellow fruits with a red blush on Belle of Georgia peach trees if the year's weather cooperates. If not pruned, this cultivar grows 10 to 14 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide. No additional trees are needed nearby to ensure flower pollination.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Hand pruners
• 10-10-10 granular fertilizer

Instructions

1. Cultivate the planting site for the peach tree with a garden shovel. Dig the soil to a depth of 12 inches in a circular area at least 5 feet in diameter. The Belle of Georgia peach tree grows in the center of this planting bed. Choose a garden location in full sun (at least eight hours of direct sun daily) where the soil is fertile and drains well. Avoid a location with soggy soil or low elevation where frosts occur frequently in spring and fall.

2. Remove the tree from the nursery container. Also remove any tags twisted on the trunk or branches with string or wire. Remove any burlap, rope and wire from the tree, if applicable.

3. Plant the peach tree so its root-ball is at the same level as the top of the planting hole. Try not to disturb or damage the roots when removing the tree from its nursery container. Consult with your local cooperative extension office or fruit tree specialist about the ideal time for fruit tree planting in your region. In colder winter areas, planting in early spring is often best while in hot summer regions, planting in autumn allows the roots the best opportunity to grow and establish.

4. Fertilize a newly planted peach tree seven to 21 days after planting by applying 1/2 lb. of 10-10-10 fertilizer granules evenly and broadly within a 2- to 3-foot radius of the trunk. Repeat this dosage again 30 to 40 days later. Trees 2 to 4 years old need 3/4 lb. of fertilizer over the root zone in early and late spring (early March and mid/late May in the United States). Mature trees need 1 to 2 lb. applied during those two months. Soils naturally fertile or continually mulched with bark at a depth of 3 inches don't need as much fertilizer at each application.

5. Prune the Belle of Georgia tree annually each late winter to early spring to maintain an open, well-balanced and healthy branching structure. Remove dead, diseased or low-hanging branches, making the pruning cut 1/4 to 1/2 inch above a lower branch junction, the trunk or a dormant bud or leaf. Maintain a tree with two to four scaffolding (horizontal) branches so the peach tree looks like a "Y" or a goblet with an open center for sunlight to penetrate.

6. Remove small, quarter coin-sized peaches in early summer so that they are spaced 6 to 8 inches along the length of the tree branch. This eliminates the physical stress from the weight of many densely spaced fruits later in summer and the danger of branches snapping. Use your fingernails or pruners to pinch off the small peaches and stems.

7. Water the root zone of the peach tree, which extends 2 to 5 feet beyond the reach of branch tips, as needed during the year to maintain an evenly moist soil. Supplement natural rainfall and never make the soil soggy after irrigation.

Tips & Warnings

• Sandy loam or loam soils rich in organic matter make perfect sites for peach tree culture. In heavier clay soils, plant the tree 3 to 5 inches above the soil grade and mound soil up to cover the root ball. This ensures good soil aeration and drainage.

• Any branches larger than 3/4 inch in diameter are best pruned with either loppers or a hand saw rather than hand pruners.

• Maintain the tree at a height around 8 to 10 feet tall in the home garden. Prune annually for structure and regrowth each spring. You want the Belle of Georgia peach to grow new twigs 18 to 36 inches over the summer from any pruning done in early spring. These twigs provide the flowers for next spring.

• Monitor the health (shape, color and overall look) of both the peach tree's leaves and fruits during the growing season. Also look at the trunk. This allows you to notice any pest or disease issues and contact your local cooperative extension office or fruit tree specialist for recommendations for treatments before the tree aborts its fruits or more serious problems arise.

References

• The Ohio State University: Growing Peaches and Nectarines in the Home Landscape
• Grandpa's Orchard: Prunus Persica Georgia Belle
• University of Georgia: Home Garden Peaches and Nectarines
• "Sunset Western Garden Book"; Kathleen Norris Brenzel, ed.; 2007
• Michigan Peach Sponsors: Growing Peaches in the Home Garden
• Learn2Grow: Prunus Persica, Belle of Georgia

Resources

• National Gardening Association: USDA Hardiness Zone Finder