Peach Cultivar and Advanced Selection Evaluation in the Medium-Chill Region off Texas

Abstract

In the last century, peach production in Texas has fluctuated with erratic weather and economic conditions, and has expanded from a 6-8 week harvest season in northern Texas to a 20 week harvest period beginning in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and ending in northern Texas. Thirty-one peach cultivars and seven advanced selections were evaluated in a medium chill zone of Texas. Most peach cultivars with a chilling requirement of 700 or more hours below 7.2°C cropped inconsistently and although the fruit is round or oblong in more northern regions, when grown in a medium-chill zone, the fruits have prominent sutures or tips. As compared to more northern zones very few cultivar choices are available for mild-winter regions.