Often considered as plant that will only grow in hot climates, peaches are much tougher than the fruit looks. In fact, as long as you provide them a fairly sheltered environment, with protection from strong winds they will do well. By companion planting peach trees with other helpful plants you will improve the health and yield of your fruit crop.
Companion Planting Peach Trees
One of the main problems when growing peaches in the UK is wind because the delicate flowers can easily get damaged. Later in the season once the fruits have set and are ripening, the problem is insects. As with all soft fruit, fruit flies are the biggest problem according to the Western Australian department of agriculture and food they are also a problem there as well.
Here’s a link to their website for all the relevant information on fruit flies. You can make fruit fly traps ( more below) but because they are such prolific breeders you also need a deterrent. That’s where companion planting comes in handy.
Peach Tree Companion Plants
Peach Trees and Tansy
Although poisonous if consumed, tansy is a great insect repellent and will keep the fruit flies and aphids away from your peaches. Take care if you do grow tansy under your peach trees as it can be invasive but it not only repels insects it also contains a high potassium content. So it will improve the growth of all surrounding plants.
Due to it’s high potassium content, tansy makes a great addition to the compost bin as well. If space is an issue you can hang dried tansy in the tree’s branches to repel the fruit flies. It also works if leaves and flowers are spread around the ground around your trees.
Peach Trees and Basil
Basil is another aromatic plant that will keep the fruit flies and aphids away from your peach trees. Its flowers also attract bees and other helpful pollinators but peaches flower too early in the season for this to be much use. However a steady flow of bees and other flying insects is known to keep wasps away and will protect your fruit.
For more information on companion planting basil click the link.
Peach Trees and Garlic
Companion planting garlic with your peach trees will keep pests away and improve resistance to fungal infections. This is due to the high sulphur content in garlic. Click here to find out more about companion planting garlic.
Peach Trees and Onions
Due to the strong aroma of the onions, the insects will be fooled into passing by your peach trees.
Peach Trees and Chives
Another member of the allium family, chives do a similar job of protection by disguising the peach trees. The strong aroma from the chives works well and they look pretty too.
Peach Trees and Strawberries
Originally a woodland plant, strawberries make the perfect companion for peach trees and fruit trees in general.
Peach Trees and Asparagus
As asparagus is an early crop it can be grown under peach trees and harvested before the tree gets too full of leaves. The peach leaves will create a natural mulch as the year goes on so it’s win, win situation.
Peach Trees and Grapevines
Most experts agree that this companion planting combination works but none say why. My conclusion is they both thrive in similar conditions as they both originate in Mediterranean climates.
What Not To Grow With Peach Trees
As with all plants and people no one gets on with everyone, peaches are just the same. Under no circumstances should the following be grown anywhere near peach trees.
Peach Trees and Peppers
Keep peppers as far away from your peach trees as is possible because peppers can carry a fungus that is potentially devastating to peach trees. Verticillium wilt is one of the main infections that affects peach and apricot trees and is prevalent in peppers. For more information on this disease click here to go to the Agriculture Victoria website.
For a more in depth look at companion planting peppers click the link.
Peach Trees and Chilli peppers
The same fungal infection that can be carried by peppers can also be carried by chilli peppers as well. Grow them in a different part of the garden to prevent the spread of this disease.
Fruit Fly Trap
A simple trap can be made by pouring apple cider vinegar in a bowl and covering with cling film. Pierce several small holes through the cling film to allow the smell to escape and the fruit flies to enter. Fruit flies don’t seem to be able to resist the aroma of the cider vinegar and then they get trapped in the bowl and can’t find their way out.
Change the vinegar regularly to keep its efficacy and watch the fruit flies flock to it. The trouble is they are such prolific breeders so this trap on its own is not enough and you will need to employ the companion planting tips as well.
