Indian free sounds like something I would really like as I’ve come to the realization that I prefer fruits that have enough acid to offset the sweetness. Unfortunately it would probably not ripen well here either.
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Oh, it will for you. I believe @scottfsmith likes it, too. You are only a tad colder than him. Your zone should be fine with Indian Free. It has thick, fuzzy skin which may help protect against bugs.
If you like some tartness in fruit, Gold Rush apple is good. I think you may like Honey Punch pluot picked before fully ripen, too. A large, firm with sweet flesh but tart skin to balance it.
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An earlier Indian Free like peach is Sanguine Tardeva. I just finished those. Now I am starting on my Sanguine Chateauneuf which come right after Sanguine Tardeva. Both are very similar to Indian Free in taste but are quite a bit earlier.
I am also getting a few Kaweah peaches off my 2-year tree. This is a very impressive later (but not too late) yellow peach! It has a very rich, smooth flavor.
Here is a picture I just took. Kaweah, Sanguine Chateauneuf, and Athena left to right (all small this year from cicadas). Athena is a honey peach. I am getting a little tired of them though, they bruise too easily. The taste is unique though.
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Can you cut them up so we can see the flesh. Pics of these varieties are not easy to find.
I assume you mean not easy?
Here is a picture of all but the Kaweah. I have too few of them and it needs to sit for several more days.
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Yup. Not easy to find. Thank you for the pics. Nice to see what they looked like inside.
Any idea where you can currently find this tree? Or is to scion only?
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Scott, your Indian Free looks exactly like mine. I am going to look into Kaweah - (I’m not familiar with that one.) I have same question about Kaweah that Phill asked about Sanguine Tardeva. Did you add it as a scion?
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Kaweah is available from nurseries, it is a Dave Wilson variety. I think I got my tree from Peaceful Valley. Sanguine Tardeva I obtained from the ARS collection as scion wood and I think that is the only way it is available. Arboreum sometimes sells a Sanguine Tardive but I’m not sure if it is the same peach.
BTW @PomGranny the above cut up peach is a Sanguine Chateauneuf, not Indian Free. It is nearly the same peach though (other than ripening earlier). I have grown out I think five different freestone red-fleshed peaches and four were so close in looks and taste that I could barely tell them apart. The fifth was bland and a dud.
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About IF - I think that to be fair - I need to give the tree another year or two. This is the first fruit we have gotten. Maybe next year’s will be better. ? My husband likes the odd pucker taste. If it was up to me - I’d Frankentree it almost totally! I’ll look into Kaweah.
Scott, are cling peaches generally supposed to have better taste? Around here, they are the varieties that ripen earliest at U-pick and the few orchards that offer peaches. I just don’t like dealing with the pit when I cut up peaches - so I haven’t grown any and try to avoid buying them. - - - Maybe I should add some clings, tho.
Arboreum used to sell them.
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Messina peach, very delicious. 9/10. Nicely balanced acid sweet with a moderate to strong peachy flavor.
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Your fruit always looks great Phill!
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I’ll bet that the ones that hang long enough to fully ripen on the tree will sweeten up and lose that “dry puckery” sensation. It will be 5 more weeks before my Indian Free is ready to harvest. It’s kind of a long shot for this far North, but I got some tasty fruit from my first harvest last year.
By the way, I added Kaweah and should get the opportunity to try one in 2 or 3 weeks. It should ripen a couple of weeks earlier than Indian Free.
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They are all so good!
PINK PEARL APPLE SEPTEMBER 3, 2021
CRISP, JUICY, TART/SWEET,
Brix 14, although I am beginning to believe that brix is not an absolute on its own. It needs to be taken as a component of the overall in mouth experience.
See below
Mike
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They look like pearls!
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Huge this year. Could be a combo of factors. Last year’s weather made for nil harvest, this year didn’t cooperate so harvest is light
Mike
Shinko on the left and Drippin’s Honey Asian 
on the right. Both are super sweet , juicy, and crunchy.
Takoma Violet figs 
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I added kaweah this year. Very excited to try the fruit at some point. Will be curious how’s yours look, Spokane has a very similar climate.
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