Peach Cultivars

USDA, university and private breeding programs have produced a number of new peach and nectarine cultivars in recent years.

Breeding programs at the USDA in Kearneysville, West Virginia, and at Byron, Georgia, along with private programs in California and Michigan have produced a number of new cultivars in recent years. Extensive evaluations of these cultivars are being performed by Jerry Frecon of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension System.

In recent years interest has grown in white-fleshed peaches and nectarines. In the table below, the white-fleshed cultivars are indicated with an asterisk next to their name. The table is set up according to average ripening dates for south-central Pennsylvania. The cultivars listed under the "Peaches" column are those that begin to ripen during the particular period. The next column reflects our opinion as to the best cultivars in that particular time frame. The third column contains suggestions for peach cultivars to try on an experimental basis. We do not know how well they will perform, but based on limited observation they seem worth trying on a small scale. The final column indicates all nectarines that ripen during that period.

Commercially grown and promising peach and nectarine cultivars for Pennsylvania

"W" indicates the cultivar is white fleshed.
Table developed by Jerry Frecon, Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University.

Source: Penn State Tree Fruit Production Guide.