It's best to pick the fruits when they're fully ripe. Harvesting time is dependent on crop type and variety.Early varieties, like 'Terrace Ruby', should be ready in July, and later varieties through August into early September. However, a three or four-year-old tree should easily carry 20 fruits. The more fruits kept, the smaller they'll grow.As fruits develop, thin them again to give remaining fruits enough space to swell and ripen. Start by removing every other one, leaving remaining fruits about 5cm (2in) apart. If a tree has a lot of developing fruitlets, thin them out.Misting over the blossoms with a fine spray of water can also help. Encourage more fruit by pollinating open blooms by hand using a soft brush, particularly as few insects will be out so early in the year to do the job.Pot-grown trees are best grown outside until the end of December, then brought into an unheated greenhouse or conservatory, where they'll flower from February through to early April, depending on the variety.

Peach and nectarine trees flower extremely early in the year, so to enjoy their flowering display and prevent blooms being damaged by frost, move potted trees under cover from mid-winter.

It's better to do occasional copious watering than frequent light applications.

Mulching in early spring conditions the soil and encourages it to retain moisture. Trees under cover grow rapidly so always feed and water well.Ensure your container is free draining and if there aren't adequate holes in the base, then drill several at even intervals to to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging.Remember that these trees come from a warmer climate and don't like to sit in boggy ground.

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