HO-106
YARD AND GARDEN
HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE PURDUE UNIVERSITY LAFAYETTE. INDIANA 47907
PEACH VARIETIES
Richard A. Hayden and Frank H. Emerson
Peaches are an important commercial fruit crop in Indiana, as well as a popular home garden fruit. A large part of the peach crop is sold locally or at roadside markets. So, it is important to select varieties which are hardy and reliable in production and have high quality for local retail trade or home consumption. For commercial production firmness and attractiveness are important characteristics.
Peaches are grown in northern Indiana near Lake Michigan, in eastern Indiana and in most of southern Indiana. They are not grown commercially in western and northwestern Indiana, but some are found in sheltered locations and in good sites in these areas.

Temperatures are critical
Peach trees can usually withstand temperatures down to -10°F. in the winter. Below -10° fruit bud damage begins to occur. At -20°F. the trees exhibit winter injury symptoms including complete crop loss, terminal dieback, trunk splitting, cambium discoloration and, in extreme cases, death. Critical temperatures will vary, depending on the weather prior to the sub-zero temperatures.
In Indiana peaches bloom in April and the hazards of frost are great, even though the fruit buds may have survived the winter.
Varieties differ in their ability to withstand low winter temperatures and rapid temperature changes. Only those varieties known to be most hardy should be planted, especially in the northern half of the state. Peach growing should not be attempted in the northwest quarter of the state, except in sheltered areas and when the frequent loss of crops and trees is acceptable to the grower. Commercial production of peaches in this area is generally unprofitable.

Suggested varieties
The varieties suggested for planting in Indiana are listed below in their approximate order of ripening. Varieties ripen over a 7-10 day period and it is suggested that growers select one or two varieties for each week of the season to provide a continuous supply of fruit.

Garnet Beauty — Yellow fleshed; semi-freestone; a bud sport of Redhaven, originating in Canada and ripening ten days ahead of Redhaven; highly colored, medium size; excellent flesh quality for its season; non-browning. Promising for a very early peach.

Harbelle — Yellow fleshed; semi-freestone to freestone; originated at Harrow Station, Ontario, Canada; dark red over bright yellow grown; size small to medium; shape slightly elongated with prominent tip; non-browning. Promising for a very early peach.

Sunhaven - Yellow fleshed freestone; attractive red overcolor; large size; round shape; lacks firmness but when handled carefully at harvest and marketed locally, should be satisfactory.

Late Sunhaven - YeUow freestone; similar to Sunhaven except ripening with Redhaven; attractive color; round shape; does not set so heavy a crop as Redhaven; not so bud hardy as Redhaven.