Pruning for Height Control on Miniature Peach

Q. I have a dwarf peach tree that was about a foot when I planted it last year. It has grown about 6 inches now. When can I prune it so it doesn't grow taller than me?  I am only 4 feet 10 inches and I don't want it to grow tall because I’m going to net it.

Miniature (genetic dwarf) peaches. Actually three of them planted in the same hole but 18 inches apart, one "high head" (grafted tall) and two low head (grafted low)..

A. I want to mention a couple things regarding your question. First, perhaps you mean it is a miniature peach and not a dwarf. Sometimes miniatures are also called genetic dwarf trees. To remove confusion let’s call the genetic dwarf trees “miniatures”.

            Sometimes the nursery trade calls peach trees grafted on certain types of rootstocks as dwarf. It’s true they are a little smaller because of these rootstocks, but not much. The term dwarf is more of a marketing ploy as far as peaches go.

Genetic dwarf or miniature peach.

            Genetic dwarf or miniatures are truly much smaller than the so-called dwarfs. They also grow differently and produce their fruit on branches differently. They are truly dwarf compared to standard -sized peach trees and the other so-called “dwarfs”.

            If you have a genetic dwarf or miniature peach, then it will be pruned much differently from other peaches. You want limbs coming from the trunk as low as possible. Bend these limbs toward the ground, like they have a fruit load on them. See if the fruit might touch the ground.

            If the fruit might touch the ground, consider removing the limb or at least cutting it back. Cutting it back might “thicken” and strengthen the branch and give the fruit more support so they don’t touch the ground.

            At this point in its life you just want it to grow. If it has side branches coming from the trunk at around the height of your knee, then it is doing it all on its own. If it’s a single stick and thick as your little finger, cut it at knee height. This cut will cause this solitary stem to start branching.

Bird damage on peach. If the fruit is firm (not hard) and you see this, pick!

            Secondly, why are you using a net? Birds? Harvest the fruit within one to two weeks of its normal harvest period as soon as bird pecks of the fruit are seen. Let the fruit finish ripening inside the house and off the tree. It is still considered “tree ripened”.