Peach tree still green in freezing Ohio winter

[almathies]

This is strange. Everything else is like clock work. The Oaks have even dropped more leaves than usual this time of year. We have had several days if not weeks of below average temperature and just about everything is done. The strange thing is my peach tree appears to be holding it's own. The leaves are still green and not at all wilted. I had ice on them yesterday and today, they still haven't been affected. Since this is its first year in the ground; I have no history on it. Has anyone observed anything like this? I never had a peach tree before so I'm clueless. I have seen this in potted citrus before but they were in a more protected area where this is planted in the center of the yard with no windbreaks or "micro-climates".

 

[JD3000]

High nitrogen perhaps?

How about a variety or provenance that is southern and doesn't know any better?

 

[ATH]

If it went in the ground recently, there is certainly high N from the nursery...

 

[JeffGu]

Mine did that the first year they were in the ground (Nebraska) but they all dropped their leaves fairly early this year and last year. The high N sounds very plausible to me.

They also produced some amazing peaches this year. Not a bug bite or bird peck on them when we picked... we left a couple iffy ones on the trees, and a week or so later the birds and bugs finally found them and snarfed them up. We pick just a tad early and let them finish ripening indoors, because if they fully ripen on the tree, you'll have to share them with countless peach-loving bugs and birds.

 

[almathies]

Thanks everyone for the input. Since it has only been in the ground maybe 7 months it could have been "juiced" up on N and is still transpiring enough to keep it going. When we get into the 20's, we'll see what it does. It did make 2 peaches this year even though it is a small tree. Other than inoculating the roots with fungi; I haven't done anything but spray it with neem oil.

 

[almathies]

I should have mentioned; I'm in zone 5 Ohio

 

[JeffGu]

I'm in zone 5

Also in Zone 5, here. I thought they might be marginal, but they're among the healthiest of our fruit trees and easy to prune. The wife happened to know the two magic words that would convince me to give them a try...

Peach pie.

 

[almathies]

They beat apples 10/1. More of an ornamental look and less prone to powdery mildew although the japanese beetles had a good time munching on the foliage (most of which recovered by fall). Next year, I'm taking extra precautions! But yes..... Peach pie and peach smoothies sounds delicious!

 

[JD3000]

Good luck.

Lots of pests and diseases for the genus