Sounds like an interesting apple. I was reading articles on peaches and saw your post from a few years back on peaches to extend your season. Since you’re one of my Michigan neighbors, I’m very curious what you decided on and how they have done. What peach varieties do you grow?
Good perspective to keep in mind. It’s possible that I’m overcompensating on wanting frost resistant varieties when really my problems have been pest related (hopefully now under control). I’m glad to know most varieties overcrop for you, including Blazingstar. Your point that a peach should bear well in the region where it was developed seems like a bit of an oversimplification since Michigan ranges from the Upper Penninsula Zone 4a to Zone 6a, and even in areas with the same zone, the fruit growing belt near Lake Michigan (where the Stellar peaches were developed) has a more moderate climate than most other areas, including mine. That being said, I do know other farms down here in Southeast Michigan that grow the Stellar series and so you are probably right and they are a great choice for my climate. Since my family jokes about how much each individual fruit is currently costing me, I thought I’d hedge my bets a little and look for something exceedingly reliable.
Hello, my previous comment about Monark apples was in jest. I generally don’t look for late season peaches because by then my apples will be coming in. I picked the Monark apple based on recommendations from this site. It ripens in the middle-late august for me and is a great apple.
I have lots of peaches but none producing yet. I have Rich May, Selena, Starfire, a few others and some nectarines.
Reliability is huge. Especially in a new orchard.
Even if you aren’t that crazy about apples or even crabapples (PC term: lunchbox apples) get something in the ground that will give you a crop 4 years out of five. You can experiment later.
A lesson I learned the hard way.
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