Eating a home grown, sun-ripened peach or nectarine is heaven. However growing an espalier tree requires various requirements to get a bountiful harvest. It is best to prune the trees in November, removing all the leaves from stem during the process and selecting the three best growing tips to tie in. It is best to grow them in a frost free environment, but still experience low winter temperatures which are fundamental for fruit development. Whitewash your greenhouse walls every year and use flexi tie to tie the stems into the training wire on the wall. Irrigation is important for fruit development so a seep hose irrigation system works well. Rabbit tails or paint brushes can be used to hand pollinate the flowers during spring and leave the door open during the day to allow bees to visit for pollination. Make sure there are vents to allow good ventilation during the summer months. Mulch the trees each year with leaf mould and use bone meal or manure to feed. With fruiting plants it is essential to have a quick release feed to help aid fruit development. Some peach varieties to grow are Peregrine, Rochester, Hale’s Early and Dymond. Nectarine varieties are Early Rivers, Lord Napier and Pineapple.
