Peaches

You’ve never really tasted a peach unless you went out in your yard and picked it from your own tree, or bought it at my farm market ; )

I personally grow (or have grown) all of these varieties in my orchard. They are all freestone (or mostly so) and have all been reliably hardy in my region of Michigan.  If you live in northern Michigan, and not near a great lake, you may be in an area too cold for peaches to live. Peach trees are considered a USDA zone 5 tree for hardiness, so check your location.  Some varieties are hardier than others, and are described as so.

Peaches are the quickest fruit tree to produce fruit, often bearing the year after you plant them. They are very site specific, and will only thrive in well drained soil, even if it’s on a sand hill where nothing else will grow!!!   If water lays on the ground more than a day or two after a good rain, plant your peaches somewhere else.

Peach trees should be planted 10 feet apart, and kept to 8-10ft tall and no more than 10ft wide by pruning each spring.

All of the peach varieties offered are self fertile so only one tree is needed to produce fruit.

With all the different varieties of peaches we offer, you can pick fresh fruit from early July to mid September

.

ALL PEACH TREES ARE PRICED AT $31.00 ea.

 

Bellaire – is a large, half red over brilliant yellow variety with firm, highly flavored freestone flesh that ripens with Redhaven.  This variety is widely grown by orchards in the primary peach production areas of Michigan for its excellent qualities, and often sold as Redhavens, because not many people have ever heard of Bellaires  The only drawback to this variety is the lack of cold hardiness that Redhaven has.   SOLD OUT

                                                                                                                                                        Ripens early in August

Canadian Harmony – this is one of the largest peaches you can grow. These are often seen at roadside and farmers markets sold as Amish peaches. Fruit has a red blush over a greenish-yellow background, and flesh is sweet and juicy, and of excellent quality for all purposes. Great for canning as they are very freestone. Trees are very strong growing, and have good winter hardiness.     SOLD OUT

Ripens later in August

.

Contender – one of the most cold hardy peaches. Strong peach flavored fruit is large in size, and half red over bright yellow. Contender is recommended for cold areas where peaches won’t normally grow, and also excellent for milder regions. Great fresh eating, canning and freezing peach that’s always freestone and a very reliable cropper.  This is a very heavy producing variety that ripens over a long period. Contender sets huge amounts of flowers so fruit should be thinned early and heavily to achieve large size.  One of the best peaches I grow, and probably the most cold hardy.  

                                                                                                                     SOLD OUT               Ripens mid-late August

.

Coralstar –  is a great Michigan developed peach that achieves very large size and ripens over a long harvest period in mid – late August. The bright red over yellow fruit typically sizes to 3″ or better with excellent flavored, firm, freestone flesh that can be used for all purposes.  Trees are strong growing and extremely productive.   A great variety!!!

                                                                                                                                   SOLD OUT        Ripens mid August

.

 Desiree – this is an early maturing mostly red peach of medium size with great flavored, mostly freestone yellow flesh. It’s the earliest ripening variety offered this year and is great to start the season with. Desiree is excellent for fresh eating, pies, and jam making, but is not for canning or freezing. Quality and flavor is superior to anything you can buy in the stores at this time of year.    SOLD OUT

           Ripens early-mid July

.

Glohaven – is an old, Michigan developed variety that has everything you could ask for in a peach. Fruit is very large, half red over bright yellow, nearly fuzzless, firm, freestone, and excellent flavored. Cold hardiness is as good if not better than most other varieties. Glohaven is a dependable, heavy producing variety and one of my favorite peaches. Excellent for all purposes, and one of the best canning peaches.  Every year when I’m picking this variety, I ask myself why I haven’t planted more of them.    SOLD OUT

Ripens mid August

.

John Boy – is large, brightly colored variety that ripens in early-mid August. Fruit is freestone with firm, sweet, and highly flavored, juicy flesh. John boy is a great peach for all uses, and is grown by many farms for it’s great qualities and ripening season, which is on the heels of Redhaven.  This is not a real cold hardy peach, so not for many areas of the northern lower peninsula, but excellent for the southern half of the lower peninsula.  SOLD OUT

                                                                                                                                                     Ripens early-mid August

.

Madison – is a very cold hardy, late season variety. Fruits are bright yellow with a good amount of red striping and freestone yellow flesh that is very juicy and flavorful. They can be used for all purposes and are great for canning. Trees are rapid growing, set huge amounts of blossoms, and have above average tolerance to frost. If you are in the northern part of Michigan, and want to grow peaches, this is one of your best choices.   SOLD OUT

  Ripens later in August

.

Redhaven – this is probably the best known variety of all peaches. It is half red in color, firm fleshed, and mostly freestone when ripe. It is excellent for fresh eating, canning, freezing, and any other purpose you can use peaches for. It is very cold hardy and heavy producing, and must be thinned heavily to produce large fruit. Even after more than 70 years,   Redhaven is still one of the most planted and sought after peaches in Michigan.   SOLD OUT                                                                                                                    

                   Ripens in early August

.

Saturn – is one of the flat or donut peaches. It is white fleshed with a beautiful red blush and tiny pit. Saturns have a unique, mild flavor that you won’t be able to stop eating !    Saturns are very difficult to find in grocery stores or farmers markets, and bring premium prices.   Quite cold hardy too.    SOLD OUT     

                  Ripens in early August

.

Veteran – is an heirloom variety that is known for its ability to set fruit in marginal peach growing areas. Freestone peaches are medium – large in size, and of excellent quality and flavor. Great for fresh eating, canning, and freezing. Veteran is mostly yellow with a red blush. Very cold hardy, so a good choice for northern areas.  This is a very dependable producer.      SOLD OUT                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                             Ripens mid August

.

White Lady – a beautiful mostly red skinned, white fleshed variety with firm, very sweet, low acid flesh. Although a California developed variety, White Lady has been grown in the eastern states for a long time with great results. Trees have cold hardiness as good as most other peaches. If you’ve never eaten a white peach, you’re really missing out!!           SOLD OUT                                                                                                           Ripens in early – mid August

 

 

Last Modified on April 9, 2024
this article Peaches