It sounds like the tree is more like a rootstock than what you think. Any chance the top died and you are now growing the rootstock? Can you see the graft union?

At any rate the fruit is what it is and won't change. So either replace the tree or graft it over to something else. No fertilizer or anything else you do will change the fruit as much as needed. Yes fertilizer, pruning, thinning, etc will affect fruit quality but not what you're facing.

Thanks fruit nut.

I looked closely at the tree trunk. Did not notice an obvious graft union so I checked them all. The graft is certainly harder to spot on a mature tree than on a young one. The tree in question has no "bulge" that looks like a graft.

The top did not die so I am thinking it is indeed a rootstock instead of a grafted peach. Bummer. Some of the prettiest peaches I have seen.
I have already planted replacements two years ago and they are definitely grafted to a rootstock that is suppose to be better for our alkaline soils. So I am hopeful for these.

I grew great peaches in the eighties with no disease problems in rocky shallow soil that was hard to grow anything in. Great production and I did not spray and used only manure and compost for fertilizer. Great taste also.

This time I've got the aberration of plenty of soil but struggle to even keep the trees healthy, much less get peaches. We'll see what this year brings.

Happy growing!

Personally when they fall off I'd collect them and let them "finish ripening"--some at room temp and some in the fridge--do they ever soften up? They should not behave that way but WTF.

They're described as firm. Guess they are. Sounds like they'd make good pies.

Here is a link that might be useful: La Feliciana Peach

This post was edited by Fascist_Nation on Sat, Mar 8, 14 at 18:48

Are too many peaches being allowed to set fruit? Sometimes, on young trees, they'll abort if they compete with the tree for nutrients. The tree usually wins.

Thanks to all for the assistance.

I always heavily pruned the small dime sized fruit in order to limit their numbers.

I have tried keeping some fruit and trying to ripen them off the tree to no avail. Peaches normally do not ripen(reach maximum sugar production) off the tree anyway as I understand it. They just dehydrate. But I tried it anyway. The fruit did not soften for many days and when it did it was bitter. Not just one fruit but all that I tried.

I'm giving it this season to convince me and then out it goes.

Checking for the graft union means something if you find it, but means nothing if you do not. It might have went away visually, or it might have settled after you planted them and is below the ground.

I read this thread this morning, so when at a friends place I checked his trees planted in 06. None have a detectible graft union, and his definitely are grafted trees.

I agree with those who think you should make them over into known good varieties

This post was edited by cckw on Sun, Mar 9, 14 at 23:12