8 Aug 2022

Lifecycle of a Maine Peach

Real Maine / About Us / Blog / Agritourism / Lifecycle of a Maine Peach

Real Maine member, Libby and Son U-Picks specializes in Maine fruit and connecting people to their family business. The family is a Pick-Your-Own (PYO) fruit farm, growing Maine fruit since the 1950s.

Farmer, Aaron Libby shares behind-the-scenes photos and descriptions about growing peaches in Maine. Peaches are one of the crops they grow at their ochard in Limerick, Maine.

Pretty in Peach – A look at the how a Maine farmer grows peaches

Maine grown peaches at Libby and Sons U-Pick
Peach buds “set” in the previous fall staying dormant through the winter before swelling in the spring.
Peach trees are pruned in the early spring.
Annual pruning is needed to adjust crop load, increase sunlight, and help promote a healthy tree.
In March/April the fruit buds will begin to swell and show the colors of spring.
In May, peach buds will be in full bloom and need to be pollinated by busy bees to grow into a peach.
A close up of peach buds in springtime. Soon, they will transform into tiny fruit, which begins to look more recognizable as a peach.
Peach trees need to be thinned by hand to promote good fruit, taste, size, and color. Warm sunny summer days are needed along with adequate water.
A close up of the small peaches during the thinning process.
Peaches growing on the tree – they are not yet ready for harvest, and need more time to grow at this stage.
Peaches ripening on the tree.
In Maine, peaches are tree ripened and picked by hand.
Maine peaches are harvested in late July into September, August being the most abundant.

Explore More Connections to Maine Farms

Want to learn more about Maine farmers and the crops they grow? Or about the makers, and the farm foods and products they provide? There are several ways you can explore connections.

  • Listen to the Harvesting Maine Podcast. Each episode features a live interview of conversations with Real Maine members.
  • Plan to visit the businesses to learn about Maine crops and farm products available year round. Often this includes events, farmstores, and markets.
  • Read one of our seasonal publications to learn about what’s happening on Maine farms, and see the cover pictures Maine farmers submit!
  • Finally, you can also dig in by reading about different topics. For example, Maine cheese making, fiber production, and recipes Maine ingredients.

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Categories: Agritourism, Farm Stories