Prunus persica 'Babcock'
Light: Full sun, with at least 6–8 hours daily; protection from intense late-afternoon sun is beneficial in Phoenix.
Water: Deep, regular irrigation during the growing season, especially during fruit development and extreme heat. Water the expanding root zone, allowing the upper few inches of soil to dry between irrigations; reduce watering during winter dormancy.
Soil: Deep, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Avoid waterlogged sites; Phoenix’s alkaline soils may require treatment for iron deficiency.
Mature size: Typically 15–25 feet tall and wide on standard rootstock; smaller on dwarfing rootstocks or maintained at 8–12 feet with pruning.
Bloom: Late winter to early spring, depending on winter chilling and weather; fruit generally ripens in late spring to early summer in Phoenix.
Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast with adequate irrigation and nutrition.