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{{SPlantbox
|familia=Rosaceae
|genus=Prunus
|species=persica
|common_name=Peach
|habit=tree
|Min ht box=4
|Min ht metric=m
|Max ht box=10
|Max ht metric=m
|origin=China
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=sun
|water=moist, moderate
|features=deciduous, flowers, edible, fruit
|flower_season=early spring
|flowers=pink, white, single, double
|Temp Metric=°F
|image=Autumn Red peaches.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_caption=Autumn Red Peaches, cross section
}}
The '''peach''' and the fuzzless peach known as the '''nectarine''' (''Prunus persica'') are a species of ''[[Prunus]]'' native to [[China]] that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach. It is a [[deciduous]] [[tree]] growing to 4–10 m tall, belonging to the subfamily [[Prunoideae]] of the family [[Rosaceae]]. It is classified with the [[almond]] in the subgenus ''Amygdalus'' within the genus ''Prunus'', distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated seed shell.''
The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[lanceolate]], 7–16 cm long (3–6 in), 2–3 cm broad, [[pinnate]]ly veined. The [[flower]]s are produced in early spring before the leaves; they are solitary or paired, 2.5–3 cm diameter, pink, with five petals. The [[fruit]] has yellow or whitish flesh, a delicate aroma, and a skin that is either velvety ('''peaches''') or smooth ('''nectarines''') in different [[cultivar]]s. The flesh is very delicate and easily bruised in some cultivars, but is fairly firm in some commercial varieties, especially when green. The single, large seed is red-brown, oval shaped, approximately 1.4–2 cm long, and is surrounded by a wood-like husk. Peaches, along with [[cherry|cherries]], [[plum]]s and [[apricot]]s, are stone fruits ([[drupe]]s).
The scientific name ''persica'', along with the word "peach" itself and its cognates in many European languages, derives from an early European belief that peaches were native to [[Persian Empire|Persia]] (now [[Iran]]). The modern botanical consensus is that they originate in China, and were introduced to Persia and the [[Mediterranean region]] along the [[Silk Road]] before Christian times.<ref name=rhs>Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.</ref> Cultivated peaches are divided into [[Drupe|clingstone]]s and [[Drupe|freestone]]s, depending on whether the flesh sticks to the stone or not; both can have either white or yellow flesh. Peaches with white flesh typically are very sweet with little [[acid]]ity, while yellow-fleshed peaches typically have an acidic tang coupled with sweetness, though this also varies greatly. Both colours often have some red on their skin. Low-acid white-fleshed peaches are the most popular kinds in [[China]], [[Japan]], and neighbouring [[Asia]]n countries, while [[Europe]]ans and [[North America]]ns have historically favoured the acidic, yellow-fleshed kinds.
==Cultivation==
Peach plants grow very well in a fairly limited range, since they have a [[chilling requirement]] that tropical areas cannot satisfy, and they are not very cold-hardy. The trees themselves can usually tolerate temperatures to around −26 °C to −30 °C, although the following season's flower buds are usually killed at these temperatures, leading to no crop that summer. Flower bud kill begins to occur between −15 °C and −25 °C depending on the [[cultivar]] (some are more cold-tolerant than others) and the timing of the cold, with the buds becoming less cold tolerant in late winter.<ref>Szalay, L., Papp, J., & Szaóbo, Z. (2000). Evaluation of frost tolerance of peach varieties in artificial freezing tests. In: Geibel, M., Fischer, M., & Fischer, C. (eds.). Eucarpia symposium on Fruit Breeding and Genetics. ''Acta Horticulturae'' 538. [http://www.actahort.org/books/538/538_71.htm Abstract.]</ref> Certain cultivars are more tender and others can tolerate a few degrees colder. In addition, a lot of summer heat is required to mature the crop, with mean temperatures of the hottest month between 20 °C and 30 °C. Another problematic issue in many peach-growing areas is spring frost. The trees tend to flower fairly early in spring. The blooms often can be damaged or killed by freezes; typically, if temperatures drop below about −4 °C, most flowers will be killed. However, if the flowers are not fully open, they can tolerate a couple of degrees colder. In [[Vietnam]], the most famous variety of peach fruit product is grown in Mẫu Sơn commune, [[Lộc Bình District|Lộc Bình district]], [[Lang Son Province|Lạng Sơn]] province.
Important historical peach-producing areas are [[China]], [[Iran]], [[France]], and the [[Mediterranean]] countries like [[Italy]], [[Spain]] and [[Greece]]. More recently, the [[United States]] (where the three largest producing states are [[California]], [[South Carolina]],<ref>Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture: [http://www.ag.fvsu.edu/publicat/commoditysheets/fvsu001.htm Peaches]</ref> and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]<ref>Georgia Peach: [http://www.american.edu/TED/georgiapeach.htm Georgia Peach Study]</ref>), [[Canada]] ([[British Columbia]]), and [[Australia]] (the [[Riverland]] region) have also become important; peach growing in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario, Canada, was formerly intensive but ended in 2008 when the last fruit cannery in Canada was closed by the proprietors. [[Oceanic climate]] areas like the [[Pacific Northwest]] and coastline of North Western [[Europe]] are generally not satisfactory for peach-growing due to inadequate summer heat, though they are sometimes grown trained against south-facing walls to catch extra heat from the sun. Trees grown in a sheltered and south-facing position in the southeast of England are capable of producing both flowers and a large crop of fruit.
For home gardeners, semi-dwarf (3 to 4 m) and dwarf (2 to 3 m) varieties have been developed by grafting desirable cultivars onto dwarfing rootstock. Fruit size is not affected. Another mutation is flowering peaches, selected for ornamental display rather than fruit production.
Depending on climate and cultivar, peach harvest can occur from late May into August; harvest from each tree lasts about a week.
[[Image:Nectarine Fruit Development.jpg|thumb|300px|The developmental sequence of a nectarine over a 7½ month period, from bud formation in early winter to fruit ripening in midsummer (see [[:Image:Nectarine Fruit Development.jpg|image page]] for further information)]]
Peaches should be located in full sun, and with good air flow. This allows cold air to flow away on frosty nights and keeps the area cool in summer. Peaches are best planted in early winter, as this allows time for the roots to establish and be able to sustain the new spring growth. When planting in rows, plant north-south.
For optimum growth, peach trees require a constant supply of water. This should be increased shortly before the harvest. The best tasting fruit is produced when the peach is watered throughout the season. [[Drip irrigation]] is ideal, at least one dripper per tree. Although it is better to use multiple drippers around the tree, this is not necessary. A quarter of the root being watered is sufficient.
Peaches have a high nutrient requirement, needing more [[nitrogen]] than most other fruit trees. An NPK [[fertilizer]] can be applied regularly, and an additional mulch of poultry manure in autumn soon after the harvest will benefit the tree. If the leaves of the peach are yellow or small, the tree needs more nitrogen. [[Blood meal]] and [[bone meal]], 3–5 kg per mature tree, or calcium ammonium nitrate, 0.5–1 kg, are suitable fertilisers. This also applies if the tree is putting forth little growth.
If the full amount of peaches is left, they will be under-sized and lacking in sugar and flavour. In dry conditions, extra watering is important. The fruit should be thinned when they have reached 2 cm in diameter, usually about 2 months after flowering. Fresh fruit are best consumed on the day of picking, and do not keep well. They are best eaten when the fruit is slightly soft, having aroma, and heated by the sun.
===Propagation===
Most peach trees sold by nurseries are named cultivars [[Shield budding|budded]] onto a suitable rootstock. It is also possible to grow a tree from either a peach or nectarine seed, but the fruit quality of the resulting tree will be very unpredictable.
===Pests and diseases===
{{Main|List of peach and nectarine diseases}}
The trees are prone to a disease called [[leaf curl]], which usually does not directly affect the fruit but does reduce the crop yield by partially defoliating the tree. The fruit is very susceptible to [[brown rot]], or a dark reddish spot.
==Varieties==
===Nectarines===
[[Image:Nectarines summer 2006.jpg|thumb|upright|Nectarines]]
The nectarine is a [[cultivar group]] of peach that has a smooth skin. Though fuzzy peaches and nectarines are regarded commercially as different fruits, with nectarines often erroneously believed to be a crossbreed between peaches and [[plum]]s, or a "peach with a plum skin", they belong to the same species as peaches. Several genetic studies have concluded in fact that nectarines are created due to a [[recessive gene]], whereas a fuzzy peach skin is [[dominant gene|dominant]].<ref name=osu>Oregon State University: [http://food.oregonstate.edu/faq/uffva/nectarine2.html peaches and nectarines]</ref> Nectarines have arisen many times from peach trees, often as [[bud sport]]s.
As with peaches, nectarines can be white or yellow, and clingstone or freestone. On average, nectarines are slightly smaller and sweeter than peaches, but with much overlap.<ref name=osu/> The lack of skin fuzz can make nectarine skins appear more reddish than those of peaches, contributing to the fruit's plum-like appearance. The lack of down on nectarines' skin also means their skin is more easily bruised than peaches.
The history of the nectarine is unclear; the first recorded mention in English is from 1616,<ref>''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]''</ref> but they had probably been grown much earlier within the native range of the peach in central and eastern Asia.
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Peach flowers.jpg|Peach flower
Image:Flavorcrest peaches.jpg|Flavorcrest peaches
Image:Autumn Red peaches.jpg|Autumn Red peaches
Image:Peach1web.jpg|Peach (cultivar 'Berry') – watercolour 1895
Image:PeachesInSyrup.jpg|Peaches in syrup
Image:Durazno 2310.JPG
File:Yellow peach and cross section.jpg
File:Yellow nectarine and cross section.jpg
Image:Pfirsiche.jpg|Harvested peaches
File:White peach and cross section edit.jpg|White peach and cross section
File:Peachblossoms3800ppx.JPG|A peach tree in blossom
File:Nectarine branch surachit.jpg|A nectarine branch in blossom
File:Youngpeach3800ppx Cropped.jpg|Developing Fruit
</gallery>
==Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture==
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
Peach. The tree and fruit of Prunus Persica (or Persica vulgaris),
Peach. The tree and fruit of Prunus Persica (or Persica vulgaris),
The discussion of the peach is here comprised in four articles:
The discussion of the peach is here comprised in four articles:
Page
The culture of the peach (M. A. Blake) 2492
The culture of the peach (M. A. Blake) 2492
W. Paddock.
W. Paddock.
}}
}}
==References==
<references/>
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 -->
==External links==
*{{wplink}}
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==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==