Yes, no doubt that grafted trees lead shorter lives.
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I doubt that, I believe that long lived trees are those that generate new wood from older wood and that is a genetic difference that for cultivars varies greatly as a feature. Older varieties like Red Haven and Madison are more likely to possess this attribute because modern growers expect short functional lifespans for their crop trees. In the old days, a higher premium was likely put on longevity. I cannot speak for seedling trees as I don’t manage them, but I can think of no logical reason they’d have greater longevity as a general rule. Certainly the graft union is not a weakness in even a young tree.
I have a 30 year old Madison peach that is still sending out plenty of new vigorous shoots throughout the tree. All other varieties I planted at around the same time or shortly after are dead besides an Earnie’s Choice that I planted about 25 years ago, which is still very productive of big, high brix fruit, sending out plenty of new, vigorous shoots every year that I manage with at least 2 rounds of summer pruning.
I manage a tree at another site that must be at least 60 years old that blooms (showy blossoms) and tastes like a Loring, but I think it ripens sooner. It is a wonderful old variety as it performs where it is planted- high brix but not very big. It’s vegetative growth is weak and I think it may be headed for death in the next few years because of that. I will try to get some decent grafting wood from it soon, incase it isn’t Loring and instead something hard to find.
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But you’re going to express an opinion on how long they live anyway.
Clearly you cannot.
I’m trying to provide legitimate information here and have nothing against anecdotal observations. If you have any to support your opinion, it would be helpful.
Some prefer being incorrect to being corrected, I like being corrected… but with specific observations or researched information. For the last 30 years I have managed hundreds of peach trees at scores of sites in a region that is sometimes on the cusp of their survival, but it is only one general area. I’m happy to learn about others with different experiences at different sites. EXPERIENCES. I can learn from shared experiences- opinions, not so much.
Maybe seedlings tend to live longer than some or most grafted varieties. However, it would be hard to test whether most seedlings can outlive the longest lived named varieties without growing both on the same site for a long time. It seems to me that some older varieties have been specifically selected and continued for longevity, so I would expect them to be longer lived than most seedlings.
Please do! On my property, I have several neglected peach trees. I know they are 15+ years old and not been sprayed or helped in many years. I have started trying to rehab all my trees - several peaches have responded well, sending out 18" or more of growth (east coast, Virginia). Some peaches I may give up on next year, but for the ones that are still kicking along - why not continue?
For folks like me, I would welcome graft wood from a tree that tastes like Loring and could feed my nieces and nephews (as I have no kids of my own).
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