Peach (Prunus persica)
Maine Peaches by C.J. Walke at the MOFGA website. First appeared in the Spring 2018 MOF&G.
Article about growing peaches in cold climates: https://wintercovefarm.com/4-secrets-to-growing-peaches-in-cold-climates/ Winter Cove Farm is in Winterport, Maine.
Aaron Parker :
“Reliance” is probably one of the hardiest cultivars, but the fruit isn’t quite as good as others. In zone 5 Red Haven” and “Garnet Beauty” both seem fully hardy and produce excellent fruit. The seed line “Siberian C” appears to be more hardy than any cultivar, recommended for zone 4b and worth a try in 4a. A line with improved fruit quality has been selected by Miekal And of La Farge, Wisconsin. Seedlings available from Edgewood Nursery (Falmouth, ME) and Seeds available from https://beyondvineyard.com/
Sy Schotz:
I’m in favor of growing peaches from seed rather than grafting: When I was living in Western Massachusetts (elevation 1000+ feet, zone 5 a, it hit -25°F in the orchard my second year there) I got trees from an old timer who’d been saving and planting peach pits for decades. I’ve been saving and planting pits from the best of the trees I got from him. At the moment, I’m only saving freestone peaches. They are very juicy and sweet, better than any hardy grafted peach I’ve ever tasted, and the trees are much more vigorous as well. No hardiness issues as far as winter die-back, but part of what makes them bigger and sweeter also makes them more likely to miss a year because of frost on either end of the season. Compared to the Lars Anderson tree I have planted right next to the, they blossom two weeks earlier and ripen a whole month later (3rd week of September). The original trees have been fruiting for 4 years now, and we have yet to lose a crop to frost, though I’m sure we will eventually. So far, I’ve been very glad to benefit from those extra 6 weeks of pumping sugar into the fruit.
I also suspect that many more varieties of peach are “hardy” farther North than people suspect, as long as they are planted somewhere (or cared for in a way) so as to prevent their coming out of dormancy in a mid winter thaw. A la Michael Phillips, consider planting them on the North side of buildings or evergreens (far enough back that they get full sun in the summer, but shade in the winter), or try dumping wood chips on top of the snow in winter to insulate the ground and keep it colder during thaws.
The seeds i saved last year are still buried in my mother’s garden down in Mass for stratification, but I’ll see if I can get her to mail them up so that I can share some this weekend. I also have some that I have had in a fridge over the winter, but I expect much lower germination from those. last year I had 100% germination from the ones buried outside (I did have to carefully crack half of them) and very low germination from those kept in the fridge—probably because they were too dry even wrapped in a plastic.
Frank Heller:
My two Elberta peach trees are thriving in a protected corner away from Northern winds and in the sun. The right spot and you can introduce new varieties. When we first moved up here, the winter of 76/77 was one of the coldest; next spring I went to pick up my wife at the adolescent counseling program where she worked and was amazed to see a beautiful peach tree that was not a Reliance growing up against an outbuilding in the sun.
I would routinely pick peaches there until she changed jobs, years later the outbldg. was taken down and the tree gone. Always wondered which species was it and did it just spout from a pit thrown away?
David Spahr:
Reliance peaches ripen more all at once and fall off the tree much more than some other kinds. You have to get right out there when it happens. Of all the varieties in my project my least favorite. The fruit is very good but not very large, watery, and not the best canner. Shelf life is not a strong point either.
Most of my peaches do well. I think for overall productivity, size, taste etc. At least part of my success is probably environmental. I have windbreaks and forest buffers.
Burbank July Elberta from Stark Bros. is hard to beat. I got some Hale Haven on sale from them for $11 per tree today. They looked good and are guaranteed for a year.
Stark White Giant is an extremely delicious white peach that also doesn’t owe me a cent. I also like Flaming Fury Jumbo with it’s 12 ounce fruit but it has productivity issues. Year on and year off.
