I
PEACH
VARIETIES .-I
PALABAM
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T. B. HAGLER
Associate Horijcuhfuris
W. A. JOHNSON
Assistant Horticulturist
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A GR I CU LTU R AL E XP ER IM EN
.d.ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC
E. V. Smith, Director
T S T A TION
IN ST IT U TE
Auburn, Atabama
I
LEAFLET No. 48
MARCH 1956
T
American Pomological Society in co-
operation with the American Nursery-
men's Association.
1 
Results of this sur-
vey are given in Table 1.
TABLE 1. PEACH
ALABAMA (28
Variety
VARIETY SURVEY FOR
GROWERS), 1946
Have Would 
Would
plant discard
Elberta 24 17 1
Belle of Georgia 21 11 1
Golden Jubilee 18 12 2
J. H. Hale 15 9 3
Carman 14 7 4
Early Rose 14 10 4
Hiley 13 11 2
Early Elberta 11 8 1
Early Hiley 11 9 2
Mayflower 10 4 5
It is pointed out that 6 of the 10
leading varieties in 1946 were white-
fleshed, while the trend in consump-
tion is toward yellow-fleshed peaches.
Since the demand is for early-ripening,
yellow-fleshed peaches, Alabama 
grow-
ers must discard the white-fleshed 
va-
rieties formerly grown for the early
market.
The variety situation based on the
report of farmers in Chilton County,
Alabama, February, 1951, changed
considerably from 1946 to 1951 as giv-
en in Table 
2.2
TABLE 2. BEARING PEACH TREES BY VA-
RIETIES, CHILTON COUNTY, ALABAMA,
1951
Variety
Elberta
Hiley
Halehaven
Fairs Beauty
Golden Jubilee
Erly-Red-Fre
Shipper's Late Red
Redhaven
Halegold
Dixired
Number
of
trees
140,970
48,530
45,720
41,910
19,050
19,950
12,240
7,620
3,810
3,810
Per cent
of county
totaP
37
13
12
11
5
5
4
2
1
1
VARIETY RECOMMENDATIONS
Some 200 peach varieties and selec-
tions have been under test at the Ex-
periment Station for the past 15 years.
Most of the varieties have been tested
at Auburn, and many of the newer
ones have been tested at the Chilton
Area and North Alabama horticulture
substations. Most of the newer varie-
ties tested proved superior to older
ones of the same ripening period.
Recommended varieties for central
and northern Alabama are given in Ta-
ble 3. It will be noted that more than
one variety is given for a specific ripen-
ing period. Since there is a difference
in the cold weather requirements of
different varieties, it is desirable to
plant varieties with high and low chill-
ing requirements as insurance against
variable weather in Alabama.
No varieties ripening later than El-
berta are generally recommended for
planting in Alabama because of com-
TABLE 3. VARIETIES FOR COMMERCIAL AND
HOME PLANTINGS IN CENTRAL AND
NORTHERN ALABAMA
Variety
Weeks earlier
than Elberta
Hiland 61/2
Cardinal 61/2
Dixired 6
Redcap 6
Coronet 5
Dixigem 41/2
Redhaven 4
Triogem 3
Fairhaven 21/-
Sunhigh 2
Southland 2
July Burbank Elberta 2
Halehaven 2
Loring 11/2
Redskin 0
Elberta
SBregger, John T. Peach variety survey.
Presented at the Peach Workers Confer-
ence, Association of Southern Agricultural
Workers, Biloxi, Miss., January 13-14, 1947.
- Glasscock, M. R. Report on peach va-
rieties. Peach Conference, Clanton, Ala-
bama, February 7, 1951.
[2 ]
1 Other varieties amounting to less than
1 per cent of the total include Dixigem,
Rio Oso Gem, Red Bird, Indian Cling, J.
H. Hale, Early Rose, Southland, and May-
flower.
I
TABLE 4. VARIETIES FOR THE SOUTHERN
HALF OF ALABAMA
Weeks earlier
Variety than Elberta
Hiland 61/2
Redcap, Maygold 6
Newday 8
July Elberta 2
Southland 2
Sunhigh 2
Loring 1 Y2
Redskin 0
petition from other areas and excessive
damage by disease and insects. Grow-
ers who have a good local market for
late varieties, such as roadside stands,
and who will follow a good spray pro-
gram to control diseases and insects
should plant a limited number of 
such
varieties as Shipper's Late Red, Rio
Oso Gem, and Afterglow.
There has been considerable interest
in peach growing on a limited scale
in the southern half of Alabama. Va-
rieties requiring short periods of cold
weather to break their dormancy are
needed for this area. Varieties with
low chilling requirements recommended
for planting south of Montgomery are
given in Table 4.
DESCRIPTION o4 VARIETIES
Afterglow is a late variety, ripening
nearly a week after Elberta. Its 
fruit
is large, freestone, and has firm, yellow
flesh. It has a medium to light blush.
Afterglow trees are moderately vigor-
ous and productive, with fairly 
tender
flower buds. Although usually 
not as
well-colored as Rio Oso Gem, After-
glow is sometimes preferred to it 
be-
cause of greater tree vigor and slightly
greater flowerbud hardiness.
Cardinal (USDA FV-101) is very
early, ripening about 61/ weeks before
Elberta. This variety produces medi-
um, round, clingstone fruit that has 
a
bright red blush over a yellow ground
color (under color). The flesh is yel-
low, firm but melting, of medium tex-
ture, and has a good flavor. The trees
are productive, but only moderately
vigorous. Blossoms are self-fertile and
medium in size.
Coronet (USDA FV 126-79) is an
early variety, ripening 2 or 3 days be-
fore Dixigem. Fruit is medium and
ovate with very light pubescence. The
surface has an attractive bright red
blush over yellow ground color. Its
yellow flesh is firm but melting and
smooth-textured, but tends to cling at
the pit when not fully ripe. Flavor is
good but mild. Trees are vigorous and
productive, and about as susceptible 
to
bacterial spot as Elberta. Blossoms are
small-petaled and self-fertile.
Dixigem is early, ripening 4 to 5
weeks before Elberta and about a 
week
before Golden Jubilee. Fruits are me-
dium-sized, light to medium red over
about half the skin surface and have
a bright yellow ground color. The
flesh is yellow, usually free when ripe,
firm and fine-textured. Dixigem is
suggested as an early shipping variety
and for local sale where an early yellow
peach is needed.
Dixired is very early, ripening 5 to
6 weeks before Elberta. Fruits are
medium-sized with bright red skin.
Flesh is yellow, clingstone, medium
firm and melting. Dixired looks prom-
ising for very early shipping or for
local marketing where earliness 
is of
prime importance and a clingstone va-
riety is acceptable. Considerable acre-
age of this variety has been planted 
in
the Southeast.
Elberta is a midseason variety, 
and
by far the leading variety in the United
States. Its fruits are large with red
blush. Flesh is yellow, free, firm, and
of fair to good quality. Elberta trees
are productive, and its flower buds 
are
tender to low temperature. Its popular-
ity with growers is due to the large
size, firmness, attractiveness, and ship-
ping quality of its fruit, the vigor 
of
the trees, and its suitability to many
soil and climatic conditions. Although
Elberta should still be considered 
the
[3 ]
principal commercial midseason vari-
ety, midseason varieties superior to it
in quality, hardiness, and skin color
are being planted in numerous or-
chards.
Fairhaven is an early midseason va-
riety, ripening after Golden Jubilee and
about 3 weeks before Elberta. A yel-
low, freestone peach, Fairhaven is good
for freezing and canning, and for local
marketing and commercial production.
Halehaven ripens in midseason, about
2 weeks before Elberta. The fruits are
large and round, and skin color is
sometimes too dull. Flesh is yellow,
free, and fairly firm for the season.
Flower buds are fairly hardy, and the
trees are vigorous and productive. Fruit
often sets heavy, making detailed thin-
ning necessary. Although Halehaven
lacks the shipping qualities of Elberta,
it has been one of the most outstanding
varieties introduced in recent years for
commercial planting. It may well be
used for local markets and home plant-
ings, also.
Hiland (USDA FV 128-41) ripens 1
day earlier than Cardinal and 5 days
ahead of Dixired. Fruit is clingstone,
medium, and ovate, with very light
pubescence; it is attractively colored
with light red blush. Flesh is yellow,
fairly firm, medium-textured and has
good flavor. Trees are vigorous and
productive. Blossoms are large-petaled
and self-fertile.
July Elberta is a midseason variety,
ripening about 2 weeks before Elberta.
Fruits are large, round and free, with
fairly firm yellow flesh. Trees are pro-
ductive and have short chilling require-
ments. This is one of the best commer-
cial varieties for its season at Auburn.
Loring is midseason, ripening 1 week
before Elberta. Fruits are medium to
large, very attractive, and freestone
with yellow flesh. Loring has not been
widely tested, but is very promising in
Alabama.
Maygold (USDA FV 182-12) ripens
8 days ahead of Dixired. Its fruit is
clingstone, medium and ovate, with
very light pubescence; it is attractively
colored with light red blush over yellow
ground color. Flesh is yellow, firm but
melting, medium-textured and has good
flavor. Trees are vigorous and produc-
tive, but subject to bacterial spot. Blos-
soms are small-petaled and self-fertile.
Chilling requirement is low enough for
extreme southern Alabama.
Newday is an early midseason vari-
ety, ripening about 8 weeks before El-
berta. Fruits are medium to large, with
an attractive red blush. Flesh is yel-
low and freestone, but lacks firmness
for shipping. Plant for home use and
local market.
Redcap (USDA FV 121-58) ripens
1 or 2 days ahead of Dixired. Fruit
is clingstone, medium, round, and has
light pubescence - similar to Dixired.
The surface is covered with a bright,
attractive red blush. Flesh is yellow,
firm but melting, medium-textured and
has good flavor. 
Trees are moderately
vigorous and productive with low chill-
ing requirements. Blossoms are small-
petaled and self-fertile. Plant in place
of Dixired in southern Alabama, and
with Dixired in central Alabama to
avoid prolonged dormancy.
Redhaven is early, ripening 4 to 5
weeks before Elberta. Fruits are small
to medium and require early thinning
to develop good size. Skin is bright
red and attractive. Flesh is yellow and
usually free when ripe. Redhaven
peaches are excellent for canning and
freezing. Flower buds are moderately
hardy.
Redskin ripens in midseason, about
the same time as Elberta. Its fruits
are large and round, and the skin is
an attractive, almost solid, bright red.
Flesh is yellow, free and firm. It is a
good variety for freezing and canning,
and looks promising as a commercial
variety to replace Elberta, particularly
because of color and quality of the fruit.
Rio Oso Gem is late, ripening with
Afterglow. It produces large fruit, with
medium to bright blush. Flesh is yel-
low, free, of good quality, and firm.
[4]
Trees are rather weak, moderately pro-
ductive and susceptible to bacterial
spot. Its flower buds are tender to low
temperature. This variety is popular
with many growers because of the
fruit's size, firmness, attractiveness and
time of ripening.
Shipper's Late Red ripens 1 week af-
ter Elberta. Fruit is large, with me-
dium to bright red blush and freestone.
The yellow flesh is firm and medium-
textured with good quality. Trees are
vigorous and productive.
Southland is an early midseason va-
riety, ripening 2 to 3 weeks before
Elberta. It has fruit that is round,
medium to large, and has yellow ground
color with medium blush. Flesh is yel-
low, free and firm. This variety has
low chilling requirements. It is good
for freezing and canning and is being
planted 
extensively.
Sunhigh ripens in early midseason.
Its fruits are large, attractive and has
light, solid red skin. Flesh is attractive,
fine-textured, yellow, usually free and
firm. The buds are fairly hardy to low
winter temperature, 
but apparently
tender to low 
temperature in 
early
spring. Relatively short chilling is suf-
ficient for Sunhigh. It is susceptible to
bacterial spot. Its principal merits are
firmness, size, and attractiveness of
fruit.
Triogem is early, ripening about 3
weeks before Elberta. Its fruit is me-
dium-sized and has attractive shiny
color. Flesh is yellow, fine-textured,
usually free, and firm. Flower buds are
tender, and fruits may be small unless
thinned well and early. Triogem gives
good production.
CHILLING REQUIREMENTS
aud PROLONGED DORMANCY
Peach trees go into dormancy or be-
gin their rest period in late fall. Enough
cold weather is needed to break their
rest period before February 15 for
normal growth and blossoms the fol-
lowing spring. The amount of chill-
ing required depends on the variety.
The number of hours below 450 F. to
break the rest period of flower and leaf
buds has been determined by Wein-
berger
3 
at the U.S.D.A. Horticultural
Field Laboratory, Fort Valley, Georgia.
This information for the varieties rec-
ommended for Alabama is given in
Table 5.
When temperatures are abnormally
high during the winter, peach trees do
not bloom and fruit normally in early
spring. This condition is called pro-
longed dormancy. Such was the case
following the warm winters in central
Alabama during 1948-49 and 1949-50.
Observations were made on 68 peach
varieties in the spring of 1950 to de-
termine their growth and fruiting re-
sponse to the mild winter. The May-
flower variety, which requires 1,150
hours chilling for flower buds, was
just beginning to bloom and had no
foliage on May 4. As a rule, this
variety at Auburn, Alabama, ripens
TABLE 5. THE FEBRUARY 15 CHILLING
REQUIREMENTS OF PEACH VARIETIES
Variety
Afterglow
Cardinal
Coronet
Dixigem
Dixired
Elberta
Fairhaven
Halehaven
Hiland
July Elberta
Loring
Maygold
Newday
Redcap
Redhaven
Redskin
Rio Oso Gem
Shipper's Late Re
Southland
Sunhigh
Triogem
Hours at45'F. or lower
Flower buds Leaf buds
750 750
900 900
800 800
850 950
950 1,050
850 950
850 1,050
850 950
750 750
750 750
750 1,050
650 650
750 750
750 750
850 950
750 750
850 950
d 850 850
750 750
750 750
850 950
' Weinberger, J. H. The February 15
chilling requirements of peach varieties.
U.S.D.A. Agricultural Research Service,
Horticultural Crops Research Branch.
[5]
n nrrn~r\ v\+-r r-\ll
1 rr\
May 15 to May 30. The Jewel variety,
which requires little chilling, bloomed
January 15. The fruit was killed by
late spring frosts, but the tree was in
normal foliage on May 
4. Varieties
with low chilling requirements (750 to
850 hours) had fruit ranging from 1/4
to 1 /4inches in diameter and from one-
half to three-fourths their normal foli-
age on May 4. Among these varieties
were Afterglow, Dixigem, Elberta,
Fairhaven, Halehaven, July Elberta,
Loring, Newday, Redhaven, Redskin,
Rio Oso Gem, Shipper's Late Red,
Southland, Sunhigh, and Triogem.
TESTED VARIETIES
NOT RECOMMENDED
Other varieties that have been tested
but are not suggested for planting 
in
Alabama except for special purposes
are:
Ambergem Jerseyland
Arp (Arp Beauty) Jewel
Augbert J. H. Hale
(August Elberta) July Heath
Autumn Laterose
Babcock Lizzie
Barbara Malt
Belle of Georgia Mamie Ross
Best May Mayflower
Beva Michigan 20
Brackett Mikado
Care (June Elberta)
Colora Missouri
Cumberland Nile
Dale Ozark
Dixigold Prairie Clipper
Early Crawford
Early Rose
Early East
Early Elberta
Early Hiley
Early Jubilee
Early Triogem
Early Vedette
Early Wheeler
(Red Bird Cling)
Elby
Erly-Red-Fre
Fairs Beauty
Fertile Hale
Fine
Fireglow
Fisher
Frank
Gage Elberta
Gaheb
Gemmer's
Late Elberta
Giant Jubilee
Goldeneast
Golden Globe
Golden Jubilee
Goodcheer
Graf
Greensboro
Halegold
Hardee
Heath Cling
Hiley
Indian Blood Cling
Prairie Daybreak
Prairie Rambler
Prairie Rose
Prairie Schooner
Prairie Sunrise
Radiance
Raritan Rose
Redelberta
Redcrest
Redrose
Rochester
Salberta
Salwey
Slappey
South Haven
(Sun-Glo)
Stark's Delicious
Sullivan
Early Elberta
Summercrest
Summerrose
Sunbeam
Sure Crop
Take
Tena
Uneeda
Vanguard
Vedette
White Hale
White Haven
Wildrose
World's Earliest
Yate's Late Elberta
Yellow Hiley
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors wish to acknowledge the
assistance of C. C. Carlton, superintendent,
Chilton Area Horticulture Substation, and
T. S. Morrow, superintendent, North Ala-
bama Horticulture Substation, in the peach
variety testing program.
[6]