Best Peach or nectarine variety (forum)

Nonny starts with ...
I am wanting advice on the best flavoured peach or nectarine to grow in a cold climate, self fertile, pref late Jan harvest.


Time: 16th March 2018 9:16pm

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About the Author Nonny
Armidale
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Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi Nonny

These peach varieties fits your requirements; late season, self fertile, high chill and excellent taste: a)Golden Queen peach b)Redhaven peach c)Fragar peach. You can pre-order them now at Woodbridge Nurseries at $30.00 a pop + delivery or at any other nurseries of your own choosing subject to availability. I have uploaded images of the peaches Golden Queen and Redhaven for your perusal.

By the way, Fragar peach was discovered in Cygnet, Tasmania hence it best approximates your peach growing climate condition in Armidale, NSW.

Happy Gardening :-)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 17th March 2018 2:40pm

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Original Post was last edited: 17th March 2018 3:30pm

About the Author Fruitylicious1
TAMWORTH,2340,NSW
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brad16 says...
Do you like white or yellow, cling or freestone?
I personally prefer yellow, but that is just my preference. Some friends prefer white.
I grew up with an Elberta peach tree, so Elberta has become my standard (and probably my favourite, even if nostalgia plays a big part).
Most peaches and nectarines are self fertile and late Jan harvest would be early/mid season. Another favourite is J.H. Hale peach, but this one does best with a pollinator, so avoid this one.
Harvest time may vary a little from place to place, but hopefully getting a harvest late Jan, and with good flavour (subjective to individual opinions), my recommendations would be:

Yellow (freestone):
Elberta (peach)
Red Haven (peach)
Maygrand (nectarine)
Flavourtop (nectarine)
Honey Kist (nectarine)

White (freestone):
Anzac (peach)
Wiggin's (peach)
Brigg's Red May (peach)
Early Rivers (nectarine)
Newboy (nectarine)

Estimating harvest time from one climate to another is going to be tough, especially for fruit that requires chill time. The time they break dormancy, go to flower and then ripen depends greatly on temperature differences and how quickly those temperatures go through those changes. Ultimately, if a particular harvest time is critical, then I'd suggest you get local advice from someone growing peaches/nectarines in your local climate.
My recommendations are from ones that I think may ripen when you want them. There are also some other good ones that ripen later (Feb/March). Goldmine (nectarine - white freestone), O'Henry (peach - yellow freestone), Pullar Cling (peach - yellow cling), Fragar (peach - white cling) are all good peaches/nectarines that ripen later.

If you really, really want me to narrow it down, then I'd say you have two choices:

1. Be adventurous and go Fragar (white cling peach). It may fruit a little later than you requested, but you won't have just any ordinary old peach tree (like such a thing exists?).
2. Be conservative and go Elberta (yellow peach) or Wiggins (white peach). These are proven popular and no-one is going to turn down a fresh peach off one of these trees.

btw. To my knowledge, the peaches that are traditionally canned are Elberta. If that is the flavour you associate with peaches then Elberta will not disappoint (and canned doesn't hold a candle to fresh-off-the-tree). A tree ripened Elberta exudes PEACH! The others are also excellent, and you'd be happy with any of them. Choose whether you like white or yellow, want a peach or nectarine. All my recommendations were freestone, which wasn't intentional, except for Fragar and Pullar. So they can be cut with a knife and separated quite easily. They should all ripen around Jan/Feb. Wiggins may be a bit earlier. Elberta and Fragar may be a little later, but those times are only rough estimates as the trees will adjust to your local climate.

If fruit fly is a problem in your area, you'll need to take precautions. Peach trees get hit hard.

Good luck.

Time: 18th March 2018 6:40am

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About the Author brad16
GOROKAN,2263,NSW
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brad16 says...
Hi again,

Since Fruity has also suggested Fragar, I just want to re-affirm that they are white peaches, and are cling stone.
Just so you know.

If you are considering using them in traditional recipes, like pavlovas, trifles etc, then maybe yellow freestones may offer a slight advantage of a few simple pleasures and comforts.

Since it sounds like it will be your one and only peach/nectarine tree, it is something that you may not consider until you have a substantial harvest, with left overs that don't get eaten immediately out of hand.

Just an extra thought to throw in the mix.

Time: 18th March 2018 4:50pm

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