Single-Leader Peach Orchard in the Province of Rieti: Third Leaf and the First True Yields
In January 2026, we returned to the Province of Rieti to assess a single-leader peach orchard transplanted in February 2024. After two growing seasons, the central axis is perfectly established, and the first 2025 harvest has already reached approximately 100 quintals per hectare. The orchard is now entering its third leaf, and production pruning is being implemented. Plant assessment is straightforward and methodical. Amaranth-colored mixed shoots, well positioned along the axis and properly exposed to light, are selected. Brown wood that is exhausted or non-functional is either removed or cut back to 5–7 cm to stimulate vegetative renewal. If a branch becomes excessively elongated or moves away from the fruiting wall, it is either redirected within the first 15–20 cm of viable growth or renewed entirely. The central axis always remains the structural reference point. Video On a representative tree, 26 mixed shoots were selected. With a conservative estimate of three medium-sized ...