Selecting varieties is one of the most crucial decisions a grower must make when establishing a peach orchard. Planting varieties not adapted to an area because of chilling requirements, lack of disease resistance, and otherwise poor tree and fruiting characteristics can be financially disastrous. Through research, Extension variety demonstrations and years of grower experience, groups of varieties adapted to particular regions of the state have been developed. In some cases one or more varieties are adapted throughout the state, whereas some selections are very limited in where they may be grown. Variety chilling requirements for South Alabama are: Northern 1/2 of area (550 to 850); Southern 1/2 of area (550 to 750) except southern 2/3 of Baldwin, Mobile and Houston counties (450 to 700).
The number one criterion for a peach variety is that it must prove hardy enough to fruit consistently in the area where it is grown. No variety can be commercially profitable without successful cropping. The second most important characteristic is the ability of the variety to adequately size its fruits. Only varieties that can produce medium to large fruits (for season of maturity) will prove profitable. Firmness of fruits is the third most important criterion. If fruits are to be harvested and transported any appreciable distance (50 to 100 miles or more) they must possess firm flesh. However, some softer-flesh type varieties may be used successfully in Pick- Your-Own (PYO) operations or sold through a grower's local retail stand where handling and transporting are greatly reduced. An outstanding variety must also possess a number of other attributes such as, attractive skin and flesh color and fruit shape, low percentage of split pits, acceptable flavor, etc.
Peach varieties listed in this publication are self-fruitful and may be planted in solid blocks without the use of pollinators. For discussion purposes, varieties are divided into those recommended for commercial plantings (Tables 1 & 2) and those suggested for commercial trial (Table 3 ).
Both yellow and white-fleshed peaches may be grown commercially. However, white-fleshed peaches are usually too soft for shipping long distances. Thus they are primarily of value for local roadside marketing or PYO. Starlite and Belle of Georgia are two of the finest white-fleshed varieties that may be grown. Eden is a release (1978) from New York which is worthy of evaluation. Many of the other white-fleshed selections listed in Table 2 are quite old but do afford the producer an opportunity to have peaches of this type throughout the season. It is suggested that only small plantings be made using these older selections. Note: Scarlet Pearl, La White, Carolina Belle and Summer Pearl(s) are also recently introduced varieties. Some of these may prove firm enough for short distance hauling.
When evaluating varieties for a particular area, cold hardiness is a crucial consideration. Hardiness is a measurement of how well varieties produce adequate crops under light to severe freeze conditions. The hardiness expressed by a variety is a reflection of its ability to withstand severe winter temperatures (fruit bud damage) as well as freezing temperatures during bloom and early fruit development.
Loss of fruit buds during winter freezes is not nearly as severe in Southern Alabama as in Central and Northern counties of the state. Therefore many varieties that are not hardy enough for these more northern locations are generally adequate in southern counties. Because most varieties can withstand the winter temperatures in South Alabama, hardiness during flowering and early fruiting is usually of greatest importance. A variety that might rate "good" in South Alabama may rate only "fair" in North Alabama. For most consistent performance, varieties to be used in South Alabama should rate at least "fair" or higher in cold hardiness.
For growers in extreme South Alabama, Flordaking is presently "among the best in season" for this very early harvest period (late April-early May). However, growers should plan on using freeze protection on risk crop loss 25 to 50% of the time. The use of other similar low chilling varieties (425 hours or less) would also require freeze protection. It is suggested that limited acreage be planted in these high risk varieties (especially if annual freeze protection isn't provided)(Table 4).
Before Flordaking was released, June Gold had been the main "volume variety" in these southernmost counties. June Gold is still considered "among the best in the season" for this area but has plenty of disadvantages including a shattered pit problem and may be replaced by some of the promising early varieties such as Goldprince. Texstar looks good, but fruit size is not as large as June Gold. However, if it is thinned real well and girdled, it is one of the best commercial varieties for extreme southern Alabama. Its 500- hour chill requirement is well suited for this area.
Flordaglobe was released as a 450-hour variety but appears to require at least 550 to 600 hours of chilling. Although it produces a smaller fruit than Flordaking, it ripens a week or more ahead of this variety and may prove worthwhile as the earliest variety available. It will require early, heavy thinning and possibly girdling to produce 2-inch and up fruits consistently.
Regal (CVN-1B3) is another new release from Louisiana that ripens with or ahead of Flordaking and may have promise during the real early season. It is definitely worth planting for evaluation.
LSU has recently named two other varieties which show promise for planting in southern counties. Both selections have been available as numbered lines for the past few seasons. Delta (CVN-1A) is a lower chiller (550-hr) that ripens in the old Redcap-Dixired season or just ahead of Juneprince. This variety has looked good in early tests. The second release, Gala (CVN-1C) ripens about with Sentinel and June Prince and appears to have commercial value. Both of these new selections are worthy of testing.