In the Southern Hemisphere we are in our fall, about half way through and with winter six weeks away my low chill peach tree (Florda Prince ) is in flower and setting fruit. Not a big flush but is it sufficient to cause problems later on? Curiosly though the tree was bought as a low chill variety but is acting as though it’s a "no chill " as we have had nothing under 55f. Our historical low is about 40f but may be lower on the grass.
I am curious to know if any fruit from this flowering will hold through our winter and if we are lucky enough to enjoy two harvests.
Perhaps someone from your southern states has experienced this and can give advice.
Thanks
That’s a pretty minor bloom compared to what it should do next spring. My experience is that fall bloom sets poorly and what does set really doesn’t develop. But yours might do better. Quality probably won’t be good due to lack of heat.
Yes it is a minor bloom and perhaps the fruit will hold over the colder months. Even though the fruit may not be up to scratch it would be nice to have an early crop. Would the early crop take too much from the tree that the main crop suffers making it worth taking the early crop off or at least limiting it. Thanks for your thoughts.
No danger to the trees health or the spring crop. I really don’t think it’s an issue. The fruit will probably fall off. But let us know if the fruit sticks and sizes up.
How warm are your winters? Warmer than average 20C highs?
Steven, the long term average for Brisbane city (about 7km away) is 21.9 for June and July and for August 23.2.
Guess I’ll leave the fruit to set and see what happens. I expect I’ll see the main flush sometime in August as we are usually eating fruit some weeks before Christmas. I’ll stay in touch. Thanks for your interest.
My winters aren’t nearly as warm as yours, but I have a couple low-chill apples (Anna and Dorsett Golden) that often bloom for a second time in late summer and end up setting a light crop of apples that don’t have time to ripen before frost. It doesn’t seem to affect the fruit set the following year at all.
Yes Npolaske I also have an Anna and it flowers regularly sometimes 3 flushes in the year. I understand that this is a characteristic of the Anna as opposed to the peach which usually flowers in spring. Even so more than 1 crop in a season would be welcome.
