Peach

Peaches

Peaches are known for their soft velvety skin and their sweet aromatic and juicy flesh. Nectarines are a type of peach, but with a smooth skin. Some people think that nectarines are a cross between peach and plum, but this is not true.

Names

Scientific
   Prunus persica
English
   Nectarine
   Peach
Dutch
   Gladde perzik
   Nectarijn
   Nectarine
   Perzik
Spanish
   Briñón
   Duraznero
   Durazno
   Melocotón
   Melocotonero
   Nectarina
   Piesco
French
   Nectarine
   Nectarinier
   Pêche
   Pêcher
German
   Nektarine
   Pfirsich
   Pfirsichbaum
Italian
   Nettarina
   Pesca
   Pesco

Taxonomy

Genus
   Prunus
Family
   Rosaceae
Order
   Rosales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

China

Distribution:

Evergreen or deciduous:

Deciduous trees.

Flowers:

Leaves:

Fruits:

The fruit has yellow or whitish flesh with a very delicate aroma and one large seed in the center. The skin of the fruit has a velvety surface.
Nectarines have a smooth skin but belong to the same species.

Pollination:

Pollination is by insects such as the honey bee.

Height:

Peach trees are 4 to 10 meter tall.

Spacing:

Propagation:

To maintain a good quality the cultivars are usually budded or grafted. Growing trees from seed gives unpredictable results.

Insect pests:

Diseases:

Leaf curl disease. Fruits are sensitive to brown rot.

Fruit development:

Harvesting:

Uses:

Mostly eaten fresh as a snack or dessert. Also sold in cans or as juice.

Proverbs and Quotes

Everything is not all peaches and cream.
Peel a fig for your friend, a peach for your enemy.
Prickly pear trees don't produce peaches.
Receive a plum, return a peach.

Did you know that?

The scientific name Prunus persica refers to the fact that the peach was cultivated on a large scale in Persia.

Crop categories

Fruits
Food crops
Subtropical crops
Temperate crops

Pictures