All about the famous American hybrid peach Redhaven
Content
History of breeding and description of the variety
Redhaven is the result of breeding work by American scientists in Michigan. This variety was developed for commercial cultivation as early as 1940, but in Russia it was added to the state register relatively recently, in 1992. Today, varieties of this extraordinary hybrid occupy leading positions among peach varieties grown not only in the US but also in Europe.
Depending on the rootstock, the tree can reach a height of 3 to 5 meters. The crown is spherical, with medium-sized foliage. The strong and fairly thick branches and trunk are covered with smooth, light-gray bark. The leaves are large, about 16 cm long, lanceolate, finely serrated at the edges, and rich green with a glossy surface.
The inflorescences are sparsely but firmly positioned on the shoots. The flowers are small, with soft pink petals, and exude a delicate fragrance. The flowering period lasts about two weeks. The fruits are large, round-oval, with flattened sides, about 6 cm in diameter, and weigh between 130 and 200 g. The skin is bright orange with a slight blush, velvety, and slightly pubescent.
Characteristics of the tree and fruits
Redhaven is an early-fruiting variety, with the first fruits being harvested already in the 3rd year after planting. Peaches ripen over a period of several weeks, from mid-July to August. They are highly productive—a young tree can yield around 80 kg. They also exhibit good frost resistance for this crop, withstanding temperatures as low as 22°C.
The peach is also resistant to spring frosts, as flower buds develop later than other fruit trees. Redhaven is not susceptible to fungal infections, particularly clasterosporium and powdery mildew, but there is a risk of leaf curl.
The fruit's flesh is very juicy, slightly fibrous, bright orange with fine burgundy veins, extremely sweet, and possesses a distinct aroma. Its presentation and flavor are highly praised. Its nutritional composition is rich in organic acids, vitamins, macro- and microelements, keratins, pectins, and essential oils. It is quite caloric.
Advantages and disadvantages.
Like other hybrids, Redhaven has inherited a host of advantages that easily outweigh any potential drawbacks. The variety's weaknesses include a lack of disease resistance and branches becoming overloaded with fruit. By following proper peach care guidelines, these can be remedied with preventative treatments of the tree with copper-containing preparations and bioinsecticides.
Thinning out the fruit will help to cope with overloaded branches.
The unconditional advantages of this variety are:
- excellent appearance of fruits and excellent taste characteristics;
- high degree of transportability and shelf life of fruits;
- early fruiting of the tree if care rules are followed and the planting site is chosen correctly;
- good frost resistance and freeze resistance;
- long lifespan of the tree (about 40 years);
- generous regular harvests;
- universal purpose of fruits, which are equally good for fresh consumption and for preparing all kinds of preserves;
- The rich chemical composition allows the fruits to be used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes;
- the possibility of cultivation both in individual farms and on an industrial scale;
- beautiful decorative appearance of flowering trees and a small compact crown;
- Easy care, which allows even novice gardeners to grow peaches.
It's no wonder Redhaven has earned recognition and top marks worldwide, and is so popular among both gardeners and professionals. You can see for yourself by planting this tree in your garden.
Video "Redhaven Peach"
In this video you will hear useful information about the Redhaven peach.