| Estimated Cost |
$3,500 per acre; harvest May to August; 3 years to first economic harvest |
| Market Outlets |
Wholesale, roadside, farmers market, pick-your-own |
| Market Potential |
Good; room for expansion |
| Profit Potential |
$0 to $1,500 per acre |
| Adapted Areas |
Central, East and South Texas |
| Labor Requirements |
One man per 25 acres; more at harvest |
| Equipment Requirements |
Tractor, air blast sprayer, herbicide applicator, pruning tools |
| Soil Requirements |
Sandy loam soil with well-drained clay subsoil |
| Water Requirements |
Good quality, 4 gallon-per-minute-per-acre well or other water source |
| Minimum Size |
25 acres – full time; 5 acres- part-time |
| Risk Factor |
Moderate to high |
| Other Limiting Factors |
Peaches freeze out most years in Panhandle and West Texas areas. Avoid hail belts. No rootstocks are adapted to alkaline soils. Must have well-drained soil. Avoid low ground locations because of water problems and possible spring frosts. Susceptible to oak root rot and cotton root rot. |
| Comments |
Peach growing has a high labor requirement during pruning (January to February). Thinning (April) and harvest (May to August). Marketing requires diligent effort and cannot be ignored. Insect and disease control is critical or crop can be unmarketable. |
