When to Test Peach Varieties for Flavor

Abstract

There has been very little work done on the proper stage of maturity at which peach varieties should be judged for flavor. It has been customary for me, in my variety testing, to pick peaches on the firm-ripe side and allow them to become fully ripe before testing them, and also to taste the tree ripened fruit. I have run into several cases where, in my opinion and the opinion of a few of those around me, those peaches that were allowed to ripen off the tree were superior to those that ripened on the tree. The most noted example of that is the Merrill Beauty.