August is Canada's National Peach Month

by Jennifer Smith August 10, 2017

In honor of Canada's National #Peach Month this August, we are sharing fun and interesting facts about peaches:

1) Peaches are a good source of Vitamins A, B, and C.

2) A medium-sized peach only contains 37 calories.

3) A peach pit contains hydrocyanic acid, which is a poisonous substance. (Avoid choking; and do not swallow the pit).

4) The term "you're a real peach" originated from the tradition of giving a peach to someone you liked.

5) Peaches are helpful with digestion as they can help cleanse the bladder and kidneys.

6) Peaches are an ideal snack - making you feel fuller and are great for losing weight.

7) Peaches help reduce anxiety and are known in Hungary as the "Fruit of Calmness."

8) The peach tree is often considered to be the tree of life.

9) The term "peachy keen" means cool, good, wonderful, or awesome. Sometimes, the word is laced with sarcasm.

10) The first peach orchard began in Florida in the year 1565.

11) There are over 700 varieties of peaches.

12) Peaches are in the Rosaceae (Rose) Family along with almonds.

13) Nectarines are peaches without the fuzz.

14) Peaches get their flavor from their variety, not their color.

15) The life of a peach tree is approximately 15 years.

Caring for Peach Trees

There are some fruit management tricks to grow your peach trees. After six weeks, apply one pound of nitrogen fertilizer to the trees and after the second year, add 3/4 pounds of the fertilizer once in the spring and once in early summer. Note: Do not fertilize the trees within two months of the first fall frost. Be sure to prune the trees regularly to avoid pest damage and disease including Brown Rot, Leaf Curl and common Mosaic Viruses.

Installing a deer fence around fruit trees will help control deer damage and will stop other garden pests including squirrels from indulging on the fruits. For bird control, fruit gardeners can drape bird nets over trees and apply repellents around the farm.