Feb 15th, 2009
How to Make a Peach Frame
Since I’m attempting to grow outdoor Peaches in the UK I deemed it time to make a Peach frame.
I can just about see tiny specs of pink inside some of the buds and that means that the tree is getting ready to flower. If we get a spate of mild weather and the flowers open, and then we get some late frosts then I can say goodbye to my hopes of any Peaches this year. Hence, the need for a removable Peach frame.
On good days I can leave the frame off so that the tree gets maximum sunlight, but at night the frame goes back on to protect the precious buds from the frost.
It’s not just protection from frost that the frame can provide. The frame also protects the opening buds from the rain which can cause Peach Leaf Curl a fungal disease that results in all the leaves falling off the tree. A frame is a great way to protect the tree while still letting the air circulate around the plant.
So what does a girl do when she needs a Peach frame making? She asks the two men in her life to build one, that’s what she does.
The planning stage is the most delicate.
And of course there needs to be a foreman to oversee operations.
And after all it is a good excuse to give the power tools a work out.
Just putting the finishing touches…
And maneuvering it into position.
And the job’s a good un’. As they say. Yey!
Love seeing “my men” work together. Good peach eating!
What a great idea! I may make little covers for my raised beds this year so I can grow some hot weather things a little better. It’s always fun to try to cheat the weather when you live in a colder climate!
Good luck with the peaches, hope the weather stays mild from now on. The cover is a great idea and looks like it will do its work!
Have you secured it in any way, against the south westerlies? I have one of those plastic greenhouse things and it’s always blowing over…
Your garden looks wonderful, can’t wait to see what it looks like as the year goes on!
What the ….?? Just made mine today after several weeks of procrastination :-D Apparently this is the day you service your peach tree… Sadly mine can’t be removed as easily as yours. Good work.
If only I had a nice stone wall like that to espalier a peach tree on.
Hi Stephie,
Yes I should have mentioned that. We have secured the frame with hooks that fix to the wires on the wall.
Didn’t realize Ryan was so good with power tools! ;) And of course super cute to see Jackson “helping” as well. Yea for peaches! YUM!
Great Idea! :)
I thought about this and had to ask. Is the main purpose of this to extend the season or to protect the blossoms from a late frost?
I’m about 200 miles North of the peach zone in Tennessee U.S. and the problem with peaches (and apples) here is that we get lots of nice spring weather starting in March that makes the trees bloom, and then a frost gets them about 2 out of 3 years. Once they set fruit they are usually safe, and the growing season is plenty long.
No one that I know of here uses this technique. Although there might be one soon.
@David LaFerney: Here in Denmark I’m covering my peach tree due to late frost, and like Gill wrote, to protect the opening buds from rain which allows fungus to thrive and destroy the leaves.
Some people cover the stem of free standing peach trees in order to delay flowering.
Thomas - Thanks, but either I’m losing my mind or the bits to explain my questions have been added to the article. Both are entirely possible.
It’s amazing that you can grow peaches at all in Denmark! I’m afraid that gardening is practiced at a much higher level in Europe than it is here - If something isn’t easy to grow here it tends to be written off as something that can’t be done or isn’t worth the trouble.
You are hereby promoted to my favourites list. My father in law grew peaches under an old window frame in North Yorkshire. I can still remember my astonishment the I went there when my then fiancee just walked up the garden and came back biting into a juicy, sun warm peach. What material are you using to cover the frame. Would old nylon curtain do do you think? We are planning to get round the problem by moving to France which is perhaps an extreme way to get early fruit and veg. Yours, Margaret
How on earth do you come up with these ideas. We racked our brains for quite some time before coming up with something similar (not as good) but then found a supplier that actually saved us the hassle. This site is full of useful information. Protecting your crop is crucial. Its like taking care of a small child.
[...] My Peach tree is starting to show signs of life. I can just about see some tiny pink flower petals starting to emerge under the deluge of rain we’re having here. It’s time to deploy my Peach frame. [...]