GROWING stone fruit here in the Scenic Rim can be rewarding but will need some extra attention because of our warmer temperatures and soil conditions.
Our region can support stone-fruits like peaches, plums, nectarines, and apricots and even cherries, but you’ll need to choose varieties suited to warmer climates. Choose varieties that require fewer chilling hours (hours below seven degrees celsius) during winter.
Our local nurseries stock varieties that do well here in Beaudesert.
Stone fruit needs plenty of sun and thrive with at lest six to eight hours per day.
A sunny spot with good air circulation helps minimize any fungal diseases. Try to protect young trees from frost and avoid planting in a spot which is highly exposed as stone fruits can be sensitive to strong winds.
When planting provide enough room for the trees to spread as they grow larger. This is ideally three to four metres apart.
Well-drained soil is crucial. Stone fruit don’t like waterlogged soil, which can cause root rot. We fertilise ours in early spring before flowering. Use a balanced fertiliser or one specifically formulated for fruit trees. We use our homemade compost.
Pruning is one of the most important things with stone fruit, ensuring you keep trees to a manageable size.
It also makes it easier when and if netting is needed.
We find it ideal to prune to a bowl shape with a nice open centre.
The nice open centre allows air flow, helps with pest control and most importantly easy harvesting and management.
We prune ours within a few weeks of the final harvest but you can also prune in winter when the tree is dormant with no leaves. They are deciduous.
Stone fruit can be a bit of a target for fruit-fly so make sure you have fruit-fly traps.
The fruit that get stung can still be used.
We just cut out the affected areas and feed them to the chooks. Have the balance as stone fruit slices.
Nothing like chilled stone fruit whether whole or sliced.
