Why Plant Two Self Pollinating Peach Trees

If you're planning on planting peach trees, you may be wondering if you need to plant more than one. After all, won't a single tree produce fruit on its own? While technically possible, planting two self pollinating peach trees can greatly increase your chances of a bountiful harvest. Here's why:

Self vs. Cross Pollinating Trees

First, it's important to understand the difference between self pollinating and cross pollinating trees. Self pollinating trees are those that can create their own fruit without the help of another tree's pollen. However, this doesn't always mean that they will produce as much fruit as cross pollinating trees. Cross pollinating trees require the pollen of other trees to fertilize their flowers, which enables them to produce more fruit.

The Benefits of Planting Two Trees

While self pollinating trees can technically produce fruit on their own, planting two trees can greatly increase your chances of a successful harvest. By planting two trees, you're ensuring that there's more pollen available to fertilize the flowers. This results in a more efficient pollination process and a higher likelihood of fruit production.

In addition, planting two trees allows for alternate year bearing. Alternate year bearing is when a tree produces a large harvest one year and a smaller harvest the following year. When you plant two trees, they can be staggered so that one is producing a large harvest while the other is in an "off" year. This ensures that you'll always have a consistent amount of fruit year after year.

Choosing the Right Varieties

When planting two self pollinating peach trees, it's important to choose the right varieties. Not all peach trees are created equal, and some may not be compatible with others. When selecting your trees, make sure to choose varieties that are labeled as "self pollinating" or "self fruitful."

You'll also want to consider the ripening times of your trees. Choosing trees with staggered ripening times ensures that you don't end up with a massive harvest all at once. This can be overwhelming and difficult to manage, especially if you don't plan on canning or preserving the fruit. Instead, you want to spread out the harvest over several weeks or months.

In Conclusion

While it may be tempting to plant just one peach tree, planting two self pollinating trees can greatly increase your chances of a successful harvest. By choosing the right varieties and staggering the ripening times, you can ensure a consistent supply of delicious, homegrown peaches to enjoy for years to come.