First year trees: fruit or not?

[JamieB]

So bought a peach tree on sale about a week ago. I’ve heard if I nip the flower buds off, it’ll grow better, all the pretty flower petals blew off on the ride home. I don’t even have it planted yet due to weather. Should I nip them off before it starts to fruit? I would like this tree to do well, I’d prefer it be well established rather than to have fruit, but I figure I’ve got people to ask, so I will!

 

[marlingardener]

With any large perennial (like fruit trees) we have found it best to not let them set fruit or flowers the first year. The second year we remove about half of the little fruits or flowers when they first set on, and the third year we just let nature take her course and give us fruits and flowers!
Peaches are self-pollinating, so you can get by with one tree.

 

[JamieB]

Thank you. I’ll get them nipped off tomorrow then, it was already flowered when I bought it.