Weather Factors that Produce Delicious Peaches
Cold, Then Hot and Dry
Among earth's most delicious smells and tastes is that of a blushing freestone peach. Farm market peaches are a treat every summer. Some years are better than others, though. What are some of the factors that make a particular crop of peaches special? It may surprise you to know that "bad weather" is one of them!
Frost
An early frost can decimate a peach crop. The word decimate suggests total devastation. However, an early meaning is to reduce something by a factor of 90 percent, leaving only ten percent, or in other words a small quantity of something. If a frost is not too severe, a peach crop may be damaged yet not be destroyed. Still, the farmer isn't happy, as there are fewer peaches to reach the market. Fewer peaches can mean a smaller profit. So what is the upside? Those few peaches receive more of the trees' bounty. Although there are fewer peaches, those that remain may reach exceptional size. Larger fruit if not due to excessive moisture, is better fruit!
Extra Summer Heat and Dryness
Extreme summer heat and dryness is no fun for those without air conditioning. It can also wreak havoc on certain varieties of garden produce. When it comes to fruit, however, elevated temperatures can mean a higher level of natural sugars in the fruit. This is partly due to decreased peach size, which intensifies flavor and concentrates the sugars. This is good news for the consumer. Not only does the fruit taste better, but it can cost less. This is because fruit is not sold by the piece, but by weight or volume--both of which are decreased in a hot, dry year. As an aside, trees growing at the top of a tree are generally sweeter, since they receive more warm summer sunshine.
Slow and Steady
Although a drier summer in general increases peach sweetness, in addition the pattern of rainfall is very important. The flavor is most benefited if the water each tree receives is spread out as uniformly as possible, with a slight increase just before the harvest. Now you read the announcement that peaches are available in your area. There has been an early, modest frost. The summer has been dry, but rains have been spaced out. Lately it has rained a bit more. Your favorite variety is on the list. So what are you waiting for? Fresh peaches await you!
References and Resources
The Columbus Dispatch: Sweet on the heat
KATC - Lafayette, LA: Peaches Will Be Sweeter This Season
Kaufmann's Fruit Farm and Market: Frequently Asked Questions About Peaches
Frost
An early frost can decimate a peach crop. The word decimate suggests total devastation. However, an early meaning is to reduce something by a factor of 90 percent, leaving only ten percent, or in other words a small quantity of something. If a frost is not too severe, a peach crop may be damaged yet not be destroyed. Still, the farmer isn't happy, as there are fewer peaches to reach the market. Fewer peaches can mean a smaller profit. So what is the upside? Those few peaches receive more of the trees' bounty. Although there are fewer peaches, those that remain may reach exceptional size. Larger fruit if not due to excessive moisture, is better fruit!
Extra Summer Heat and Dryness
Extreme summer heat and dryness is no fun for those without air conditioning. It can also wreak havoc on certain varieties of garden produce. When it comes to fruit, however, elevated temperatures can mean a higher level of natural sugars in the fruit. This is partly due to decreased peach size, which intensifies flavor and concentrates the sugars. This is good news for the consumer. Not only does the fruit taste better, but it can cost less. This is because fruit is not sold by the piece, but by weight or volume--both of which are decreased in a hot, dry year. As an aside, trees growing at the top of a tree are generally sweeter, since they receive more warm summer sunshine.
Slow and Steady
Although a drier summer in general increases peach sweetness, in addition the pattern of rainfall is very important. The flavor is most benefited if the water each tree receives is spread out as uniformly as possible, with a slight increase just before the harvest. Now you read the announcement that peaches are available in your area. There has been an early, modest frost. The summer has been dry, but rains have been spaced out. Lately it has rained a bit more. Your favorite variety is on the list. So what are you waiting for? Fresh peaches await you!
References and Resources
The Columbus Dispatch: Sweet on the heat
KATC - Lafayette, LA: Peaches Will Be Sweeter This Season
Kaufmann's Fruit Farm and Market: Frequently Asked Questions About Peaches
Published by Vincent Summers
My secular expertise includes 23 years of experience at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, with a share in NASA's extended Voyager 2 effort. I formerly wrote for Demand Studios, Bukisa, Suite 101, Exa... View profile
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21 Comments
Post a CommentI am not looking for much of a peach harvest this year as I didn't get many blooms this spring...
We have our fingers crossed - we definitely have the weather but need the wind to calm so the blossoms don't blow away and so the bees can come out and play. Thanks for the great article on peaches and the perfect weather for great ones.
I lived in the "peach capital" of SC, where we produce more peaches than anywhere other than California. The best peaches were always produced during the driest, hottest summers. They weren't as large, but they were exceptionally sweet.
I found this article way after peach season, but I do have three peach trees in my yard and they've borne relatively tasty peaches for the last two years. Before that, they were wormy and the Japanese beetles got to what there was before I could. I still have to race them, but it was easier this year. I read in an old gardening book that you should thin the peaches on a tree early on to improve the quality of the ones that remain. I did this in the early summer and I got enough peaches to freeze 25 bags of them. And that doesn't count what my family picked for themselves. Nice this year!
Ah, now I understand why the biggest peaches aren't always the tastiest ones, thanks!
I love peaches! Interesting facts. Thanks!
Great info. Still, however, searching for the perfect peach. They all seem to be mushy the past few years.
To the contrary in Virginia, the peaches are marvelous this year, despite and even because of the record-breaking heat. It makes me want to have a grandchild named Loring!
Dropping by to remember how awful this year is with not good peaches because of the weather.
So the "odds" in Las Vegas are that you will have great peaches...