Big Dan grows all of these peaches...
|
|
| Peaches |
|
|
| Harbelle |
July28-Aug3 |
|
Semi-Clingstone |
We like this early season peach just for the appearance and flavor. It’s an offshoot of Sunhaven. Origin: 1968, Agriculture Canada, Harrow, Ontario
Overcolor is an attractive bright red on a deep yellow
ground. The flesh is a rich vellow, free of red pigmentation,
medium-firm but melting with a good aromatic quality |
| Summer Serenade |
July30-Aug9 |
|
Clingstone |
A medium-large, globose to ovate,
attractive, 50-70% crimson red over yellow-green groundcolor,
yellow-fleshed, semi-clingstone peach ripening from July 13-16,
approximately 11 days before Redhaven. The flesh is firm with
fair to good flavor. |
| Red Haven |
Aug13-Aug25 |
|
Semi-Freestone |
Still the standard of yellow-fleshed, semi-freestone
peaches in this season. A medium-large, globose to slightly
ovate, 50-70% scarlet red over greenish-yellow ground- color,
yellow-fleshed, semi- freestone peach. The flesh is firm with good flavor. The red haven peach – the peach that all other peaches are judged against. In fact, other peach varieties are often listed by how many days before or after they are ready to pick in regards to when red havens are ready. Red havens are usually ready for picking around the end of July to beginning of August. This is the classic peach that you will find all over the place. It’s a heavy producer which farmers love. They also love it’s long shelf life. It’s the most popular peach planted in Michigan. It is a freestone peach, in that you should be able to remove the inner pit without taking half the peach with it.
The Red Haven was introduced in 1940. It was created by Dr. Stanley Johnston of Michigan State University. It was first grown in South Haven, Michigan. It is juicy with a good peach flavor. It’s a great peach for canning as they are easy to slice up and remove the stone. This peach also works well in cooking applications. It has the acidity that you want.
|
| Belaire |
Aug15-Aug25 |
|
Semi-Freestone |
The Bellaire peach ripens in early August shortly after the Red Haven. It is a freestone variety, thus the pit is easy to remove when the peach is ripe. Bellaire peaches tend to be on the larger size when grown to their full potential. The Bellaire is said to be part of the Loring family of peaches.
The Bellaire peach was introduced in 1984 in Martinsburg, WV by Freddie Blair and Hilltop Nurseries. The Bellaire peach is a great peach to use for a pie or other baking endeavors. It is on the acidic side, which is a nice counter to the sugar added for a baked good. It also has a nice peach flavor and is juicy. It not the sweetest peach, so if you don’t like your peaches overly sweet, this one is for you. |
| Canadian Harmony |
Aug20-Aug21 |
|
Freestone |
The harmony peach is large freestone peach. As the name would suggest this variety was developed in Canada, in the province of Ontario. It was introduced in 1968. What Canadian Harmony lacks in the way of appearance it certainly makes up for in flavor. It’s a very juicy peach. There was a good amount of juice in the bottom of my bowl after eating this peach. It also has a good amount of acidity to balance out the sweetness. This would make a great peach for canning, because they are large, so there is less work to do and it’s easy to remove their pits. |
| Loring |
Aug26-Aug31 |
|
Freestone |
A large to very large, ovate to globose, 40-60% scarlet
red over yellow groundcolor yellow-fleshed, freestone peach ripening approximately 13 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm and of very good flavor. The Loring has been around for quite a while. It was first released to fruit growers in 1946. It was created in Missouri. |
| Redkist |
Aug28-Sept5 |
|
Freestone |
A medium to medium-large, globose, 50-60%
crimson red over yellow-green groundcolor, yellow-fleshed,
freestone peach ripening approximately 21 days
after Redhaven. The flesh is firm with very good flavor. |
| Fayette |
Sept5-Sept14 |
|
Freestone |
A large, globose, 70-80% crimson red with greenish
yellow groundcolor, freestone peach ripening approximately 33 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm to very
firm with very good flavor. |
| Autumn Star |
Sept17-Sept25 |
|
Freestone |
A large, globose to slightly ovate, 60-80%
crimson red over a yellowish green groundcolor, yellow-fleshed,
freestone peach ripening approximately 40 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm with good flavor. |
Ever wonder how to pick a peach? It's easy! Big Dan says "Peaches need some tender loving care as they bruise/smush easily. Gently grasp the peach and twist while pulling away from the branch. Lower the peach into your container and release when it is safely located in the container- be careful not to drop or it will bruise. Remember bruising causes the fruit to spoil quicker."
Once that peach comes off the tree the amount of sugar is locked in. So when you pick it early you are not getting the max amount of sugar and I also believe you aren’t getting the peak of it’s flavor.
So what is one to do to enjoy a truly great peach? First, don’t expect to find it at a big chain grocery store. They are into making a buck, so they want peaches with a long shelf live, that won’t be damaged in shipping. This mean the peach will be picked before it is ripe. The farmer is your best source for peaches. Red doesn’t mean ripe. People seem to believe this, so peaches have been created with red color skins. You actually want to see an orange background to the color of most peaches. That would indicate a ripe peach more than a red color. Freeeze or can some fresh-picked peaches during the summer for year-round enjoyment.
|
|
