Contrary to what many people assume, the peach has been cultivated for around 4000 years. The sweet fruit originally comes from southern China, but it has long since started its worldwide triumph. About 3000 different peach varieties are currently known.

Peaches are classified according to the color of their flesh

Peaches are mainly differentiated by the color of their flesh: there are white, yellow, red and red-grained peaches. The dark red, very unusual looking vineyard peaches actually have white flesh, which is streaked with red. Each peach has its own taste and fans. Some people find the white peaches tastier, others the yellow - it's all a matter of taste. However, anyone who tries a typical vineyard peach will initially be disappointed. This type of peach tastes much tart than others, it lacks the classic sweetness. On the other hand, vineyard peaches in compote, in jam or as a liqueur are a particularly aromatic pleasure.

Varieties with high resistance to leaf curl

Anyone who grows peaches knows this problem: sooner or later, the leaf curl affects almost every peach tree. It is difficult to treat and contain, so planting a peach variety with high resilience is recommended. Although these peach tree varieties are also affected, the consequences are often only marginal. Some old peaches show some resistance to leaf curl, but there are also specific newer breeds.

Which peach tree varieties have a low susceptibility to leaf curl?

  • benedict
  • Revita
  • Amsterdam
  • vineyard peach
  • Red Ellerstädter, also Kernechter vom Vorgebirge
  • Formerly Alexander

Basically, there is no really resistant variety, only less susceptible. In addition, white-fleshed peaches seem to be significantly more robust than yellow-fleshed ones. An exception to this rule is the Suncrest variety

Distinction according to harvest time

Peaches are also differentiated according to their ripening time, with the main season for the sweet fruits being in August. The later a peach ripens, the less suitable it is for northern locations. Vineyard peaches, for example, are ready to eat from mid-September and would not ripen north of the wine-growing climate. In addition, the later the variety ripens, the easier it is to remove the pulp from the stone. Many late-ripening varieties also flower very early. One of the earliest varieties is the old American peach variety Amsden, which can be harvested from the end of July.

Core peach varieties

If you want to grow a small peach tree from a seed yourself, it is better to choose varieties with no seeds for this purpose. Although a tree would also grow from the seeds of other varieties, it does not necessarily have to belong to the same species as the mother plant. So to avoid surprises, grow your own peach tree

  • Red Ellerstädter, also Kernechter vom Vorgebirge
  • Naundorfer Kernechter
  • and Proskauer peach.

The varieties mentioned are also very robust and are well suited for gardening.

tips and tricks

Peaches can also be cultivated in a tub, but not all varieties are suitable for this. The dwarf Rubira variety is recommended for pot-keeping.

Category: