Prunus persica 'Redhaven'
fruitRedhaven is the gold-standard yellow-fleshed freestone peach, developed at Michigan State University in 1940 and still the benchmark for fresh and frozen quality. The medium-large fruit has firm sweet flesh with balanced acidity and a clean stone-free release when fully ripe, which is why it is the most-planted peach variety in the world.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Harvest
~24 months
to first harvest
Difficulty
medium
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
15-20 ft (standard), 10-12 ft (dwarf)
Planting Depth
Graft union 2 in above soil
Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5 – 8
When to Fertilize
Split feed: at bud break and again 6 weeks later
Fertilizer
10-10-10 broadcast 8-12 in from trunk; 1-2 lb per mature tree per application
Plant in full sun on well-drained loam in zones 5 to 8. Set the graft union 2 inches above soil and stake the young tree. Peaches bear on one-year-old wood, so prune hard every winter to keep a vase-shaped open center and force new growth. Thin fruit aggressively to one peach every 6 to 8 inches along the branch; thinning is the single biggest driver of fruit size. Self-fertile, so a single tree bears, though pollination is improved with a partner.
Direct sow
Apr 15
Projected first harvest
Jul 9 · Year 3
Year 1
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Apply copper or chlorothalonil fungicide once in late autumn after leaf drop, and again in spring before bud swell; complete coverage of twigs and branches is essential
Prune for airflow, remove all mummies in dormant season, and pick fruit before it softens on the branch
Keep the trunk base clear of mulch, paint with white latex to reflect heat, and inspect for gummy oozing in summer
Apply kaolin clay at petal fall, beat the trunk over a tarp at dawn, and pick up early drops weekly
Redhaven ripens in early to mid August. Pick when the background color under the red blush turns yellow-cream and the fruit yields slightly to gentle thumb pressure near the stem. The pit lifts free of the flesh once the peach is dead-ripe; if pits cling, leave the fruit on the tree another day or two. Refrigerate only after eating quality is reached; cold storage of unripe peaches causes mealy texture.
About 39 calories per 100 g with 1.5 g fiber, 6.6 mg vitamin C, 190 mg potassium, and 326 IU vitamin A. The orange-yellow flesh is rich in beta-carotene and the antioxidant zeaxanthin, both of which support eye health.
Eat the flesh, not the pit. The kernel inside the pit contains amygdalin, a cyanide-releasing compound - discard the pits and never eat or crush the seeds inside.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.
Year 2
Year 3