Articles

Peach Cultivars

Peaches and nectarines are the second most important tree fruit crop grown in Pennsylvania. There has been and continues to be extensive breeding of new and improved cultivars.

Updated:

October 16, 2017

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USDA, university and private breeding programs have produced a number of new peach and nectarine cultivars in recent years.

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Breeding programs at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USDA in Kearneysville, West Virginia, and USDA in Byron, Georgia, along with private programs in California and Michigan have produced a number of new cultivars in recent years. Extensive evaluations of these cultivars are being performed by Jerry Frecon, Emeritus Professor of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension System.

The table is set up according to average ripening dates for south-central Pennsylvania. The cultivars listed under the "Peaches" column are those that begin to ripen during the particular period. The next column reflects our opinion as to the best cultivars in that particular time frame. The third column contains suggestions for peach cultivars to try on an experimental basis. We do not know how well they will perform, but based on limited observation they seem worth trying on a small scale. The final column indicates all nectarines that ripen during that period.

Commercially grown and promising peach and nectarine cultivars for Pennsylvania

Ripening date in southern PA	Best peach cultivars	Best nectarine cultivars	Promising peach cultivars for trial	Promising nectarine cultivars for trial
June 30-July 5	RichMay Desiree Spring Snow (W) Earlistar Flamin Fury PF 5B Carored	Mayfire	Spring Prince Manon (W)
July 6-July 12	Harrow Diamond Sugar May (W) Ruby Prince Sentry	Arctic Star (W) Jade (W)	Harrow Dawn Scarlet Pearl (W) Flamin Fury PF 5D Big	Silvergem (NJ N100) Nectafest
July 13-July 19	Glenglo Garnet Beauty Summer Serenade Flamin Fury PF7 July Rose (NJ 354)	Arctic Glo (W) Easternglo Silvergem (NJ N100) (W)	Vulcan BuenOs II (NJ F15) Scarlet Rose (NJ 355) (W) NJ PF 8 Ball	Honeyblaze Avalon
July 20-July 26	Flavorcrest GaLa peach	Arctic Sweet (W) Harblaze Flamin Fury PF 11	BuenOs (NJ F15) Saturn (NJ F1) (W) Snowbride (W) Vinegold	Brigantine (NJ N102) Silverglo (NJ N 103) (W)
July 27-August 3	Flamin Fury PF 9A-007 John Boy Redhaven White Lady (W) Flamin Fury PF Lucky 13 Starfire Bellaire Redstar	Harflame Summer Beaut Firebrite	Blazing Star Snow Beauty (W) Galaxy (W) TangOs (NJ F 16)	Emeraude (W)
August 4-August 10	Salem Ernie's Choice Coralstar Klondike (W) Bounty	Arctic Jay (W) Flavortop Sunglo	Harrow Fair Flamin Fury PF 19A-007 Flamin Fury PF 20-007 TangOs (NJF17) (W)	Arctic Belle (W)
August 11-August 18	Flamin Fury PF17 Loring July Prince Flamin Fury PF 22-007 Flamin Fury F 23 Flamin Fury PF 24-007 Contender	Redgold	Allstar Flavorburst Carolina Belle (W) Glowingstar Suncrest Beaumont
August 19-August 26	August Rose (W) Gloria Cresthaven Messina (NJ 352)	Fantasia Zephyr (W)	Sugar Giant (W) Blushingstar (W) Flamin Fury PF 24C	Honey Royale
August 27-September 3	Flamin Fury PF 28-007 Flamin Fury PF 27A Jerseyqueen Redskin		Lady Nancy (W) Summerfest Flamin Fury PF 36-007 Selena (NJ 358)
September 3-September 10	Autumnglo Encore Flameprince Laurol		Autumn Star Snow Giant (W) Flamin Fury PF 35-007 Fat Lady Tiana (NJ 359)	Arctic Pride (W)
September 11 and Later	Parade Victoria (NJ 353)		Big Red (CVN #3) September Snow (W) Flamin Fury PF Big George