Harvesting Peaches: When and How to Pick Peaches
We’re in the heart of peach season, with fresh selections overflowing on the tree and in the market. If you’re lucky enough to have your own harvest, the right time for picking makes all the difference in maximizing flavor. Whether at home, at the grocer, or getting a little peach-growing inspiration, learn how to determine how and when to pick the fuzzy stone fruits with gardening expert Katherine Rowe.
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There’s nothing like a perfectly ripe peach on a long, mid-summer day to bring sweet enjoyment. But what could be better than harvesting peaches fresh from your own backyard tree?
From May to August, grocers and backyard orchards burst at the seams with these fuzzy stone fruits. If you haven’t already planted a peach tree at home, inspiration may strike you to plant one this fall for goodness to follow. Trees are self-fruitful and don’t require a partner for cross-pollination.
Where I garden in the Southeast, the peach embodies summer. They’re also a key contributor to the economy. There are a few tips for harvesting and picking peaches for optimal flavor. Even from the market, selecting the right fruit brings sweet rewards. Let’s explore how to recognize peak ripeness for the best flavor and texture possible!
Peach Basics
Peach trees, Prunus persica, are native to China and appear in literature as early as 1000 BC. With over 2,000 varieties, they’re world travelers, spreading to the Middle East and making their way to Europe and the Americas with Spanish and European colonization.
The delicious stone (pitted) fruits have the added benefits of Vitamins A, C, and E. They contain antioxidants, dietary fiber, and potassium.
Peaches are easy additions to the home garden, whether in full-size or dwarf forms. They grow well in the ground and containers, depending on the cultivar.
Optimal growing conditions include:
- Full sun (six plus hours of sunlight daily)
- Plenty of air circulation
- Well-draining, sandy loams
- Soil pH near 6.5
- A chill period for dormant buds (varies by selection)
Popular Varieties
Here are some of the most sought-after varieties and their harvest months. Note that it may take longer, depending on your climate and growing conditions. The month listed is the first month that fruit ripens.
- ‘Spring Prince’ (June)
- ‘Crimson Lady’ (June)
- ‘Gulf Crimson’ (June)
- ‘Florida King’ (July)
- ‘Red Globe’ (August)
- ‘Redgold’ (July)
- ‘Redhaven’ (July)
- ‘El Dorado’ (June)
- ‘Elberta’ (July)
- ‘Belle of Georgia’ (August)
- ‘Contender’ (August)
- ‘Scarlet Prince’ (July)
- ‘Big Red’ (July)
- ‘Autumnprince’ (August)
- ‘Jersey Queen’ (July)
- ‘Jefferson’ (July)
Timing Your Peach Harvest
Timing is of the essence when it comes to maximizing flavor. Underripe fruits remain hard and lack deliciousness. Overripe ones are susceptible to bruising, pests, pathogens, and off-flavor. Harvest times vary depending on the Prunus persica cultivar and climate. Some begin in May, with the bulk of production in June through August.
Fruits ripen in stages rather than all at once, so circle back to underripe selections over the days and weeks. A typical tree holds three to five rounds of successional harvests.
Tree-Ripening
Peaches that ripen on the stem bear the sweetest, juiciest flavor. Picking them too early may result in undeveloped fruit that is dry and low in sugar.
A risk in letting fruits fully ripen on the tree is that they’re susceptible to pest damage. Birds, insects, and small mammals may enjoy the soft fruits without sharing. If you’re growing peaches for production, or if birds and predation are a real issue, consider netting the canopy. Place a large net over the tree in spring to protect the developing harvest. Remove and store it in the fall.
Individual fruit bags are an option for the backyard orchard. Placing the bag over the orb as it develops protects it from insects and other pests.
Picking tree-ripened peaches also minimizes their shelf time. The globes soften quickly. They’re best enjoyed fresh at this stage. In the home orchard, picking them right from the stem for fresh eating is ideal for flavor. Picked peaches don’t last long; they must be eaten once soft or tossed. Challenge accepted!
Picking Early
Harvesting peaches early is not detrimental if they’re mature and the ripening process is underway. Flavor and sweetness pack mature fruits, which will continue to ripen off the tree.
Picking before they are fully ripe allows more time before consumption. They’ll last longer as they take time to soften. This staggers the need to eat lots of peaches at once and gives room for planning that special pie, crisp, or cobbler.
Removing them from the tree when a bit firm also means less exposure to nibbling creatures in the fruit’s final stages of development. They’ll be safe and sound indoors at room temperature as they become soft and juicy.
Knowing When To Pick
Here, we’ll review the best measures for knowing when to harvest peaches. Whether picking early or just as they’re ripe, the main things to examine are color and feel.
Color
The color to look for is the “ground” or base color. Immature green fruits turn bright yellow when ready to eat. Depending on the variety, they may develop a rosy blush. However, you aren’t always looking for the signature red tinge.
Instead, look to the stem area for signs of the green skin turning yellow. Light yellow indicates the spheres are not quite ripe but mature enough for harvest. Deeper yellow shades signal a ready stone fruit.
Feel
The next assessment for when to harvest is a gentle squeeze. Mature, unripe peaches are hard, have a greenish tinge, and don’t give with light pressure.
A little firmness at harvesting is fine for early picking and indoor ripening. Still, fruits should have a bit of give or softness for the best flavor. Don’t squeeze too hard to prevent bruising. The home-grown peach will have a rich base color and soft texture for best eating.
How To Harvest Peaches
Going in for the pick is another easy way to identify ready fruits. Ease of removal is an indicator of ripeness. You may also get a hint of fragrance, advertising the delicacy.
To pluck the peach from the stem, lift the round and gently twist it. Ready fruits separate easily from the branch. The need to tug or pull with more force signals that plants aren’t ready. Branches may crack or break under pressure.
Storage
Bring early-harvested selections indoors to ripen fully. Toss any misshapen fruits with bruising, soft spots, or spotting. To prevent bruising, place them stem-side down in a single layer. Stacking can lead to flat, soft spots. Keep them at room temperature until tender and in full color.
Once ripe, refrigerate them to slow the process for longer storage. Depending on the level of softness, they’ll last for one to two weeks in the fridge.
The same applies to tree-ripened harvests. Enjoy them before they become overly soft and mushy. Place in the refrigerator to preserve them longer.
Proper Freezing
Sometimes, there are just too many peaches to devour or share. Freezing them brings a lasting treat. Begin with ripe options for the best flavor.
Flash-freezing preserves fruits for two to three months. Wash, dry, and place whole fruits, peeled or unpeeled, in an airtight bag or container. Slice them, put them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze them for several hours. Transfer them to a container to freeze the group.
To freeze peach slices, cover them with water in an airproof container and freeze them for up to 10 months. You can also blanch them to preserve them with lemon juice. Cut a small X on the bottom of the fruit and place it in boiling water for 30 seconds, followed by an ice bath, for easy peeling. Remove the pits and slice the fruits. Toss them with lemon juice, one tablespoon per one pound of peaches. Follow the flash-freezing steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are unripe peaches dropping from the tree?
“June drop” is a common occurrence among peach trees. Trees naturally drop small, undeveloped fruits so the remaining crop can fully mature. Branches become less weighty and susceptible to breakage, and air circulation and sunlight improve for remaining fruits. The thinning of abundant yields maximizes energy. The result is a tastier bounty.
How can I ripen peaches more quickly?
Often, we need to slow the ripening process as peaches quickly become tender. To hasten ripening from early picking, store peaches at room temperature. They’ll ripen within a few days on the kitchen counter. For fast ripening, put them in a paper bag. The bag traps gases and accelerates the process for a few hours. Or, place them in a shallow bowl on a warm windowsill to capture heat and spur tenderness.
What’s the difference between white and yellow peaches?
White peaches have creamy white skin with a rosy blush. Yellow peaches are bright gold with rosy red tones. Peaches with white flesh contain more sugars and less acidity than yellow varieties. Their flavor is mildly sweet and mellow. Yellow peaches are tangy and sweet, sometimes with an acidic aftertaste. The taste preference between the two is in the bud of the beholder.
When will my patio peach fruit?
‘Patio”’peaches are dwarf cultivars that grow well in containers and smaller gardens. They produce sweet fruits smaller than traditional selections, sometimes less than three inches in diameter. Expect them to bloom in July or August.
