The attached was taken 8/10/2013; the date stamp on the photo is wrong.

Last year, no peaches. We had a late freeze and the peaches that remained after the blossoms froze were all eaten by infestations of Japanese beetles. I was afraid because of the beetles I would never have a tree-ripened Iowa peach again.

This year I have done more to control the beetles. I violated rules on peach growing, as I did not properly prune, and while I thinned hundreds of peaches I did not sufficiently thin them. Most of my fruit are small, but they are fairly good and I must have nearly 400 peaches on Reliance and another tree (Contender) with 100 that should be ripe in a few weeks. My tree loaded with 400 peaches is sagging to the ground but I will trim it up for next year, and my hopes are high.

If you have never tasted tree-ripened peaches you are missing out on one of life's best experiences.

How are the rest of you doing with peaches?

Last winter was perfect, no zero weather, good snow cover. But my research suggests that the drop in temps in April from 40 degrees to 20 degrees (April 21) could be the problem. I posed a question here but received no answers. So I'm thinking peaches may be vulnerable at first bud swell, but I'm not sure when that happened this year--I was so confident it was a go for peaches this year after the disaster of 2012--and didn't note it. I will in the future. My beloved and reliable Hale Haven has two peaches in the center of the tree. That's it.

So I'm happy for you! Maybe next year I'll be happy for me.

The peaches can't stay on the trees as long as they should because of this. I think to a certain degree the quality is a little less now than was in 2008. I think drought maybe is affecting things too. I think I had a good population of these fruit flies last year for sure, not sure about the year before that. But I noticed clouds of them on blackberries last year, just didn't know this asian pest even existed yet though.

But overall this is my best fruit year since 2008, apricot produced over 100 pounds, now its done after about a month of harvesting and the peaches are cranking out the fruit, close to 100 pounds of that already.

I hear you on the thinning...i did really good with my Alderman, but the Superior plum is really straining out there (I use 2x4's to brace it)... My Reliance tree got robbed by the squirrels and then i cut it down (its right by a power pole that the squirrels use like a highway). I'll be interested in seeing how your Reliance compares to the Contender. Good luck with all that fruit, do you make jam/sell them???

Even though I didn't have enough to warrant thinning, I fear I may have problems in that regard going forward....

After reading a thread on here recently about summer pruning, I was very concerned that my trees (In ground 2011) would get out of hand if I didn't do something. So I made a few cuts (after the 13 peaches were already picked of course) to hopefully slow that down, and open up the center even more. And I'll do some more winter pruning I think as well.

But wow, your peaches look real nice and pretty in the tree!

Congrats on that bumper crop!

Franktank, I have not made jam, but will. Peach/Blueberry pie. Jello+peaches for my 18 year old daughter is a hit. We have juiced some.

My goal would be to sell them someday, but probably not this year. Still thinking on that one. I am giving away a lot to neighbors, secretary, and associates. When Contender ripens I have another 100.

I have had excellent feedback from those I have gifted to. If I had properly thinned, I would sell them, but while the quality is outstanding to those who have not had a tree-ripened peach, the quality of these is not as good as I would like to justify selling them. Contender was better thinned so maybe then I can sell a few when they come in.

nice looking peach that I picked out of the tree

other side of that peach, reason I can't ripen them fully in tree.

Here is today's harvest (The picture has wrong date stamp). There are plenty more peaches where these came from.

It's been planted 5 years. Two years ago, it produced a single peach. Last year, three peaches. So, this years crop was quite a surprise.

hannah9880, milehighgirl: It is unfortunate you are zeroed out. Western Michigan and Colorado are usually reliable peach producing areas, aren't they?

I have good produce in my tiny 10' x 20' garden too. Lots of beans, great sweet corn (all harvested), the best tomatoes we ever had, and a few more things about to come such as melons, and peppers. My early December crop of brussel sprouts look like the best ones I have grown. Our winter and spring were wet but after about July 1, I remember only one decent rainfall.

It's been planted 5 years. Two years ago, it produced a single peach. Last year, three peaches. So, this years crop was quite a surprise.

Contender has fewer, but larger fruit than my 6th year Reliance. This is the third year for Contender in my yard; first year it bears fruit. It has about 100 fruit on it. Its fruit are firmer than Reliance, and a bit different taste than Reliance.

I had many compliments from friends and family on the Reliance fruit this year. I did not thin the fruit enough, and while the fruit was good, it was generally small and eating fresh peaches were not as good eating fresh Reliance peaches in past years. From the comments I heard they were still better than store bought peaches. I found that they were great in pies, cakes, and smoothies.

The desire to grow peaches in Iowa, something I did not think possible, started when I tasted by first fresh peach in Alabama about 33 years ago. It was the best fruit I ever tasted, and I wanted to duplicate it here.

How was it you decided to try growing peaches in Iowa? What type of trees do you have, and how many?

Yes, Colorado's Western slope grows the best peaches IMHO. A perfect blend of hot, arid days and cool nights. It's the only zone 6 in Colorado. But alas, the crop is very light this year.

Plus TruGold and Crimson Gold Nectarine set fruit for the first time, though minimally and dropping, so probably not try it this year.

Also I have seedling peaches that produce around early September, and have 13 of them with fruit and 5 without fruit.

Other ones that did not fruit were a couple lovell rootstocks and flat wonderful and yumyum nectarine( though graft may have failed on that one).

You must have a horde of peaches this year. What about an off year like 2012? Did you have any? Most of mine froze at flower bud level and the few left were eaten by Japanese beetles in 2012.

With this many trees, do you market your peaches? If so, how so?

And how do you preserve them for off-season consumption?