Just wanted to show off two of my peach trees. As of Yesterday (8/11) they reached the top wire 5.5-6 ft up. I’m amazed by the growth thus far & I definitely recommend that every grower try an espalier at least once! Very rewarding, appealing and easier than you think!
I wondered about growing a peach as an espilar but I thought that the rapid growth and the need for new fruiting wood might make it very difficult to accomplish. I look forward to seeing your results.
Most of the stuff that I have read about espalier suggests that peaches should be trained into a fan shape rather than a traditional horizontal cordon espalier. That form more readily allows you to prune annually for renewal wood to fruit the following year.
Earlier this year, in the Pictures section, I included a picture of a large peach fan-trained espalier that I saw in France last summer. It is the third picture down in this post:
Mt thought is that generally speaking, peaches trees in our hunpmid east coast do not live very long due to diseases and insects. Also, the way a peach tree grows makes it challenging to keep branches horizonally espaliered.
If I were to attempt espeliering a fruit tree, a pear or apple tree would be my first choice.
My colleague told me she saw peach trees espeliered at Thomas Jefferson’s estate ( or one of the founding fathers). She has been inspired and wants to do it. You have a chance to succeed.