Fun Facts About Peaches You Might Not Know

Did you know that August is National Peach Month? Here are a few interesting facts about peaches.

Peach Facts By The Numbers

1. China is the world’s largest producer of peaches, where they are considered a symbol of fertility and longevity, followed by Italy, then the United States. The three largest peach-producing states here are California, followed by South Carolina, then Georgia.
2. Peaches are a good source of vitamins A, B, and C, and a medium peach only has 37 calories.
3. Nectarines are NOT a cross between a peach and a plum, as some people think. Nectarines are simply a fuzzless peach.
4. Peaches, like strawberries, apples, and almonds, are members of the Rose family.
5. A peach nearly started a war! A Dutch farmer living in a settlement in Delaware was angered by a Native American woman picking his peaches and killed her. The woman belonged to a local tribe called the Susquehannock. They were angered by her death and attacked the settlement, taking 150 people hostage. The prisoners were later released through negotiations. It’s now referred to as the Peach Tree War.

How to Grow Your Own

The first thing you need to do is to make sure you pick a variety that does well in hardiness zone 7. A variety sold at a local garden center should be a hardy variety for your area.

Select a sunny well-draining area and add some compost to enrich the soil a bit. The best time to plant is in early to mid-spring. The best time to prune and shape your tree is in late winter (end-February) and the best time to feed with a balanced fertilizer is in mid-spring. Peaches are ready to pick when the fruits have no green showing.

Oh, One More Thing

The most important thing you can do is ENJOY!

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