Peach Salsa

Airborne fungal spores land on buds to infest newly-emerging leaves in spring. The fungus feeds on the young leaves and affects their development so that they become distorted. The smaller leaf size makes them less efficient at making food for the plant and in its weakened state, the flowers and fruit fall off. Trees may recover sufficiently to make a second flush of growth and these leaves are usually unaffected by the fungus. Fungus survives on fallen leaves and branches to re-infect next season’s buds.

When fertilizing peach trees in a backyard setting, consider tree age and growth rate, soil/tissue analysis, as well as location. Since peach trees do not produce fruit during the first two years after planting, less fertilizer is required than is needed for mature fruit-bearing trees. Visual indicators, such as leaf discoloration and weak growth, are symptoms of nutrient deficiency. Perform a soil test before planting to identify soil factors, such as pH that may cause certain nutrient deficiencies. For more information, see HGIC 1652, Soil Testing. Once trees become productive, test their nutritional status with a leaf analysis. In July, take a leaf sample consisting of 50 to 100 fully expanded leaves (at the 4th-5th node.) Take the sample from non-bearing shoots located at about 5 feet height throughout the tree canopy. If there are several similar trees in the same area, take a composite sample.

Fresh South Carolina tomatoes harvested in the summer months are true delicacies. They really are at their best with bare minimum preparation. A Pico de Gallo style salsa combines ingredients that highlight a super fresh summer tomato. The following recipe is simple, easy to prepare, and packed full of flavor.

Rob Last reports, “Strawberry crops continue to develop well with sustained flowering and fruit set. Early crops are ripening well, with crops coming to market. Just a note of caution, the weather last week can be conducive to gray mold development; fungicide programs will be key. Thrips are active in some crops, so keep scouting. Melon transplants are going in the ground over the last week, with development looking very promising. Peaches in the area are all but finished flowering with a great fruit set. Finally, as we are looking at a cooler week for flowering fruit crops, keep an eye on the forecasted temperatures to determine if any protection will be required. Fruit and closed buds can tolerate cooler temperatures than flowers, but damaged flowers can increase gray mold development.”

Peaches are among the most popular fruit trees for backyard gardeners, especially in the southeastern U.S. And, now that the summer is upon us, a common question from backyard gardeners is: when and how much should I irrigate my peach trees?

Rob Last reports, “Crops are generally doing well in the area, with strawberries coming off with good volumes. On the whole, row covers, or icing protected 97% of the susceptible flowers leading to 1-2% losses of flowers. The damaged flowers can increase grey mold pressure in the crops so, maintaining both sanitation and fungicide applications to strawberries will be crucial. As berries ripen, sanitation also becomes essential for reducing pest pressure from sap beetles. In some crops, where row covers were utilized, we see spider mite populations increasing and a few active thrips feeding on both flowers and berries. Other fruit crops in the area, such as blackberries and blueberries, look very good with low levels of damage from the freeze event last weekend. Peaches in the area are being thinned, with scouting being maintained for scale and plum curculio. Early planted watermelons did suffer from the frost in places, leading to 10-15% plant loss and hence the need to replant in a few areas. Other crops are moving slowly away from the injuries. Luckily a lot of crops were not beginning to vine and survived the worst of the damage. These plants are stressed, so care will be needed with any applications as well as scouting for pest and disease issues. Conversely, Cantaloupes in the area were direct seeded and have survived unscathed.”

The peach is an iconic fruit in the southeastern United States, and many backyard gardeners consider a peach tree to be a good addition to their gardens. Planting season is upon us. Peach trees should be planted during winter while fully dormant. One of the most common questions from backyard growers is always, “What is a good variety to plant?” Here are a few other questions to think about when purchasing a peach tree for your backyard.

Salad:

This is an infestation of white peach scale. White peach scale isn’t terribly common to find, and when you do see it, it is usually concentrated on just a few trees within a much larger block.

Everyone usually agrees that tomatillos, garlic, onion, peppers and cilantro are the basic ingredients involved, but do you simmer your tomatillo salsa on the stovetop, or simply pulse-then-blend the raw ingredients together? Perhaps it’s best to roast it in the oven till the whole thing transforms from a thin-into-thickening slurry, and finally to something more like a loose and glistening jam?On the word of my friend You Grow Girl, Gayla Trail, I went with the roasting-pan method.Since I planned to freeze (rather than can) about a dozen small jars, I didn’t have to worry about a perfect balance of acidity, or what other ingredients I added. I simply went by eye, and taste. In my first batch, I was timid about the hot peppers; in my second, I went a little bolder.

QUICK: BEFORE THEY’RE GONE for another year: Pack up the flavor and juiciness of peaches for offseason use (and while you’re prepping those peaches, turn a bowlful into an easy, elegant peach clafoutis–my favorite dessert of all):Farm-Fresh Peaches, Frozen to Perfection Packing a harvest of summer’s juiciest flavor for the long haul: a how-to. Clafoutis Batter, Universal Solvent of Fruit Desserts: Learn to make this easy batter that turns fresh, dried or frozen fruit into a dramatic dessert.

My semi-failed batch of peaches went wrong for a couple of reasons, besides skipping the sugar entirely. How to freeze peaches:what I did wrong when freezing peaches:I let the peach fruit get overripe before putting it into suspended animation. If you’re freezing fresh (uncooked) fruit, you want it to be ripe but still firm—not already so soft as to be on a downhill slide.  Fruit that drips down your chin when you bite into may be a sensuous summer pleasure, but it’s too far gone for putting up. More treacherous, tho