Peaches are yellow or white fruit with a large stone in the center. They are juicy fruits. Several individuals believe that white-fleshed peaches are usually tastier and less acidic than yellow-fleshed peaches. In Western nations, on the other hand, yellow peaches are more common.
Peaches are a popular fruit in most countries due to their tangy sweet flavor, juicy flesh, and amazing taste. Peach varieties number in the thousands, with a nectarine being one of them.
The peach varieties with clingstones and yellow or white flesh are the most delicious. The Elberta, with its rich sweet yellow flesh, the huge Empress with its juicy feel, the petite Honey Babe with its white-fleshed sweet Polly peach, and the delightfully juicy sweet Red Haven are some of the best examples of sweet peaches.
Of course, there are many more great peach types to choose from if you want to buy or grow them.
What is The Best Peach to Buy?
Consider how you consume, bake, or preserve peaches when selecting the best variety: eating, baking, or preserving. Freestone peaches, for example, are the finest kind of peaches for baking, whereas clingstone peaches are the finest type of peach for storage.
Sweet, juicy peaches with freestones and firm yellow or white flesh are the finest and simplest for eating. The finest varieties for eating fresh, canning, freezing, and using in baked goods include certain types of peaches such as “Cresthaven,” “Glohaven,” “Improved Elberta,” and “Red Haven.” These are large fruits with a good sugar content and medium acidity, and they resist browning.
Peach Trees
Peaches originated in Northwest China and are known by the botanical name Prunus persica. The climate must be arid and bright, such as in temperate or continental climates, for growing peach trees. The trees need a winter chilling period to ripen the sweet, juicy fruits. After that, the ripening process must be completed in hot summers with temperatures ranging from 68°F to 86°F (20°C to 30°C).
If you reside in USDA zones 4 to 9, you may grow peach trees in your garden. If you prune peach trees properly, they may grow to be between 10 and 13 feet (3 and 4 meters) tall. You may grow a dwarf variety of peach tree if you have a small garden or limited space. “Stark Saturn,” “Golden Gem,” “Southern Sweet,” and “Redhaven” are some of the dwarf peach varieties that yield delectable fruit.
You’ll learn about a number of popular peach types, both sweet and tart, in this article. White donut peaches, nectarines, enormous yellow peaches, and other fruits are among the items you’ll learn about. Which of these peaches are you fond of will be determined by descriptions and images.
Stone or Pits in Peach (Peach Stone Types)
Because they have a hard stone or pit in the middle, peaches are a drupe type. A seed is protected by this stone, which is said to have a similar flavor to almonds. Depending on the kind of pit they contain, peaches are classified into three groups.
Freestone
The flesh of peaches in the “freestone” category comes off the stone easily. Large peaches with yellow flesh, such as “Early Amber,” “Fay Elberta,” “Glohaven,” “Golden Jubilee,” and “Loring” are examples of different types of freestone peaches. The most common peaches for eating fresh are peaches with freestones.
Fleshy yellow or white flesh with a pleasant flavor is also available. They don’t have the same juiciness as clingstone peaches.
Freestone peaches are the finest choice for baking. The stone may fall out by cutting through the peach. As a result, clingstone peaches require more preparation before cooking. For freezing, canning, baking, and eating fresh, use freestone peaches.
Clingstone peaches
Clingstone peaches have flesh that clings tightly to the stone, as the name suggests. Removing the pits from the flesh appears to be nearly impossible in some types. “Flordaking,” “Garnet Beauty,” “Halford,” “June Gold,” and “Ruby Prince” are some of the most popular clingstone peach varieties.
Cclingstones have softer flesh than freestone peaches, which is juicier and sweeter. Clingstone peaches are more acidic than white freestone peaches because of their flesh color, which is yellow. Clingstone peaches are seldom offered in shops because they are more challenging to consume fresh.
They’re generally found in desserts, cans, jams, and jellies. They are, nevertheless, the same type of peaches you’ll find.
Semi-freestone
A cross of freestone and clingstone peaches, semi-freestone peaches are a genetic hybrid. White or yellow peaches with a tart to sweet flavor such as “Red Haven,” “Florida Dawn,” “Dixie Red,” and “Coronet” may be found. Semi-freestones exist in a variety of nectarine peaches.
Color of the Peach Flesh
The color of the flesh of peaches is another method of categorization.
Yellow peach
In Western countries, peaches with yellow flesh are the most common. The flesh can range in hue from pale yellow to dark amber depending on the type of peach. The flesh of certain peach varieties, particularly clingstones, becomes reddish as it gets closer to the stone.
Yellow peaches have a more acidic but sweet flavor than white peaches. “Desert Gold,” “Elberta,” “Gala,” and “Redgold” (clingstone) are some examples of yellow peaches.
White peach
In Asian nations, peach specimens with silvery-white flesh are more common. The color of the flesh is the most noticeable distinction between the two types of peach varieties. White and yellow peaches are both delicious, although some people believe that white peaches are less acidic and more tasty than yellow types. “Arctic Supreme,” “Belle of Georgia,” “Polly,” “Snow Beauty,” and “White Heath Cling” are all examples of white peaches.
Are Nectarines a Type of Peach?
Nectarines (left) are a kind of peach with a smooth skin, whereas peaches (right) are a kind of peach. A variety of peach callednectarina is also available. Nectarines are often thought to be a cross between a peach and a plum.
The peach family, on the other hand, includes nectarines. The smooth, glossy skin of nectarines vs. peaches is the only distinction. “Shaved peaches,” “fuzzless peaches,” and other terms are used to describe nectarines.
Types of Peaches with Their Picture and Name
Let’s take a closer look at the numerous types of peaches available in the market or in your garden.
Redhaven
The medium-sized Redhaven peach has yellow flesh and is a sort of semi-freestone peach. Redhaven peaches are regarded as the “traditional” peach by many fruit enthusiasts, with sweet yellow and firm flesh. Fresheating, canning, and freezing this versatile, delicious peach is a breeze.
They are also ideal peaches for fruit salads because the flesh does not brown. One of the first peach trees to produce fruit is Redhaven peaches. You only need to put one of the trees in your garden because they are self-fertile.
Newhaven
Medium-sized, very sweet peaches with minimal acidity, Newhaven peaches are a popular choice. Only they are smaller and sweeter than Redhaven peaches, this peach variety is similar to them. The flesh is rich, yellow, with crimson edges and a yellow pit that readily separates from the core.
Peaches are wonderful for freezing and canning because they are somewhat firm. You can grow the trees in colder regions since they are cold hardy.
Golden Glory (Dwarf Peach Tree)
Dwarf fruit trees produce Golden Glory peaches, which are very popular. The peach fruits are rather huge, even larger than the biggest peaches of all the dwarf peach trees. Although growing on little peach trees, they flourish. These are excellent, mouthwatering freestone peach varieties. Golden Glory peaches may be grown in containers on patios or balconies because to their small stature.
Loring Peach
Among the freestone classification of peaches, Loring peaches are a big drupe. The excellent flavor, sweet taste, and firm yellow flesh of these large yellow peaches make them prized. Loring peaches have a lovely sweet flavor despite being a yellow peach.
Because of their sweet taste and delightfully fresh flavor, many people consider the Loring peaches to be one of the finest varieties. Moreover, these peaches are great for canning or freezing because of their firm texture.
Veteran
The freestone kind has yellow, delicate flesh and yellow skin. It includes veteran peaches. When fresh is eaten, this peach variety isn’t the greatest, and it tastes terrific when cooked into desserts or canned. Veteran peach trees are very hardy plants that may be grown in zones 5 to 8.
June Gold
The June Gold is one of the most delicious and juicy peach cultivars. The golden-yellow flesh of the medium-sized peach is stained with red blushes and has yellowish skin. Since it is a clingstone peach, the flesh is considered to be medium-firm and clings tenaciously to the pit. June Gold peaches are delicious and readily available.
Red Globe
Red Globe is a huge, freestone peach that has sweet, firm flesh that is juicy when you eat into it. The flesh of these peaches is vivid golden yellow and the skin is crimson. The peaches are roughly the size of a baseball. They’re ideal for fresh eating, home baking, canning, freezing, and even producing ice cream since they’re freestone peaches. In July, the fruit of Red Globe fruit trees is ripe.
Harmony
Large yellow peaches with orange skin and a dark red cheek, Harmony peaches are delicious. This freestone peach has a delicious yellow flesh that gradually changes to red towards the stem end. Among the most appealing varieties of peaches is the peach fruit. Biting into the flesh, however, reveals incredibly sweet and slightly acidic yellow flesh.
Donut Peaches
The Donut Peach is a relatively new peach cultivar on the market. The flattened disc-like shape distinguishes donut peaches from round peaches. They also have the same flavor as ordinary peaches, in addition to that. Let’s take a look at two types of donut peaches.
Saturn donut—A clingstone with white flesh and a lovely flavor, the original “Saturn” donut peach was. Other varieties of donuts with freestone-like yellow flesh have been developed.
Galaxy donut—This is a excellent flat peach variety with a great flavor and bite. Sweet, golden yellow flesh with yellow skin characterize this freestone donut variety.
Harko Nectarine
If you want to cultivate one of the nicest nectarines, choose Harko nectarines. The flavor of Harko nectarines is superior and the skin is glossy red with no fuzz. They are a kind of clingstone peach. Nectarines have brilliant yellow flesh and a delightfully sweet flavor, which are produced by these cold-hardy fruit trees.
Polly Peaches (White Peaches)
The freestone variety of white peaches is Polly Peaches. The flesh is nearly translucent white and has a light peach skin with crimson blush. Because the delicate flesh of the succulent drupe fruits does not hold up when cooked or baked, they are best consumed fresh.
Polly peach trees, which can withstand temperatures as low as -20°F (-28°C), are also hardy fruit trees. These white peaches are among the nicest and tastiest you’ll find.
White Heath Cling
White Heath Cling peaches are clingstone peaches with white flesh, as the name suggests. The succulent meat has a rich flavor with a low pH and is great to consume fresh or package in cans for later in the year. White skin with a light red blush characterizes the medium to large peaches.
White Lady
The White Lady is one of the nicest white peaches available. This huge peach cultivar has a lot of sugar and little acidity. It’s ideal for eating off the tree since it’s a freestone variety.
Elberta Sweet Peaches
Elberta is a delicious, large yellow-fleshed peachy that you can eat. The firm, rich flavor and minimal acidity distinguish the golden yellow flesh. The skin of Elberta peaches is yellowish with crimson blush. Elbertas are a great kind of peach for canning or baking because they are a freestone type.
Baseball-sized stone fruits are produced by Elberta peach trees. Self-fertile trees and dwarf varieties are also available. Therefore, if you have a tiny, compact yard, these peaches are the best kind of fruit tree.
Fairhaven
Large, spherical, yellow freestone peaches with a great flavor and firm skin are known as fairhaven peaches. The skin of these peaches is red-yellow, with a little fuzzyness. Fairhaven peaches are ideal for canning, baking, and freezing because of their firm skin and lack of browning.
Belle of Georgia
Georgia Belle peaches are freestone fruits with brilliant red skins that weigh a pound or more. Freshly picked sweet peaches are amazing. Belle of Georgia peaches are good white peaches for baking and canning since their flesh is firm. Before large fruits mature late in the season, the lovely peach self-pollinating trees produce pink blooms.
Babcock
In the semi-freestone peach category, Babcock peaches are tiny to medium white peaches. They have a somewhat acidic flavor with a sweet edge. One of California’s and the West Coast’s most popular varieties of peach trees is Babcock peaches.
Snow Beauty
Snow Beauty is a popular white freestone peach cultivar. The high sugar levels and low acidity in this white peach variety contribute to its fantastic taste. The award-winning flavor of the silvery white flesh is tantalizing. The crimson skin of the gigantic peaches covers the sweet white meat.
Cresthaven
Cresthaven peaches are yellow, crisp peaches with a rich sweet flavor and a little tanginess. Freestone peaches are huge, with a deep crimson skin. Cresthaven peaches are good for canning, baking, and making peach cobbler because to their resistance to browning and tough skin. Cresthaven peach trees thrives in zones 5 to 9 if you reside in a chilly winters climate.
Sun Haven
Another kind of sweet peach cultivar with rich golden yellow flesh is Sun Haven peaches. The smooth feel and rich flavor of this clingstone peach The peach is fantastic for use in pies and baked goods because it resists browning. Bright-red skin with a golden-yellow side covers large oval peaches ripening on trees.
Sunhigh
The Sunhigh variety is one of the greatest varieties of peaches for canning. The freestone flesh easily separates from the big oval fruit. Sweet yellow meat, crimson skin, and a superb, well-balanced flavor are all characteristics of Sunhigh peaches. These peaches may also be eaten right away.