Courageous hobby gardeners dare again and again to grow a peach or nectarine in our latitudes. If the project succeeds, they will be rewarded with aromatic fruits that taste far better than the supermarket products. Unfortunately, the cultivation of these heat-loving fruit tree species also has some unpleasant challenges in store. Yellow leaves well before fall is an indication that the nectarine is not 'happy'. Its owner must find both the cause and a solution for it.
Disease-stricken trees
The peach tree, which has the beautiful botanical name Prunus persica, is plagued by many diseases in our areas. The same goes for the smooth-skinned nectarine, bot. Prunus persica var. nucipersica, which is closely related to it. Most of these diseases indicate their presence with leaf lesions.
However, these are rarely accompanied by a simple color change from green to yellow. Rather, patterns, elevations or other shades of color appear. The dreaded curling disease can be recognized by the curled leaves, among other things. So when your tree's leaves lose their usual appearance, take a closer look to really fight the real disease. Otherwise any help may come too late for the tree.
Symptom yellow leaves
If only yellow leaves appear on a peach or nectarine, without being accompanied by other changes, there are two possible reasons. The harmless cause is provided by nature, which turns the leaves of this tree yellow in autumn for good reason. The tree pulls the green chlorophyll out of the leaves, since it would be useless to leave the leaves on the tree in winter when there is little light.
Even if the leaves turn yellow in summer, the lack of chlorophyll is responsible for this. But in this case it is not natural, but a sign of illness. This disease is known as chlorosis, popularly also known as bleaching addiction or jaundice. Since chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis, which is essential for life, the cause of the disease must be identified and a solution found as soon as possible.
cause of chlorosis
The formation of chlorophyll comes to a halt when the nectarine or peach lacks important nutrients. This can be iron, nitrogen or, more rarely, magnesium. Without these elements, Prunus persica cannot form leafy green. The possible reason why the fruit tree is missing these elements can be found in the following listing. There may even be several reasons for the deficiency:
- wrong pH of the soil
- nutrient uptake is disturbed
- the soil is poor in nutrients
- it is not sufficiently fertilized
- the fertilizer contains these substances little or not at all
All these points must be clarified so that the solution can be specifically addressed. However, it remains questionable whether the harvest of the year can still be saved.
Chlorosis on raspberry plants
countermeasures
There are several options to choose from when it comes to overcoming a nutrient deficiency.
Check and optimize the pH value
Both peaches and nectarines cannot develop ideally in a calcareous soil. The soil should be slightly acidic to neutral so that nutrient absorption works smoothly. In the garden, this problem occurs less often. With a peach or nectarine tree in a container, on the other hand, the soil can often be in the alkaline range. Test the pH with a quick test from the garden center. Ideally, it should be in the 6.5 to 7 range. If the pH is above that, you need to lower it. For example, special compost or coniferous soil can be used for this. The use of peat, on the other hand, is not recommended for environmental reasons.
Tip: If possible, water these two fruit trees exclusively with rainwater, which, unlike tap water, is slightly acidic and contains little lime.
Eliminate disrupted nutrient absorption
A damaged root system can also be responsible for the lack of nutrients in the nectarine and thus for the yellow leaves. It is damaged by prolonged waterlogging. So-called drought stress can also be present. This tree species has what is known as a heart root system, which is a combination of deep and shallow roots. However, the deep root hardly reaches the groundwater and cannot completely supply the tree with water if the shallow roots cannot find water in hot summers. However, the tree can only absorb nutrients dissolved in water through its roots.
- water the tree on hot days
- Mulch the root area
- loosen heavy soils with compost
- Potted specimens need a drainage layer
- must not stand in the water
Tip: A heavily compacted soil in the root area also makes it difficult to absorb nutrients. So loosen them up regularly. Be careful not to damage roots.
Test soil for nutrient content
You can't tell how nutrient-poor a soil is by looking at it. That's why it's also appropriate in a home garden to test the composition of the soil every few years. Nectarines need plenty of nutrients and need to be fed regularly. The poorer the soil, the more fertilizer it needs. If this aspect of care is neglected or not sufficiently satisfied due to ignorance, there will be a lack of nutrients. If chlorosis is present, you should have a soil test carried out promptly so that you know which element is missing and can supply it in a targeted manner. After that, the tree has a good chance of recovering soon.
Check fertilizer used
As a rule, compost and stable manure contain all the necessary nutrients in sufficient quantities. In addition, horn shavings and some fruit tree fertilizer are suitable for a good supply. However, fertilizers are also available on the market that lack iron and magnesium or are dosed too low. Check to see if this is the case with the fertilizer you are using, which consequently could have led to chlorosis. The solution: Immediately replace such a fertilizer with a more suitable one.
Question nutrient dosing
The dosage or the number of fertilizations per year is another point that influences the nutrient concentration in the soil. Check your previous fertilization, it should be as follows:
- fertilize throughout the growing season
- initially supply them with compost or stable manure at the end of February
- Fertilize monthly from May
- Do not fertilize until after September
- Observe the recommendations for commercially available fertilizers
Tip: If you exceptionally use a chemical fertilizer for a nectarine or peach, you should combine it with extensive watering. Otherwise, the fertilizer can cause root burns.