Reliance Peach Tree

Home-canned peaches are a treat during the cold winter months—and Reliance Peach produces plenty of freestone fruits that make canning easy. Introduced in the 1960s, Reliance Peach is a cold-hardy variety that bears plump, golden, medium-sized fruits with a red blush and a nice balance of sugars and acids. While there are newer varieties, such as Contender, that are equal in hardiness and with much improved flavor, Reliance Peach is still a favorite for canning. Requires 1,000 chill hours. Ripens mid to late July.Give new trees two gallons of water per week. This equals one inch of rainfall. Once peach trees mature, they can go a week and a half with this same amount of water. Keep the soil evenly moist, but make sure it’s never sopping wet. Fertilize in early spring with a slow-release fertilizer. Choose a fertilizer high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen for best results. Prune trees annually to increase fruit production. Peaches bear fruit on second-year wood, meaning proper pruning this year affects your crop yield next year. Control pests and prevent