Redhaven Peach

Synonyms: Red Haven Peach

Redhaven peach – a popular peach cultivar. It was developed in 1940 under the program of the renowned Dr. Stanley Johnston at Michigan State University. In the USA it occupies more than 70% of commercial peach plantings. This cultivar revolutionized peach breeding. It serves as a reference standard for other cultivars.

It is a medium-growing tree, 5 m in height and 10 m in width, with a rounded or broadly inverse-conical crown. On almond rootstock at age 10 it reaches 3 m, with a crown diameter of 8 m. Lifespan up to 40 years. Bark brownish-gray, moderately to strongly fissured. Lenticels convex, beige with even edges, numerous. Shoots of optimal length (55 cm) and medium thickness (5.3 mm), internodes of medium length (20 mm). In winter the shoots on the sunny side are burgundy-colored.

Vegetative buds small (3 mm), conical in shape. Generative (floral) buds ovate, small (4 mm), slightly elongated toward the tip. Pubescence on the bud scales dense, long, but partial.

Leaves elongated-lanceolate in shape with a moderate taper to the apex, the apical tooth of medium length, base broadly cuneate or rounded. The leaf blade reaches 17.4 cm in length and 4.3 cm in width, moderately curved, moderately undulate, without wrinkling, sometimes slightly along the midrib, slightly coriaceous, moderately glossy. Margin bluntly serrate-crenate, double or single. Petioles medium in length, up to 9 mm. Glands round and bud-shaped, positioned 2-3 on the petiole. Stipules short, up to 10 mm.

Blooms in mid-season. Flowers medium-sized, corolla diameter 22 mm, bell-shaped, bright pink, fragrant. Petals medium, 9 mm in length and 5 mm in width, oval with a rounded apex and cuneate base, five per flower. Stamens number 28-35. Anthers yellow-raspberry in color. Pistil one, up to 16 mm in height. Stigma positioned at the level of the upper row of anthers. Pubescence of the style is less than ½ from the base. Calyx bell-shaped, greenish-burgundy outside and orange inside. Sepals elongated-triangular or ligulate, densely pubescent at the margins. The cultivar is self-fertile, but gives increased yields when planted with other cultivars.

The cultivar is high-yielding. From one tree one can harvest 45–100 kg. Begins to fruit annually starting at 3–4 years of age. Overloading and consequent fruit size reduction is possible. Fruits are firmly attached to the pedicel and uniform in size.

Fruits above-average to large, average mass 120–160 (200) g, dimensions 60×63×64 mm, round or slightly flattened, often compressed on the sides. Pedicel reaches 8 mm in length. The apex of the fruit is rounded, slightly depressed. The suture is barely noticeable, deeper at the base and the apex, extending onto the dorsal side. Skin of medium thickness, velvety, firm, easily separates from the fruit. Ground color bright orange, covered with a weakly streaky, spotted, red-maroon diffuse blush on ¾ of the fruit surface. Flesh weakly to moderately fibrous, tender, juicy, orange in color, near the stone red, with a strong aroma. Taste rating – 4.9 points. Stone medium, separates only in ripe fruits.

Fruits ripen in late July – early August. In Kyiv fruits ripen in mid-August.

Frost hardiness: 5–8. The cultivar is resistant to late spring frosts.

Location: requires sunny and sheltered-from-wind sites. Moderate watering is recommended during fruit set. Prefers loamy or sandy-loam soils. Drought tolerance medium, heat tolerance below medium.

Planting and care: same as for peach.

Pruning: requires yield regulation through pruning and fruit thinning.

Diseases and pests: moderately resistant to leaf curl. Strongly affected by clasterosporiosis and powdery mildew.

Usage: fruits are eaten fresh and also used for making compotes (4.5 points), preserves (4.8 points), jams, and jellies. Fruit transportability is high. They have excellent commercial appearance. The cultivar is a leader among peaches for flavor quality. Chemical composition of the fruits: dry matter — 14.4 %, sugars — 9.8 %, acids — 0.82 %, ascorbic acid — 4.19 mg per 100 g. The cultivar is included in the Register of Varieties of Ukraine and is recommended for cultivation in the steppe zone. Widely used in breeding for regularity of bearing, productivity, as well as taste and commercial qualities of the fruits.