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Summer And Fall Irrigation

Categories: Soils, Fertilizers and Irrigation

Is it desirable to irrigate peach trees in the fall after the crop is

gathered?



The popularity of autumn irrigation for peaches in the San Joaquin

valley is based upon the experience of the last few years where trees

that have been allowed to become dormant too early in the season and

have been weakened by a long period of soil-drought during the autumn,

have cast their blossoms or manifested other indica
ions of weakness

during the following year. It is thoroughly rational to apply irrigation

to hold the leaves and secure their service in the strengthening of

bloom buds for the following year by irrigation. Such irrigation should

be applied immediately after the fruit is gathered or even before that,

if the yellowing of the leaves indicates lack of strength in the tree

and the frequency and amount of irrigation during the autumn depends

upon whether the soil will hold moisture enough to carry the tree to its

proper period of dormancy. This may be determined by the aspect of the

trees and by digging down two or three feet to see whether the soil

carries moisture which is likely to be sufficient until the coming of

the rains. Whether late irrigation will be necessary is also

determinable by the character of the soil; on close retentive soil it

may not be necessary, while on loose, sandy or gravelly soil it may be

essential to the life of the tree. One has to settle all these matters

by judgment and not by recipe.



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