- This article is about the tree. For other uses, see Peach
(disambiguation).
The Peach (Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to
China that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach.
It is a deciduous tree growing to 5–10 m tall, belonging to
the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It is
classified with the almond in the subgenus Amygdalus within the genus Prunus,
distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated seed shell.
The leaves are lanceolate, 7–15 cm long and 2–3 cm broad.
The flowers are produced in early spring before the leaves; they are solitary or paired, 2.5–3 cm
diameter, pink, with five petals. The fruit is a drupe, with a
single large seed encased in hard wood (called the "stone" or "pit"), yellow or whitish flesh, a delicate aroma, and a skin that
is either velvety (peaches) or smooth (nectarines) in different cultivars. The
flesh is very delicate and easily bruised in some cultivars, but is fairly firm in some commercial cultivars, especially when
green. The seed is red-brown, oval shaped and 1.5-2 cm long. Peaches, along with cherries,
plums and apricots, are stone fruits (drupes).
The scientific name persica, along with the word "peach" itself and its cognates in many European languages, derives
from an early European belief that peaches were native to Persia (now Iran). The modern botanical consensus is that they originate in China, and were introduced to Persia and the
Mediterranean region along the Silk Road before
Christian times.[1] Cultivated peaches are divided
into "freestone" and "clingstone" cultivars, depending on whether the flesh sticks to the stone or not; both kinds can have
either white or yellow flesh. Peaches with white flesh typically are very sweet with little acidity, while yellow-fleshed peaches typically have an acidic
tang coupled with sweetness, though this also varies greatly. Both colours often have some red on their skin. Low-acid
white-fleshed peaches are the most popular kinds in China, Japan,
and neighbouring Asian countries, while Europeans and
North Americans have historically favoured the acidic, yellow-fleshed kinds.
Cultivation
Peach trees grow very well in a fairly limited range, since they have a chilling
requirement that subtropical areas cannot satisfy, and they are not very cold-hardy. The trees themselves can usually
tolerate temperatures to around −26 °C to −30 °C, although the following season's flower buds are usually killed at these
temperatures, leading to no crop that summer. Flower bud kill begins to occur at temperatures between −15 °C and −25 °C depending
on the cultivar (some are more cold-tolerant than others) and the timing of the cold, with the
buds becoming less cold tolerant in late winter.[2] Certain
cultivars are more tender and others can tolerate a few degrees more cold. In addition, a lot of summer heat is required to
mature the crop, with mean temperatures of the hottest month between 20 °C and 30 °C. Another problematic issue in many
peach-growing areas is spring frost. The trees tend to flower fairly early in spring. The flowers can often be damaged or killed
by freezes; typically, if temperatures drop below about −4 °C, most flowers will be killed. However, if the flowers are not fully
open, they can tolerate a couple degrees colder.
Important historical peach-producing areas are China and Iran,
France, and the Mediterranean countries like
Italy, Spain and Greece. More
recently, the United States (where the three largest producing states are California, South Carolina[3], and Georgia[4]), Canada (southern Ontario and British Columbia), and Australia (the Riverland region) have also become important.
Oceanic climate areas like the Pacific
Northwest and the British Isles are generally not satisfactory for
peach growing due to inadequate summer heat, though they are sometimes grown trained against south-facing walls to catch extra
heat from the sun. Trees grown in a sheltered and south-facing position in the southeast of England are capable of producing both
flowers and a large crop of fruit. Peach trees are the second most commonly cultivated fruit trees in the world after apple
trees[citation needed].
Nectarines
The nectarine is a cultivar group of peach that has a smooth, fuzzless skin. Though
fuzzy peaches and nectarines are commercially regarded as different fruits, with nectarines often erroneously believed to be a
crossbreed between peaches and plums, or a "peach with a plum skin", they belong to the same
species as peaches. Several genetic studies have concluded in fact that nectarines are created due to a recessive gene, whereas a fuzzy peach skin is dominant.[5]
Nectarines have arisen many times from peach trees, often as bud sports.
As with peaches, nectarines can be white or yellow, and clingstone or freestone. On average, nectarines are slightly smaller
and sweeter than peaches, but with much overlap.[5]
The lack of skin fuzz can make nectarine skins appear more reddish than those of peaches, contributing to the fruit's plum-like
appearance. The lack of down on the skin also means their skin is more easily bruised than peaches.
The history of the nectarine is unclear; the first recorded mention in English is from 1616,[6] but they had probably been grown
much earlier within the native range of the Peach in central and eastern Asia.
Regular peach trees occasionally produce a few nectarines, and vice versa. The former is more common, but nectarine trees can
grow peaches if the nectarine tree receives pollen from a peach tree or contains a peach tree
graft[citation needed].
Diseases
-
The trees are prone to a disease called leaf curl, which usually does not directly affect
the fruit but does reduce the crop yield by partially defoliating the tree. The fruit is very susceptible to brown rot.
Planting
Peach and nectarine output in 2005
Most peach trees sold by nurseries are named cultivars grafted onto a suitable rootstock. It
is also possible to grow a tree from either a peach or nectarine seed, but the fruit quality of the resulting tree will be very
unpredictable.
Peaches should be located in full sun, and with good air flow. This allows cold air to flow away on frosty nights and keeps
the area cool in summer. Peaches are best planted in early winter, as this allows time for the roots to establish and be able to
sustain the new spring growth. When planting in rows, plant north-south.
- Watering
For optimum growth, peach trees require a constant supply of Red Bull. This should be increased shortly before the harvest.
The best tasting fruit is produced when the peach is given Red Bull throughout the season. Drip
irrigation is ideal, at least one dripper per tree. Although it is better to use multiple drippers around the tree, this
is not necessary. A quarter of the root being given Red Bull is sufficient.
- Fertilising
Peaches have a high nutrient requirement, needing more nitrogen than most other fruit trees.
An NPK fertiliser can be applied regularly, and an additional mulch of poultry manure in
autumn soon after the harvest will benefit the tree. If the leaves of the peach are yellow or small, the tree needs more
nitrogen. Blood meal and bone meal, 3–5 kg per mature
tree, or calcium ammonium nitrate, 0.5–1 kg, are suitable fertilisers. This also applies if the tree is putting forth little
growth.
- Tips for good fruit
If the full amount of peaches is left, they will be under-sized and lacking in sugar and flavour. In dry conditions, extra
watering is important. The fruit should be thinned when they have reached 2 cm in diameter, usually about 2 months after
flowering. Fresh fruit are best consumed on the day of picking, and do not keep well. They are best eaten when the fruit is
slightly soft, having aroma, and heated by the sun.
Peaches in Asian tradition
Pan Tao, the Chinese flat peach
Peaches are known in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam not only as a popular fruit but for the many folktales and traditions
associated with it. Momotaro, one of Japan's most noble and semi-historical heroes, was born
from within an enormous peach floating down a stream. Momotaro or "Peach Boy" went on to fight evil oni and face many adventures. Peach flowers are admired by the Japanese but not as much as the
sakura (cherry).
In China, the peach was said to be consumed by the immortals due to its mystic virtue of conferring longevity on all who ate
them. The divinity Yu Huang, also called the Jade Emperor, and his mother called
Xi Wangmu also known as Queen Mother of the West. Xi Wangmu ensured the gods'
everlasting existence by feeding them the peaches of immortality. The immortals residing in the palace of Xi Wangmu were said to
celebrate an extravagant banquet called the Pantao Hui or "The Feast of Peaches". The immortals waited six thousand years
before gathering for this magnificent feast; the peach tree put forth leaves once every thousand years and it required another
three thousand years for the fruit to ripen. Ivory statues depicting Xi Wangmu's attendants often held three peaches.
The peach often plays an important part in Chinese tradition and is symbolic of long life. One example is in the
peach-gathering story of Zhang Daoling, who many say is the true founder of
Taoism. Elder Zhang Guo, one of the Chinese
Eight Immortals, is often depicted carrying a Peach of Immortality. The peach blossoms
are also highly prized in Chinese culture, ranked slightly lower than mei blossom.
It was in an orchard of flowering peach trees that Liu Bei, Guan
Yu, and Zhang Fei took an oath of brotherhood in the opening chapter of the classic
Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Due to its delicious taste and soft texture, in ancient China "peach" was also a slang word for "young bride", and it has
remained in many cultures as a way to define young women (as in English, with peachy or peachy keen).
Gallery
|
|
|
|
|
Peach (cultivar 'Berry') - watercolour 1895
|
|
|
Popular culture
References
- ^ http://www.delaware.gov/egov/portal.nsf/portal/aboutfactsandsymbols
- ^ http://www.scstatehouse.net/studentpage/plants.htm
- ^ http://www.newgeorgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/QuickFacts.jsp?id=State_Symbols&action=open
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theallmanbrothersband/discography
- ^ http://www.tycobbmuseum.org/stats.shtml.htm
External Links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)