Fruit Varieties and Horticultural Digest (J Fruit Var & Hort Digest)
Volume 25 Number 2 Article 8 Pages: 45-45
Year 1971 Month 4
Title: Peach Cultivars that Set Fruit Under Wet, Cold Conditions
Author: R.C. Crandall Citation
Abstract:
Weather during peach bloom in
southwestern Washington is often
rainy and cold.
This causes most
peaches to set poorly and produce
erratic yields.
Forty-five commercial
cultivars have been yield-tested since
1944 at the WSU-Southwestern Washington
Research Unit of Washington
State Universityu near Vancouver.
Yields were compared over a minimum
of 5 years of full production.
Those which gave the highest, most
consistent yields in order of ripening
were 'Lawrence', 'Redhaven', 'Ranger',
'Golden Jubilee', 'Rochester', 'Fairhaven',
'Pacific Gold', 'Slappy', 'Herb Hale', 'Redglobe',
'Halehaven', 'Earlihale', 'Valiant',
'Veteran', 'Vedette', 'Early Elberta' ('Gleason'
strain), 'Eclipse', and 'Elberta'.
Some have faults such as small size,
late ripening, poor color, disease susceptibility,
poor quality, or softness.
Taking into consideration all important
horticultural characteristics,
the following cultivars are recommended
for western Washington:
'Redhaven', 'Ranger', 'Fairhaven', 'Redglobe',
'Herb Hale', 'Veteran', and 'Early
Elberta' ('Gleason' strain). 'Cardinal' is
also included, although yield data are
limited, because it fills the need for
an early ripening variety. 'Earlired' is
of the same season and has better
quality, but develops too many split
pits.
There is a good probability that
'Early Redhaven' will replace 'Cardinal'
on our list as we get more information
on its ability to yield under adverse
conditions.
The harvest season for
these recommended cultivars extends
from July 20 through September 10 in
southwestern Washington.
