Nothing Wrong With Slight Yellowing of Mid Pride Peach Tree

Mid Pride peach with yellowing leaves

Q. Could you tell what is the problem with my mid pride peach tree? I sent you pictures.

A. You have a great selection in a mid-pride peach. Honestly, I don't see a whole lot wrong with it. The leaves are yellowish but this is not due to iron. This is actually some sunburn and discoloration to the leaves.

            The difference between iron and bleaching by intense sunlight is in the coloration of the leaf. When a leaf is discolored due to high light intensities or sunburn they tend to bronze in there yellowing. This bronzing is over the entire leaf.

            Yellowing due to a lack of available iron in the beginning stages of the leaf’s growth causes the yellowing to occur between the veins of the leaf, leaving the veins a darker green color. The term for this is in interveinal (between the veins) chlorosis (yellowing).

Closeup of the leaves on this Mid Pride peach

            As the lack of iron intensifies, the yellowing between the veins becomes more pronounced. As the iron problem worsens more, the leaf begins to scorch around the edges (it is unhealthy and cannot handle stress as well) and the interveinal chlorosis progressively gets worse. At some time, and in some species, the entire leaf may become totally yellow with scorching on the leaf margins and the veins only with a hint of green in them.

          The best type of iron chelate for us is also the most expensive one. But a little bit can go a long way. The only place I have seen this for sale in retail packages in small homeowner quantities (one pound) has been at Plant World Nursery in Las Vegas.