Peach Trees (growing, tomatoes, spring, north)

[San]

I was wondering if anyone might have information about a variety of peach tree I've been trying to find. When I was growing up on the farm we had a large orchard. One of the types of peaches we had were small and white with a red blush on them. The peaches were just a bit bigger than a golf ball and had a free stone. They were as sweet as sugar and we used them not only for eating but we also canned them for spiced peaches. Does anyone know what variety that might be or where I might be able to order a tree? Thanks so much for any help you can give me.

[Nims]

Hi, San,

where was your farm, and about how long ago was this?

[ontheroad]

Good question, Nims.

I had some of those peach trees growing up in NYC. However, if I recall properly we got them from Italian neighbours, and they may have been imports.

[San]

The farm was located up in North Central Illinois and it's been a long, long time ago. Maybe about 40 years give or take. They sure were good peaches though.

[alleycat]

A couple that I know of that are similar to what you described are Babcock and Georgia Belle, but I don't believe either one of those is correct (Babcock is a semi-freestone as I recall).

[Nims]

The University of Florida has developed a peach tree just for the particular climate here. It needs only FOUR hours of 40 degree or lower temperatures to set fruit.

I bought one of these trees last Spring at HD and followed all the instructions for daily watering for a month, etc. As Fall progressed, it got punier and punier looking; then almost all the leaves dropped -- THEN it developed swelling buds on the tips of several branches, and THEN it flowered!

I don't know what to expect in the spring -- I bought another peach tree for an old man I do home care for, and he wants me to return it to HD now because it doesn't look as if it is doing anything. I am trying to tell him it is dormant, but he wants it to go back, so I'll probably have to return it for him.

Has anyone had any luck with the Florida cultivar:?

[ontheroad]

Here's a reasonably good site that may help identify the peach tree you asked about, San.

And here's another site with some very clear photographs of peaches that might help.

[San]

Thanks so much Ontheroad, all help gratefully accepted. I am trying to gradually get back to growing most of my own produce. Anymore with Ecoli scares and what not you just never know what you're getting is stores. Also, the fruit and tomatoes in stores just don't taste as good as the stuff that's home grown. I really appreciate the help and suggestions from all of you

[araskathryn]

I was able to purchase a couple of heirloom peach seedlings similar to what you described. They are also unique because the leaves have a purple tint at times. If interested, I got them for $3 each at [url=http://www.tsflowers.com/html2/peach_tree.html]T's Flowers--Peach Tree plants for sale -- $3.00 each[/url]. Good Luck finding your peaches!

[teatime]

Hmmm. Sounds a lot like the peach tree I planted last year. I bought it at Lowe's and it was some sort of super sweet variety -- it didn't give a plant name. Even just being put into the ground, I had four peaches from it -- they were bigger than a golf ball but still small. The flesh was light, not yellow, and it was very sweet.

All I can suggest is to check at Lowe's. The tag had a large picture of a peach and said something about it being super sweet. The tree is VERY hardy -- it grew like crazy in the summer/fall. I'm really looking forward to seeing what it does this spring!