So far Cal Red peach fruits for me every year in inland San Diego, even though it is very late. What was most surprising to me is that it fruits on a tree that is still way too small to expect fruit. This is the 3rd year in a row I got fruit.
It is 1-2 weeks later than August Pride and Red Baron. It is sweet and not really acidic, but actually is still very good, equal to those two.
Today I saw that Cal Red is being sold at Walter Andersen nursery, who now carries fruit trees from Burchell’s (Tomorrow’s Harvest). This is worth trying if you want a great peach late in the season.
Yeah, I thinned Cal Red down to only 2 fruits this year, to protect its vigor. That’s a good suggestion to help it out nutritionally. It has a ton of root competition where it is also. I am sure that doesn’t help.
For our climates here in San Diego county, I recommend something with NPK ratios 3:1:2 May through Sept. for your pit fruits - July and early Sept. being the most important. For example granular 6-2-4 or water soluble 30-10-20. Next time you’re over at Walter Anderson’s in Poway please say hello to my pal David Ross for me.
Hello, first time posting here. I saw the Cal Red Peach at Walter Anderson in Poway. I noticed that the Cal Red Peach is recommended for zones 5-8 with chill hours of 700-800 per the Burchell’s (Tomorrow’s Harvest) web site. I live in zone 10a and definitely do not get 700-800 chill hours. Does anybody have experience getting the true to fruit in zone 10a?
Those statements are not always based on rigorous testing. They are about 80% accurate in my experience, which was better than I expected when I first started testing for myself. Most people should heed their guidance. If not, it should be for a fun experiment, not because you need more fruit. If you need more fruit go with proven winners for your climate.
I agree they are only suggestion, but that is even 2 zones colder than her zone.
I grow peonies here in zone 10, if you Google, nobody online said they recommend growing peonies in my zone.
I personally think it is a stretch to advertise that this peach can grow in zone 3 and 4 (if they mean outdoors). Peach trees, more importantly, their flower buds, can barely survive zone 5.