Perf ormance of
Peach Varieties
in Alabama
JL. TURNER and H. J. AMLING, Dept. of Horticulture
C. C. CARLTON, Supt. Chilton Area Horticulture Substation
Q -
Alibama l;ias~i redied al 1)1911 kni hi
(d i Ild popaio lti AaiiiS has)l 1)91 icreasei
thlt cet-fli\ to 1110t( tliuii 900,000) at
pl-c (11(t. The Iviajiirit iof this1191et
has b)1911 ill 191(11 Ildttrilii( S dl jties.
sucth as (XiIdmlal, H ilautl. I)iXiil. andh
hewihip. Nblit tisi still the lcittlliy Na
15 'per celit of the tiotal tret pipitltioli.
Hixx m- 159.callS 1111 il il1it Sal ittits ill tlit
:3( per cenit of the total.
E'pt. Sti. CiI. 121. 1957.
LEAFLET 69
FEBRUARY 1963
ities r d l 1oxxIt ill 1311111it ( 11111 tx tliei
itits ,iich ais liherta, Shiippe's 51ittc
lied, 11iii so (14oi ande .1. 14. 1lthe
totl I lal I111 t ll x fil th Ts tS.i lii
tttaollw rc II (Ic it111145.il i
llewl alit
1 
ilnlix elidl ittits hav el
mew11 addllet ill 1 9 10, 19 12, 11(1 19 1:3
Iditti il I 1948 ~lti~ i inc i s c well kliiiwnI
A G RI CU L TU RA L E X PE R I ME N T
E.V.Smt, irctr AUBURN UNIVERSITY
S T ATIO N
Auburn, Alobanma
E. V. Smith, Director
1952, 12 USDA releases were planted
for evaluation, 10 from Fort Valley, and
2 from Beltsville, Maryland. A new va-
riety block was set the winter of 1961
at Auburn with new varieties that have
been introduced by state experiment sta-
tions, private breeders, and the USDA.
Several of these new varieties have indi-
cated a low-chilling requirement for
breaking dormancy.
Peach variety testing was begun at
the Wiregrass Substation, Headland, in
1954 to evaluate adaptability of low-
chilling varieties, including Hiland,
Southland, Newday, Maygold, Redskin,
and Redcap. Additional low-chilling se-
lections were added in 1957 and 1961.
Testing low-chilling varieties was be-
gun at the Gulf Coast Substation, Fair-
hope, in 1961. This area is on the East
shore of Mobile Bay.
VARIETY RECOMMENDATION
Many varieties adapted for commer-
cial plantings are satisfactory for local
or home use. Since many have been
named and tested, only those that have
exhibited good commercial qualities are
discussed.
Varieties recommended for commer-
cial plantings are listed in Table 1.
These varieties have performed well in
trial plantings and many are widely
planted for commercial production in
the Chilton County and Blount County
peach areas.
VARIETY DESCRIPTION
Springtime, (Unnamed Seedling of
Luken's Honey X July Elberta) x
Robin, is an early maturing, low-chilling
white fleshed peach; this peach has per-
formed well in the Chilton area, ripen-
ing 8 weeks before Elberta and is de-
sirable for limited plantings as an early
local or roadside market peach. Spring-
time is small, round, juicy, deep red
skin, and ripens May 14 to 20. Its qual-
ity is somewhat better than Mayflower.
Springtime is highly susceptible to brown
rot and has a chilling requirement of
about 650 hours.
TABLE 1. VARIETIES RECOMMENDED FOR COMMERCIAL PLANTING IN CENTRAL
AND NORTHERN ALABAMA
Variety
Hiland
Cardinal
Redcap
Dixired
Coronet
Redhaven
Ranger
Keystone
Southland
Redglobe
Loring
Blake
Redskin
Elberta
Rio-Oso-Gem
Flesh Stone
color
1
freeness
2
C
C
C
C
SF
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
Quality Chilling
requirement
3
good
good
good
good
excellent
excellent
excellent
good
good
good
good
excellent
excellent
excellent
good
750
900
750
900
800
950
950
750
750
900
750
750
750
900
850
Average
calendar
ripening
dates'
June 4
June 4
June 5
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 24
June 28
July 5
July 5
July 9
July 15
July 19
July 19
July 26
Weeks
before
Elberta
6%/
6/2
6
6
5
4
31/2
3
2
2
1/2
0
0
-1
1Y = yellow flesh.
2C clingstone SF semi-freestone F - freestone.
' Number shown is the approximate number of hours below 45F that is required to break
the rest period.
SApproximate calendar date of ripening, based on July 19 as the average maturity date
for Elberta in Chilton County.
[2]
Hiland, Southland X (Hiley X Hale-
haven), was developed by the USDA
Field Station at Fort Valley and intro-
duced commercially in 1952. Fruit ripens
61/ weeks earlier than Elberta and 4 to
5 days earlier than Dixired. It is me-
dium in size, yellow flesh, clingstone,
fairly well colored and juicy, and is
fairly firm at shipping ripe maturity, but
tends toward excessive split pits. Trees
are very productive, vigorous, with large
blossoms. Chilling requirement for Hi-
land is about 750 hours.
Cardinal, Halehaven X selfed, was in-
troduced by the USDA Field Station,
Fort Valley in 1951. Cardinal ripens 61/2
weeks before Elberta and about 4 days
before Dixired. Fruit is yellow fleshed,
small, clingstone, well colored, and is
fairly firm at shipping maturity. Trees
are productive and moderately vigorous.
Chilling requirement is about 900 hours.
Cardinal is recommended for planting
with Hiland. In mild winters Cardinal
may exhibit prolonged dormancy since
it has a higher chilling requirement than
Hiland.
Redcap, Southland X Dixired, was de-
veloped by the USDA Field Station,
Fort Valley and introduced commer-
cially in 1952. Redcap ripens approxi-
mately 6 weeks before Elberta and nor-
mally 1 or 2 days before Dixired. Fruit
is very similar to Dixired, yellow flesh,
round, clingstone, medium size, well
colored, and firm at shipping maturity.
Redcap has good quality and requires
approximately 750 hours chilling.
Dixired, Halehaven X selfed, was
named and introduced in 1945 by the
USDA Field Station, Fort Valley. Dixi-
red is the most widely planted early
maturing peach. Shipping maturity is
6 weeks before Elberta. Trees are vig-
orous, productive, and fruits tend to be
small in some years unless thinned
heavily. Very often this variety will not
average 2 inches in diameter. Fruit is
well colored, firm, yellow fleshed, cling-
stone, and good quality. Chilling re-
quirement is about 900 hours. Dixired
is recommended for planting with Red-
cap to offset any prolonged dormancy
that Dixired might exhibit in mild
winters.
Coronet, (Halehaven X selfed) X Dixi-
gem, was introduced commercially in
1953 from Fort Valley by the USDA
Field Station. Fruit ripens 5 weeks be-
fore Elberta, is well colored, ovate, med-
ium size, mild flavored, yellow fleshed,
smooth textured, and firm at shipping
maturity. Flesh tends to cling to pit
when not fully ripe but is semi-freestone
when soft ripe. Trees are productive,
vigorous, but susceptible to bacterial leaf
spot. Blossoms are small and tend to
open early. Chilling requirement is
about 800 hours. Coronet is recom-
mended as an early-midseason peach to
replace Dixigem.
Redhaven, Halehaven X Kalhaven,
was introduced by Michigan State Uni-
versity at South Haven, Michigan. Fruit
ripens 4 weeks before Elberta and 1
week later than Coronet, yellow flesh,
semi-cling at shipping maturity, skin
color not as good as Dixired, firm flesh,
and good quality. In some years fruit
will develop a rough suture under Ala-
bama conditions. Trees are productive,
vigorous, and need considerable thinning
to size properly. Chilling requirement
is about 950 hours. Redhaven is recom-
mended for the 4 weeks before Elberta
season.
Ranger, Raritan Rose X selfed, was
introduced in 1952 by the USDA Field
Station, Beltsville. Fruit ripens 3 to 31/2
weeks before Elberta, yellow flesh, large,
good color, firm, ovate, nearly a free-
stone at shipping maturity, and has
good quality. The fruit ripens uniformly
and can be harvested in three pickings.
Trees are productive and vigorous. This
variety has exhibited high resistance to
bacterial leaf spot in Chilton County.
Poorly pruned trees tend to develop
weak crotches. Ranger is recommended
for the same season as Keystone, and it
[ 3 ]
has a chilling requirement of about 950
hours.
Keystone, Newday X Southland, was
introduced by the USDA Field Station,
Fort Valley, in 1954. Fruit is large,
round, light colored, juicy, with good
quality, ripening 3 weeks before Elberta.
Flesh is yellow, smooth textured, and
nearly freestone at shipping maturity.
Trees are productive and vigorous, but
do not produce heavy crops until the
4th or 5th year. Blossoms are small and
tend not to set heavy crops under high
nitrogen conditions. Keystone is recom-
mended for a midseason peach. It has
a chilling requirement of about 750
hours.
Southland, Halehaven X selfed, was
introduced in 1946 by the USDA Field
Station, Fort Valley. Fruit is large, well
colored, ripens 2 weeks before Elberta,
freestone, yellow flesh, and has good
quality at shipping maturity. Objections
to Southland are its susceptibility to bac-
terial leaf spot and unproductiveness as
young trees. Older trees are vigorous,
productive, and have large showy petals.
Southland has a chilling requirement of
about 750 hours.
Redglobe, (Admiral Dewey X St. John)
X Fireglow, was introduced by the
USDA Field Station, Beltsville, in 1954.
Fruit ripens 2 weeks before Elberta in
Chilton County, is yellow fleshed, well
colored, round, firm, good quality, and
remains on the tree at shipping maturity.
Redglobe is a freestone and ships well.
Trees are moderately resistant to bac-
terial leaf spot. To size properly Red-
globe must be thinned. Trial plantings
are recommended for partial replace-
ment of Halehaven and Southland. Chill-
ing requirement is about 900 hours.
Loring, Frank X Halehaven, was in-
troduced by the Missouri Agricultural
Experiment Station in 1946. Fruit ripens
1 to 11/2 weeks before Elberta, is yellow
fleshed, freestone, firm, good quality and
color, medium size, and handles well for
commercial packing. Trees are vigorous
and productive. Loring has a chilling
requirement of about 750 hours and is
recommended for the season between
Southland and Elberta.
Blake, J. H. Hale X Primrose, was in-
troduced in 1953 by the New Jersey
Agricultural Experiment Station. Fruit
ripens one-half week before Elberta, 
is
freestone, yellow fleshed, has good color,
quality, and firm flesh at shipping ma-
turity. Trees are moderately vigorous
and tend to set light crops in most years.
Chilling requirement is about 750 hours.
Blake is recommended for commercial
planting to precede Elberta by 3 to 4
days.
Redskin, J. H. Hale X Elberta, was
released by the Maryland Agricultural
Experiment Station in 1944. Fruit ripens
at the same time as Elberta, has yellow
flesh, good color, and quality, is freestone,
firm, and large when properly thinned.
In some years a rough suture will de-
velop. Trees are moderately vigorous
and productive. Blossoms tend to set
fruit every year. Redskin is moderately
resistant to bacterial leaf spot. Chilling
is about 750 hours.
Elberta, unknown, was discovered and
introduced by Samuel H. Rumph, Mar-
shallville, Georgia, in 1870. Fruit ripens
normally about July 19 in Chilton
County, is freestone, yellow fleshed, has
excellent quality, and ships very well.
Elberta has rather poor skin color and is
susceptible to bacterial leaf spot. Trees
are vigorous and productive. Regular
Elberta is recommended for its popu-
larity and good quality.
Rio-Oso-Gem, unknown, was intro-
duced in 1933 by W. F. Yerkers, Rio-
Oso, California. Fruit ripens 1 week
after Elberta, is yellow fleshed, has ex-
cellent quality, round, firm, well colored,
and good size when thinned properly.
Chilling requirement is about 850 hours.
Trees are vigorous, and productive. Rio-
Oso-Gem is recommended for late mar-
ket.
[ 4]
VARIETIES FOR SOUTHERN
ALABAMA
Varieties Springtime, Hiland, Redcap,
Southland, Loring, and Redskin have
low chilling requirements and commer-
cial qualities. These varieties are also
recommended for the southern half of
Alabama or that portion of the State
that lies south of Montgomery. Ripening
dates should be a few days earlier in the
extreme south portion. This early ripen-
ing provides an early peach for market.
In some years, particularly those that are
mild, it can be expected that these va-
rieties may not perform as described.
Therefore, they are recommended as
trial plantings rather than for extensive
commercial operation.
TABLE 2. VARIETIES FOR TRIAL PLANTING
IN SOUTHERN ALABAMA
Spri
Hila
Red
Sout
Lori
Red
Variey Chilling
Variety requirement
Hours
ngtime 650
nd 750
cap 750
thland 750
ing 750
skin 750
Earlier than
Elberta'
Weeks
81/2
6
2
11/2
0
1 In southern Alabama ripening dates
should be 5 to 10 days earlier than in Chil-
ton County.
TESTED VARIETIES
NOT RECOMMENDED
The following varieties have been
tested but are not recommended for com-
mercial planting in Alabama:
Dixigold
Early East
Early Elberta
Early Gold
Early Hiley
Early-Red-Fre*
Early Rose
Early Triogem
Fairhaven
Fay Elberta
Fireglow
Fisher
Gay Elberta
Gemmer's Late El-
berta
Giant Jubilee
Goodcheer
Golden East
Golden Jubilee
Goldenrod
Halberta
Halegold
Hale Harrison Bril-
liant
Halehaven*
Heath Cling
Indian Cling*
Jerseyland
Jewel
J. H. Hale
July Elberta
July Heath
June Elberta
June Gold
Late Rio
Late Rose
Liberty
Lizzie
Prairie Clipper
Prairie Dawn
Prairie Daybreak
Prairie Rambler
Prairie Rose
Prairie Sunrise
Radiance
Raritan Rose*
Red Bird
Red Crest
Red Elberta
Red Rose
Richaven
Rodeo
Slappey
Southern Glow
Southaven
Stark's Delicious
Stoner
Story Early El-
berta
Sullivan 
Elberta
Summer Crest
Summer Rose
Sunbeam
Sunglow
Sunhaven
Sunhigh
Sure Crop
Triogem
Tulip
Vanguard
White Hale
White Haven
White Rose
World's Earliest
Yates Late Elberta
Yellow Hiley
After Glow
Alabama
Ambergem*
Augbert
Arp
Bell of Georgia
Best May
Brackett
Burbank Elberta
Cannon
Champion
Cherry Red
Cumberland
Dixigem
Maybell
Mayflower
Missouri
Merrill Beauty
Merrill Brilliant
Merrill Dandy
Merrill Fiesta
Merrill 49er
Merrill Gem
Merrill Goldrush
Merrill Hale
Merrill June
Merrill Pageant
Polly
* Varieties recommended for home use.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to acknowledge the
assistance of Marlin Hollingsworth and
the late T. S. Morrow for their work in
peach variety testing at the North Ala-
bama Horticulture Substation. Too, ac-
knowledgment is hereby given Harold
Yates, Superintendent, Gulf Coast Sub-
station and Max Sconyers, Assistant Su-
perintendent, Wiregrass Substation, for
testing of peach varieties for southern
Alabama.
[5]