Peaches are a tasty summer fruit that makes you think of sunny, warm places. But did you know that you can grow peaches in the UK? Some types of peaches can do very well there if the conditions are right. We’ll talk about how to grow peaches in the UK, from picking the right varieties to planting, taking care of, and picking your crop.
Choosing Peach Varieties for the UK
While peach trees originate in temperate regions of China, over centuries varieties have been bred that can cope with cooler climates. Not all are suitable for the UK, so choose wisely. Consider factors like:
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Ripening time – Early and mid-season varieties ripen better in our climate, Choose July/August types
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Disease resistance – Some newer types resist peach leaf curl disease, Peregrine has good resistance,
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Small size: Patio and dwarf trees work well, especially for growing in pots. Bonanza is a good patio peach.
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Flavour – Peaches range from sweet to tangy. Rochester peaches are known for their lovely aroma and flavour.
The Royal Horticultural Society awards its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM) to varieties that perform well in UK gardens. All the above have the AGM.
Where to Buy Peach Trees
Purchase from a reputable UK nursery that sells trees suitable for our climate. Options include:
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Mail order – Specialist fruit nurseries offer the widest selection by mail order.
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Garden centres – Limited choice of potted trees.
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Online – Wider varieties available, often sent bare-root in winter/spring.
For compact trees, buy a 2-3 year old fan-trained plant. This has side branches already trained out “fan” shaped against a wall or fence. More expensive but skips tricky initial training.
Planting Your Peach Tree
Peaches need a sunny, protected spot with soil that drains well but holds water. Avoid frost pockets. Ideal positions include:
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South/southwest-facing wall – Plant 30cm out, angle towards wall.
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Large patio container – Use 45cm+ pot with peat-free compost.
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Greenhouse – Can plant in ground or container.
Plant bare-root trees November-March. Potted types can be planted year round but do best autumn/winter. Water well before planting. Dig in plenty of organic matter to enrich soil.
Caring for Peach Trees
Once planted, peach trees need:
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Water – 2x daily for potted trees, weekly for ground-planted. Vital once fruit developing.
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Feeding – High potassium feed in late winter and liquid feed for containers during summer.
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Pruning – Train new wall fans. Prune established fans each summer.
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Protection – Fleece flowers against frost. Net trees against birds/squirrels once fruit develops.
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Pollination – Hand pollinate using a small paintbrush as not many pollinators about early in year when they flower.
Harvesting and Enjoying Your Peaches
Check peaches in high summer/early autumn. Harvest when soft with lovely aroma. Enjoy fresh picked from the tree for best flavour. Ripen any unripe fruits indoors.
So it is possible to grow peaches in the UK as long as you use the right type of peach and take good care of it. Don’t believe me? Try it this year and enjoy sweet, juicy peaches straight from your garden.
What and where to buy
Peach trees may be sold bare-root (without soil), root-wrapped (in soil but without a pot) or in containers. Bare-root trees are only available while dormant, from late autumn to early spring, for immediate planting. Potted peach trees are available all year round. Specialist fruit nurseries offer the widest choice of peach varieties, usually by mail order. Bare-root trees are generally only sold by specialist suppliers and larger online plant retailers, while trees in containers are more widely available. Bare-root trees are often cheaper than those in containers. As peach trees crop best when grown as fans, it’s easiest to buy a partially trained two- or three-year-old fan. This will save you the time and trouble of training it from scratch. Trained trees are more expensive than younger untrained trees, and are usually only available from specialist fruit nurseries. Related RHS GuidesBuying: mail order plantsVideo: choosing a tree to buyAdvice on buying trees.
Dwarf variety, ideal for pots. Large, juicy, red- and yellow-skinned fruits. Self-fertile.The
Heavy and reliable crop of white-fleshed, red-flushed fruits, ready in early August.The
Large white-fleshed, golden-skinned fruits that usually ripen in mid- to late August.The
Peach trees are usually bought as young trees, either in a container or not (bare-root or root-wrapped). You can grow them from the pits of store-bought fruit, but the trees you get might not do well in the UK climate. If you live in the UK and want a tree that will reliably bear fruit, you should buy a good quality grafted tree of your choice from a reputable UK supplier. Peach trees are best planted against a south- or south-west-facing wall or fence, where they can be trained as a fan, soaking up the heat and getting as much sun as possible to ripen the fruit. They will only fruit successfully as free-standing trees in the warmest, most favourable locations. As peaches flower early in spring, it’s vital to choose a planting site that isn’t prone to heavy or late frosts, which can damage the blossom. See our guide to positioning fruit trees. Peaches like deep, fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Avoid poorly drained conditions, which can cause the roots to rot. Peach trees will struggle in light or shallow soil. See our guide to assessing your soil type. You can put dwarf peach trees in big pots and put them on a sunny, shady patio or courtyard, ideally next to a sunny wall. They can also be kept in an unheated greenhouse, for either all or part of the year when in a container. Peach trees are easy to plant, and this is best done while they are dormant, between November and March. Bare-root trees are only available during this period. Potted trees are available all year round and can potentially be planted at any time, but will settle in best from late autumn to spring. Prepare your tree for planting by giving it a good watering if it’s in a container or by standing it in a bucket of water for half an hour if it’s a bare-root tree. See our guide below for full planting instructions. Related RHS GuidesTree planting: step by step.
How to grow peaches in UK playlist. Tree from Blackmoor Nursery.
FAQ
Can you grow peaches in the UK?
In fact, there is a long history of growing peaches in the UK – you’ll often find glass ‘peach houses’ in the walled kitchen gardens of stately homes, where ….
Can peaches grow in Europe?
Westwards they are also an introduced species in Afghanistan, Iran, and all the countries of Central Asia. Transitioning to Europe they also grow in the North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, and Turkey. In Europe the peach trees are partly naturalized.
Are peaches available in the UK?
Peaches have a lot of zinc, which is thought to slow down the aging process, and oils from the fruit are used a lot in cosmetics. Despite their exotic origins, peaches have been successfully grown in the UK for hundreds of years, and they are a beautiful addition to any garden.
How far north can you grow peaches?
When it comes to peaches, peach trees do best in USDA Zones 6 through 8. You can learn more about plant hardiness zones here.