What Do You Do With 100 Peaches?… You Eat What You Can and You Can What You Can’t!
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the temperatures can drop at this time of year and the changes that plants go through with the lower temperatures and the shortening days. Within the next month we will, if the season is anywhere near normal, we will have experienced our first killing frost. I have found that this occurs just after the first week of October and then we will get a small reprieve until the send of the month. This may not be the same for areas of higher elevation but Lumby proper seems to experience this affect so if there are garden areas that you wish to prolong do have covers available and watch the forecasts for warnings of frost.
I am going to again attempt to grow my Paul Friday seed and see what I can produce. I have read a great deal more and so I will take a new approach as vernalizing the entire pit did not produce anything last year. This time, as suggested, I will allow the pit to dry for several days and then I will gently try to remove it from its shell. Drying should shrink the inner seed for easy removal as any nicks or cuts in the seed will reduce its chance of germinating. Then it is suggested that you put the seeds in a zip lock bag and leave it half open.
When you want to plant the seeds for germination you fill the bag half full with water and in a few hours add potting soil to the point that the soil is damp not soaking wet which may cause the mixture to mold and that will definitely ruin the chances of the seed sprouting. Place this bag back in the refrigerator in a place where it will not be crushed and well away from any other fruit like Apples or Bananas that emit ethylene gas which will cause the seed to ripen prematurely. In about 5 or 6 months start to check for roots that pronounce that you have been successful. Do not dismay if there are no signs yet as it could take several months to achieve germination.
Then as it may still be too early to plant outside they can be gently planted in a pot until the soil temperature is warm enough to plant them outside. It is a job of great patience as after this process it will still be several years before you will harvest any fruit. When you do have germination and a successful plant to put outside you will need to find a fully sunny location that is protected from wind and has well drained sandy soil with a ph of 6 to 7.
After that and the following years there will be pruning, watering, disbudding to remove surplus peaches that develop so they are well spaced and not so abundant that they do not develop a decent size.
One site suggested planting the seed itself in December or January as this will allow itself time in the cooler temperatures to sprout as it does need to be vernalized. They suggest poking a hole in the soil 3 inches deep with your finger however I feel a jack hammer might be the tool needed at this time of year. Patience obviously will be needed to succeed with this project.
This coming Saturday will be a wonderful Lumby and District Public Market to attend as we will be hosting our annual Butter Tart Festival. There will lots to see and lots to do as well as enjoying some magnificent Butter Tarts! Look forward to seeing you there!
Happy Gardening
Samantha Nason
BS Ranch & Greenhouses
250 547 6567 • samanthanason@hotmail.com
