grape size peaches

Question

I have a peach tree in my backyard. I guess it was there when I moved in but I only noticed it in the past 5 years. It is loaded with peaches but they never get larger than the size of 2 grapes put together. Why is this? There are trees all around it just growing wild.

Answer 1

A few things could cause this. First, it could be a chilling issue. If a peach tree gets just a little bit too little chilling in the winter, it will button the fruit, which means that it tries to grow them, but they will be deformed, stunted or fail to mature. Since no one really had a cold winter this year, it is likely that chilling could be a factor. Here is more info: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/peach/peach-chill-hours.htm

Peach trees need to be thinned well to produce fruit. If your tree is at least 3 years old and it carries the small, immature fruit throughout the season, that may be your problem. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/peach/peach-tree-thinning.htm

Another possibility is that there is a problem with pollination. If this is the case though, the tree will drop the fruit in late spring or early summer. If you suspect a pollination problem, these articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/teak/insect-pollination-process.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/creating-a-pollinator-garden.htm