The life cycle of a peach tree lasts just under 50 years in most cases, but I'll outline the different stages of that cycle below:
- Germination - The peach seed is relatively large, and oval shaped. It's surrounded by a shell, and once planted, it begins to sprout.
- Growth - Once the peach seed has sprouted, it grows roots in order to make use of the water and nutrients from the ground. The tree continues to grow, and will reach a height of around 15-20 ft. It will take at least 3 years before any peaches grow on the tree.
- Reproduction - In order to pollinate, each flower on the tree contains male and female reproductive parts. Insects carry pollen from the male part to pollinate other female parts.
- Seed development - The seeds begin to grow, and will begin to develop fruity flesh.
- Dispersal - When the peaches are ripe, they are picked by humans and animals, and can fall to the ground. When this happens, the cycle begins again and the seed begins to sprout.
Here's a really interesting recipe for fried peach and pancetta pizza! It sounds odd, but I bet it's delicious! What do you reckon?