Harvesting peaches

Harvest your peaches when they are fully ripe from late June through July and August, depending on variety. You can judge when they’re ripe based on the expected harvest time for that variety, and also by the color.

When peaches are fully ripe, the color changes from green to completely yellow/peachy orange, with no green left. A ripe peach will pop off the tree with just a slight twisting motion. Be careful, some peaches bruise easily!

• • Tip: If you do pick some peaches that aren’t quite ready to eat, ripen them by leaving them in a brown paper bag at room temperature for a day or two.

If you want to time your peaches to suit yourself and your other crops, you can choose to grow varieties that ripen on the timetable you want. Here are some varieties listed by their harvest schedule. If you have any questions about growing these varieties in your zone, check with your local extension service or garden center.

* Early season typically means June in the south, July in the north (and colder areas). Mid-season usually means July. Late season is August in most areas.

Early season

Babcock

Coronet

Desert Gold

Early Amber

El Dorado

Florida King

Florida Prince

Garnet Beauty

June Gold

May Pride

New Haven

Pix Zee

Rio Grande

Ruby Prince

Southern Sweet

Stark Saturn (donut)

Tropic Snow

White Nectar

White Lady

Early to mid-season

Cardinal

Dixie Red

Eva’s Pride

Harken

Spring Prince

Sun Haven

Mid-season

August Price

Baby Crawford

Bonanza II

Bonita

Cary Mac

Contender

Earlihale

Elberta

Fairhaven

Fantastic Elberta

Flaming Fury

Flavorcrest

Florida Dawn

Florida Crest

Fortyniner

Gala

Galaxy (donut)

Garden Gold

Glo Haven

Golden Jubilee

Halehaven

Harmony

Harvester

Honey Babe
Improved Elberta

John Boy

July Elberta

Loring

Midpride

Nectar

O’Henry

Polly

Redglobe

Redgold

Reliance

Redskin

Redtop

Roza

Santa Barbara

Snow Beauty

Southern Flame

Southern Rose

Springtime

Suncrest

Sunhigh

Sweet Dream

UF 2000

UF Gold

Ventura

Veteran

Zee Lady

Late midseason

Arctic Supreme

Fay Elberta

Frost

Indian Free

J.H. Hale

Red Baron

Rio Oso Gem

Rubidoux

Tropi-Berta

Late season

Belle of Georgia

Crest Haven

Empress

Fairtime

Halford

Halloween

Indian Blood Cling

Madison

Strawberry Cling

Summerset

White Heath Cling

Do you have any favorite peach varieties that work for your home garden? What special harvesting tips can you share about enjoying your peach crop? Please tell us what you think.