Bonanza Peach Tree

Bonanza Peach Tree

Buy a Bonanza peach if you want a freestone^[7] (stone comes away easily) small peach tree that can be grown in pots and will produce fruit by itself. Great for patios, small gardens and large containers. A well-grown Bonanza will usually stay around 2m or less, depending on container size as a small pot can further reduce height. ^{[1] [2] [6]}

Bonanza produces pretty pink spring blossom followed by full-sized eating peaches in late summer, despite its compact size, with yellow flesh and red-and-yellow skin. ^{[1] [2]}

As Bonanza is self-fertile you do not need a second peach tree for pollination to start the fruit-growing process so long as there are bees and other buzzies flying around your peach tree. Peaches can flower early, when there may be fewer pollinating insects about, so hand pollination with a small soft brush can still help improve fruit set, especially if the tree is grown under cover. ^{[2] [3]}

Bonanza can fruit from an early age, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed heavy cropper in UK gardens. The original US patent described heavy cropping under California conditions; in the UK, cropping will depend much more on warmth, frost protection, watering, feeding and keeping peach leaf curl under control. ^{[2] [7]} This is easier if you have a container-grown peach so you can move or cover when frost or wet spring weather is a problem. ^{[2] [3]}

Bonanza should be grown in full sun and shelter. Peaches need warmth and good light to ripen well outdoors in the UK, so avoid cold, shaded or exposed spots. A south-facing or west-facing position is usually the best choice. ^{[2] [3]} South-East is not as good because it does not get warmed by the midday sun.

RHS rates Bonanza as H4, roughly -10°C to -5°C, so the tree itself is hardy through most of the UK in a suitable position, but the blossom is much more vulnerable. Once the tree is in flower, frost around -2°C can start to damage blossom and reduce or ruin the crop. See our buying guide listed above for more information.

Container trees still need regular watering, feeding and sensible protection if you want the best chance of a good crop. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [10]}

Planting a Bonanza Peach Tree

Plant Bonanza Peach Tree in full sun, in a sheltered position with moist but well-drained soil. If growing it in a pot, use a large container with good drainage and a loam-based compost. RHS gives 45–50cm across as a suitable container size for fruit grown in pots, but Bonanza will be easier to manage in a larger patio planter where space allows. Around 100 litres is a more forgiving long-term size because it gives the roots more room and reduces how quickly the compost dries out in summer. ^{[2] [3] [8]}

Water well after planting and keep container-grown trees evenly moist through the growing season. This is especially important in early to mid-summer while the fruit is swelling as it helps avoid fruit splitting. Do not let the pot sit cold and waterlogged in winter, as good drainage is important for root health. ^[3]

Bonanza Peach Tree Fruit Thinning

If the tree sets lots of young fruit, thin them when they are between hazelnut and walnut size. Remove the smallest, distorted or badly placed fruitlets first, then aim to leave the remaining peaches roughly 20cm apart. This gives the fruit left on the tree more room to size up and reduces strain on a compact patio tree. ^[3] It seems counter-productive, but there are good reasons to do it. An overloaded branch can snap and it is better to have a higher quality smaller crop.

Bonanza Peach Tree Pruning

Bonanza needs little or no pruning compared with larger peach trees. Remove dead, damaged or badly placed growth when needed, but avoid heavy unnecessary pruning. As with other stone fruit, prune peaches in spring or summer rather than winter to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker infection. ^{[2] [3]}

Protecting Bonanza Peach Tree Blossom

Protect blossom on frosty nights if the tree is in flower (more information in our buyers guide listed above). A small potted patio peach is much easier to cover with fleece than a larger tree, and a potted tree can often be moved to a more protected place e.g. conservatory. Remove covers during the day so light and pollinating insects can reach the flowers. ^{[3] [5]}

Peach leaf curl is the other practical issue. It is a fungal disease that affects peaches and nectarines, causing distorted leaves soon after leaf burst in spring. The best prevention is to keep the emerging shoots dry from late autumn until mid-May where practical, using a rain shelter or by moving a potted tree under cover. This is another reason Bonanza suits container growing. ^[4]

Protecting Bonanza Peach Fruits

Protect peaches as soon as the fruit starts to colour and soften, because that is when birds and squirrels are most likely to take them.

Best options are taut, securely fixed netting, individual fruit sleeves/bags, a small fruit cage, or moving a potted Bonanza peach under cover if possible. Avoid loose netting because birds can get tangled in it. Check protection regularly, especially after wind, and make sure fruit still gets light and airflow.^[3]

Other Interesting Information About Bonanza Peach

For the longest fresh storage, pick Bonanza peaches when they are ripe or nearly ripe but still sound and unbruised. If they are slightly firm, let them finish ripening at room temperature, or place them in a paper bag to speed ripening. A paper bag helps because peaches give off ethylene gas, which encourages ripening; the bag holds some of that gas around the fruit while still letting moisture escape better than plastic. Do not seal peaches in a plastic bag, as trapped moisture can encourage rot. Once ripe, move peaches to the fridge and use them within about 3–5 days. Keep them dry, handle them gently and bring them back to room temperature before eating for the best flavour. For longer storage, slice and freeze the fruit rather than trying to keep fresh peaches for weeks. ^{[9] [11] [12]}

Bonanza also has an interesting breeding background. It was bred in California by David L. Armstrong and patented as a dwarf yellow-fleshed freestone peach. Its patent history links the dwarf habit back through breeding lines that included Chinese Dwarf peach, while Flory Dwarf peach is better treated as a comparison variety rather than a proven direct parent. The useful buyer point is simple: Bonanza was selected to combine compact growth with proper eating fruit. ^[7]

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