Latvia’s stubborn peach growers defy the odds with experimental orchards
Growing peaches in Latvia remains a niche endeavour, with only a handful of enthusiasts cultivating the fruit. The country’s harsh winters, short growing season, and long dormancy periods make large-scale production difficult. Yet, a few growers continue to experiment with different varieties and techniques to see what might thrive.
Eglons Brūns began grafting peach trees onto alicha (Caucasian plum) rootstocks around fifteen years ago. His efforts have paid off, with several trees now producing fruit—enough this year to sell at local markets. He focuses on the 'Maira' variety, one of the better-known peaches in Latvia.
In Southern Kurzeme, Māris Narvils also grows peaches, using agro-film to shield his trees from freezing temperatures. While this method works for small-scale planting, it isn’t practical for larger operations. This year, his 'Maira' trees have finished production, while his 'Venita' tree yielded just one fruit. Narvils suggests 'Maira', 'Viktors', 'Sochnij', and 'Spura' as the most reliable varieties for commercial planting in Latvia. However, Ilze Grāvište, another expert, warns against using non-hardy rootstocks. She believes peaches simply aren’t suited to Latvia’s climate for large-scale farming. Instead, she advises replanting plum, apricot, and peach trees every fifteen years to maintain productivity. Currently, no records show commercial peach farming in neighbouring Lithuania either. The challenges of winter survival and inconsistent yields keep the fruit from becoming a mainstream crop in the region.
For now, peach growing in Latvia stays in the hands of dedicated hobbyists rather than commercial farmers. The fruit’s vulnerability to cold and the impracticality of protective measures limit its potential. Yet, growers like Brūns and Narvils continue testing varieties, hoping to find a way forward.
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