2 new peach cultivars for US growers to consider

Summer in the Southeast ended eventfully for the region’s peach growers, according to USDA-ARS Research Horticulturist Chunxian Chen. For starters, the USDA-ARS stone fruit program in Byron, GA, released two new early season peach cultivars, Chen reports. ‘May Joy’ requires approximately 650 chill hours and produces yellow-fleshed, clingstone fruit that typically ripen approximately a week before ‘Flavorich’ and two to three weeks before ‘Carored’ in early to mid-May in Byron. ‘May Joy’ fills an earlier season niche than currently planted cultivars. ‘Cardinal Joy’ requires about 850 chill hours and produces yellow-fleshed, semi-freestone fruit. The fruit typically ripen about a week after ‘Flavorich’ and a few days before ‘‘Carored’ in mid to late May in Byron. ‘Cardinal Joy’ is a promising higher chilling requirement alternative in the early season. Both new cultivars are suited for trial in areas where ‘Flavorich’ and ‘Carored’ are grown, Chen says. ‘Incredibly Heavy’ Fruit Set ...