New trends of peach tree growing in Romania

The Romanian peach growing areas, in the recent years, have been highly reduced. This was due to both agricultural policy during 1980-1989, which has reduced and converted land intended for peach growing in southern and southwestern zones to grain crops and also reluctance of farmers. The last one was due to several facts such as: the wish to shorten the peach consumption season up to the end of August, the lack of good fresh market cultivars, a poor knowledge of nectarines, propagation of old varieties not competitive by the commercial point of view and the lack of application of modern drainage technology. In Romania, a country were peach growing is particularly profitable, there is a strong need to set up some essential points to be used as new directions for peach and nectarine growing. Among these could be mentioned: breeding program development for: free stone peach for fresh market, canning clingstones varieties, nectarines, flat peaches and dwarf trees; the application of a modern growing technology; introduction of new competitive cultivars and planting compact large plots.