Florida red
Florida Red is an early-season peach variety that grows well in Florida’s warm climate. It needs very little chilling to produce fruit and gives sweet, attractive peaches. This variety is perfect for home gardens and small orchards.
🌱 Planting Time
- Best planted from December to February in Florida and similar
- Requires well-drained sandy or loamy soil and full sun.
- Ensure chill hour compatibility: Florida Red needs low chill hours (~250–300).
🌿 Growth Habit
- Medium-sized deciduous tree with upright growth.
- Vigorous and fast-growing, typically reaching 12–15 feet in height.
- Begins fruiting in 2–3 years under optimal conditions.
🌸 Flowering Time
- Blooms in late January to early February, depending on local temperatures.
- Early flowering makes it vulnerable to late frosts in cooler regions..
🍑 Harvesting Period
- Late April to early May, making it one of the earliest ripening varieties in Florida.
- Ideal for early market supply and fresh consumption.
😋 Fruit Taste
- Sweet and mildly acidic, with good flavor balance.
- Excellent for fresh eating and desserts.
🧵 Fruit Texture
- Non-melting flesh, meaning it remains firm even when ripe.
- Freestone or semi-freestone depending on maturity and growing conditions.
🎨 Fruit Size and Color
- Medium-sized fruit, typically 100–130 grams.
- Skin is red-blushed over yellow background, highly attractive.
- Flesh is yellow, firm, and juicy.
📈 Yield
- Moderate to high yield, especially with proper irrigation and fertilization.
- A mature tree can produce 30–50 kg of fruit annually.
- Requires thinning to improve fruit size and prevent overbearing.
