" Progress Report 34 November 1955
PROGRESS REPORT ON PEACH VARIETIES FOR KENTUCKY
By W. D. Armstrong
t Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station
A Variety tests of peaches have been under way for several years at the
Western Kentucky Experiment Substation and to a lesser extent at the Experiment
Station at Lexington and at the Robinson Substation at Quicksand, Variety testing
is a continuous project and this report deals with results obtained to date.
Much of the success of a peach planting depends on the selection of adapt-
ed varieties, and much of the progress in peach growing is due to the continuous
» development of new varieties with superior qualities.
I Many growers are interested in trying out new varieties; consequently, I
n the experience obtained from these tests should serve as a valuable guide.
’ Selection of Varieties. Many varieties are mentioned because they have
been tested, as well as a few verypromising ones that have not as yet been fruited.
1 Since the lists in catalogs are large, it is felt that it will be helpful to the grower to
mention those that are standard, "new, and those that should be discarded, However,
it has not been possible to include in the tests all the varieties available.
Variety Purpose. Certain plantings require fruit that will ripen over a
_ long period, andlseveral varieties are required. Other plantings, designed to ship
toca specific market, require fewer varieties or even just one, During the last 2.0
years the trend in Kentucky has been toward smaller peach plantings, scattered
over the peach sections of the state, with more sales directly to the consumer or to
trucks at the orchard or at the roadside market. A number of orchardists now
actually invite consumers to "pick their own" peaches from the trees. Thus. there
has been a reduction in the quantity of fruit packed and shipped commercially to
I large markets.
Variety Comment. While Elberta is still the most widely used variety, it
is losing popularity, Its chief strong points have been its wide adaptability, strong
tree, and large, firm fruit. Its disadvantages are that it frequently has a slightly bitter
taste, blooms early, and is tender to cold, both in bud and bloom. Many attempts
are under way to create better peaches than Elberta, and some progress is being
made Of the Elberta season, the Redskin is currently one fof the likeliest prospects
as a general-—purpose peach.
With the great number of varieties now available or becoming availableg we
have a number of varieties for specific purposes. For instance, Golden Jubilee is
a so—called self—thinning variety that does not set fruit nearly so heavily as do Red
haven and Halehaven. Consequently, the last two need heavy and early thinning
KENTUCKY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
BM _1 lr *55 Universitypf Kentucky
Lexington