It's no secret that almost every gardener wants to grow a peach tree with the sweetest and most delicious fruits on its plot, which would give a good harvest. Peach variety Redhaven - this is exactly what you need. In addition, this plant is suitable for growing both in Ukraine and in the central regions of Russia. It has excellent vitality and amazing taste.
Peach Redhaven: photo and description
It belongs to the American breeding school, since this variety was bred in 1940 at one of the US universities as a hybrid of industrial importance. Now almost 70% of all existing peach plantings on farms and individual farms in the United States and Western Europe consist of trees belonging to the Redhaven variety. It was also included in the State Register of Breeding Plants of the Russian Federation and recommended for cultivation in the North Caucasus region.
A peach tree can grow up to five meters in height. It has a spherical medium-leafy crown with rather large (2-3 cm wide and 15-18 cm long) dark green shiny leaves. Its single flowers grow to medium size (about 18-22 mm in diameter). They are painted bright pink and consist of five rounded petals. The flowering period falls at the end of April - mid-May.
Fruiting
Peach Redhaven, the photo and description of which is presented in this article, has slightly flattened elongated-rounded fruits weighing from 120 to 200 grams. It has a dense, firm, yellow skin with a red blush with a slight pubescence. Peach flesh is bright orange with thin raspberry veins. The fruit is sweet and has a high tasting score of 4.9 points out of a possible five. A pointed bone can be easily separated from a ripe fetus.
Such a fruit as Redhaven peach contains organic acids (tartaric, malic and quinic), micro and macro elements (potassium, manganese, iron, magnesium), essential oils, pectins, carotenes, as well as B, C and PP vitamins. The calorie content of 100 grams of fruit is 39 kcal.
Features and timing
Redhaven peach seedlings are recommended by experienced gardeners to buy only at the nearest specialized fruit and berry nurseries, because the plants are already adapted to the local climate and have passed the primary pruning procedure. Such an approach to business significantly increases the chances of its early survival. By the way, it is the annual seedlings that are most viable.
Buying Redhaven peach for planting in your garden, you should pay attention to its appearance. In that case, if the plant is grafted onto the almond rootstock, then the vaccination site itself, however, like the rest of the bark, should be even and smooth, brown in color, without any sag. In addition, it is necessary to examine the roots of the seedling. They should not have the slightest sign of rot, nor should they be clean or wet.
The peach, which is planted from mid to late April, adapts well when the air temperature at night does not drop below + 10 ... + 15 ⁰C. It is this period of time that is ideal for planting a plant that, in an already warmed and fertilized soil, will be able to strengthen and develop its root system as quickly as possible. The tree in the first year lays the right amount of growth (vegetative) buds for the subsequent formation of a well-developed crown.
Site selection and preparation
The first thing to consider is that the peach, which is planted exclusively on the south side of the plot, should receive enough sunlight to form generative buds. If the place is obscured by other trees or buildings, then the fruits will be small and acidic. In addition, the peach does not like wind and drafts, so there should be at least some shelter in the form of a high fence or a number of other fruit trees a few meters from it.
When choosing and planning a place for tree planting, you need to know that Redhaven peach has a crown of about 10 m in diameter. Experts do not recommend planting it in a place where before that, cruciferous, gourd or nightshade crops, as well as strawberries or strawberries, grew in a year or two. Peach also develops poorly in lowlands with acidified and marshy soil, where water usually stagnates. It is known that the root system of this tree penetrates the ground by 30-70 cm, so the ground currents should lie at least at a depth of 1.5-2 meters.
In order to properly plant Redhaven peach, it is necessary to prepare a hole in advance (at least two weeks in advance). Usually this is done in the fall, but it is also possible in the spring, after fertilizing the recess. From 5 to 8 kg of organic fertilizer (compost or rotted manure) is introduced into the landing pit, located on sandy or poor soil. If the soil on the site is fertile, then it will be enough to fill the bottom with a mixture consisting of 300-500 g of wood ash and 50 g of potassium chloride and superphosphate. By the time of planting, the pit will have time to settle.
Planting sequence
- First of all, you need to dig a landing hole with a depth of 70 cm and a diameter of 1 m.
- The distance between peach seedlings and other trees should be about 3-4 m.
- In the middle of the landing pit, drive a stake up to 1 m high.
- Supporting the seedling, you need to straighten and distribute the roots so that they occupy the entire space of the pit.
- The plant is sprinkled with previously excavated earth.
- After planting, the seedling must be watered with 35-40 liters of water.
- Mulch the soil with sawdust or dry grass with a layer of at least 10-15 cm.
- The young tree should be tied to the landing stake.
- Pruning of the seedling is carried out, taking into account the desired type of crown, which can be palmetal or bowl-shaped.
Pollination
Redhaven - a peach, the cultivation of which is associated with some features, refers to a rather whimsical culture. Although formally this plant belongs to the category of self-pollinated, that is, it can bear fruit without extraneous pollinators, which include insects and other trees, but this happens very rarely.
Judge for yourself, this process can be negatively affected by windy or humid weather, as well as ordinary drafts. Therefore, experienced gardeners recommend immediately planting 2-3 peaches with the same flowering period. Near Redhaven, you can place such famous varieties as the Ambassador of the World, the Gift of Kiev, Lyubimets or in Memory of Shevchenko.
Watering
Variety Redhaven is distinguished by its drought tolerance. This tree needs abundant watering only during the period of its maximum growth and fruit formation. At least 20-30 liters of water will need to be poured under one tree. These periods include:
- fruit laying time - early June;
- fruit formation phase - the first half of July;
- ripening time - the end of July and the beginning of August.
Water needs to be poured into grooves with a depth of not more than 8-10 cm, previously made in the area of the suction root zone at a distance of about 70-80 cm from the tree trunk. The rest of the time, the plant is watered 1-2 times with a frequency of 2-3 weeks for 5-10 liters of water.
Harvesting
Redhaven has an average ripening period. They begin to pour in late July. I must say that the fruits do not ripen all at once, so their harvest lasts for 35-40 days until the end of August. The flowers of the tree develop well even on annual shoots, so the first, albeit small, crop can be harvested already in the second or third year. Starting from the sixth, peach produces stable crops that can reach up to 35-40 kg of fruit annually. When the 11-12th year of the tree’s life comes, it will bear fruit twice as much and give about 100-110 kg of its sweet and extremely healthy produce.
Redhaven peach fruits are well tolerated for transportation, but it will be much more reliable if they are harvested a little ahead of schedule, i.e. in a state of so-called technical maturity. The pubescence that is found on fruits protects them well from any minor blows, contact or friction.
How to prune a peach in the fall
Redhaven peach trees grow very fast. The growth of their lateral branches per year is about 30-40 cm. These trees can form a crown up to 9-10 m in diameter. That is why they need to be trimmed annually. A three-year-old plant manages to develop its crown sufficiently in order to begin its decorative formation.
It is very important to know how to prune a peach in the fall, as the main task of this process is both sanitary care of the tree and regulation of its fruiting. As you know, during this period there is a decline in the active phase of plant vegetation. This means that pruning branches will save the peach from severe stress and numerous diseases. Autumn pruning can be done from early September to mid-October, but only after the harvest has already been harvested. If the autumn is warm, then the peach will have extra time to restore its strength.
How to grow a peach from a stone
Some gardeners are skeptical of such a process and consider it a waste of time. However, it is not. Having eaten a tasty, sweet and fragrant peach, it is worth spending a little time planting its seed or seed in the ground in order to taste its fruits again after three or four years. But for this you need to know a few secrets.
A peach from a seed can only be grown if it is taken from a ripe fruit. It can be planted immediately in the ground in a permanent place, since often such plants germinate much better. It is recommended to plant several seeds at the same time, because some of them may not rise. Sometimes it happens that a plant can hatch only in the second or third year after it has been planted in the ground. Usually they are planted from October to early November.
In order to preserve the bone, it is dried and cleaned in a cool, dry place. A few days before disembarkation, it is soaked in water. Further, there are two options. The first one is to split the bone and extract the seed from it, and the second to plant it as it is to a depth of 8 cm, and then water and mulch.
Reviews
Basically, Russian gardeners are satisfied with this peach variety, as it is frost-resistant and tolerates temperatures well even at -25 ⁰C. Ripe and juicy fruits can be stored at home at room temperature for no more than four days, and by putting them in paper or plastic bags and placing in the refrigerator for a whole week.
In addition, Redhaven peach, whose taste ratings are exceptionally positive, can be laid for longer periods of time. For this, fruits with a minimum stage of maturity are suitable. They can be stored either in a warehouse or in the basement, previously disinfected with slaked lime vapor or fumigated charcoal. Thus, they can be stored for 2.5-5 weeks. Inveterate lovers of this fruit add it to various desserts, as well as make jams, jams and compotes from it.