With spring officially here, gardeners are preparing their orchards for summer crop.
With peach season underway, Utah State University’s extension in Brigham City is getting ready for their peach crop and the summer rush of people wanting the fresh fruit.
“Probably the most favorite one is the Early Elberta. They like those because they are a good tasting peach, and they’re also good for canning. And when everybody comes to Brigham City for Peach Days around Labor Day weekend in September, they always want those Elberta peaches or Early Elberta peaches and that because they are a favorite. ”
Michael Pace, county director of USU’s Brigham City Extension, and horticulture faculty member says it takes a lot of preparation in growing a peach crop.
“They’re pruning out last year’s growth, they’re saving some of it. Once those trees are in bloom, the fruit will set and then, as you go on, they’re going to go out and start watching for disease and insects and things like that, that can damage the fruit. They’re going to go out and thin the fruit so that you can get a nice sized peach that you can buy come summertime.”
Pace says that there are 25 to 35 different peach varieties available to grow each year.