Red Haven Peach Trees are ready for harvest in mid to late fall, depending on your area. The Red Haven is a self-pollinating tree, so you will get fruit with just the one. However, you will have a much higher fruit yield with two of them planted within 30 feet of each other.

1. Planting: Plant your Red Haven Peach Tree in well-drained soil and in a location where it will receive full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day). Protect your tree from winds by planting on the sunniest side of a building or your home. When you're ready to plant, dig a hole twice as wide as the plant's root ball and just as deep. Amend the soil around the hole with compost to ensure the tree has proper drainage. Then, place the tree and cover the roots with soil, watering occasionally as you go along to remove any air pockets that may have formed. Gently pat the soil down until the roots are completely covered.

2. Watering: Keep the soil around your Red Haven Peach Tree moist. Generally, watering once a week by leaving a hose at the base of the tree for a few minutes is sufficient. Once the soil around the tree has dried, water the tree again. During times of extreme heat, your tree may need additional water.

Tip: Yellowing of the leaves is a sign of overwatering while leaves that are dry and brown can be a sign of underwatering.

3. Fertilization: After your tree has been in the ground for 6 weeks, apply 1 lb. of a balanced fertilizer formula, such as 12-12-12. In addition, apply ¾ lb. of fertilizer in the spring before the tree pushes out new growth. Repeat this in the summer and fall as well.

4. Pruning: Your Red Haven Peach Tree will need to be pruned for the first two years in order to encourage fruit production. Prune your tree in late winter or early spring using pruning shears and trimming away any broken/dead branches as well as any crisscrossing branches by making your cut right below the dead wood. To achieve the open center shape, prune your tree so that the center section has only two or three main branches that will receive plenty of sunlight.

Tip: Once your tree begins to fruit, thin your peaches out to allow each peach to have 8 inches in space to grow and mature properly. Thinning out your peaches will help to increase your overall production. Peaches on the top and outside of the tree will likely be ready to pick first. They will be fully ripe when there is no green left on the skin and they come off with a slight twist.