Introduction to the Characteristics and Cultivation Key Points of the Huayu Peach Variety

I. Variety Origin

Bred in 2000 by the Institute of Forestry and Pomology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. Parental combination: Jingyu x Ruiguang 7. Approved by Beijing in 2002.

II. Characteristics

This variety is a large-fruited, late-maturing, firm-fleshed white peach. In the Beijing area, buds generally break in late March, full bloom occurs in mid-April, and the flowering period lasts about 1 week. Leaves unfold in late April, shoots begin to grow in early May, and fruit ripens in mid-to-late August. The fruit development period is about 125 days. Leaves fall in mid-to-late October, and the growth period is about 210 days.

The tree vigor is moderate, and the tree posture is semi-spreading. One-year-old branches are reddish-brown on the sunny side and green on the shaded side. There are many compound flower buds, and the starting node of flower buds is low, at nodes 1-2. All types of fruiting branches can bear fruit, mainly long and medium fruiting branches. Leaves are 14.21 cm long and 3.82 cm wide, with a petiole length of 0.9 cm. The leaf is long elliptic-lanceolate, slightly concave inward on the surface, with the tip slightly curling outward, and the base wedge-shaped and nearly right-angled; green; the leaf margin is bluntly serrate; nectaries are kidney-shaped, 2-4 in number. Flowers are rose-type, pink; anthers are yellow-white, without pollen; the inner wall of the calyx tube is yellow-green. The pistil is higher than the stamens.

The fruit is nearly round, with a round and flat top, a shallow suture, and a medium depth and width of the stem cavity. The ground color of the peel is yellow-white, and more than 1/2 of the fruit surface is covered with a rose-red or purple-red blush. The appearance is bright, and the fuzz is medium. The peel is moderately thick and not easy to peel. The flesh is white, with no red under the skin and a small amount of red near the pit. The flesh is firm, fine and dense, with medium juice, few fibers, a sweet and rich flavor, aromatic, non-browning, and resistant to storage and transportation. The pit is relatively small, with a fresh pit weight of 8.0 g, accounting for 2.96% of fruit weight, and is freestone. The soluble solids content is 13.5%, soluble sugars 9.73%, and organic acids 0.71%. The average single fruit weight is 270 g, and the largest fruit weight is 400 g. The average yield of a 4-year-old tree is 1500 kg per mu, and the average yield at full fruiting stage is more than 2000 kg per mu.

III. Key Points of Cultivation Techniques

1. Tree shape and planting density. Based on the principle of both favoring early high yield and facilitating later management, the three-main-branch natural open-center training can use a spacing of 3 x 5 or 4 x 5 m between rows and plants, and the "Y" training system can use a spacing of 2 x 5 m.

2. Strengthen fertilizer and water management. In the early part of the year, topdressing should be mainly nitrogen fertilizer, combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, to promote branch and leaf growth; in the later period, topdressing should be mainly potassium fertilizer, combined with phosphorus fertilizer. Especially 20-30 days before harvest (fruit enlargement stage), 0.3% monopotassium phosphate can be sprayed on the leaves to increase fruit size, improve coloring, increase sugar content, and improve quality. When applying base fertilizer in autumn, an appropriate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium chemical fertilizers should be added, which can increase tree nutrition and improve the fruit set rate the following year.

3. Rational pruning. Young trees have strong growth vigor, so summer pruning should be strengthened to improve ventilation and light conditions, promote branch maturity and flower bud formation, and bring fruiting earlier. During winter pruning, prune lightly and leave more fruiting branches to moderate tree vigor and enter the full fruiting stage earlier.

4. Strengthen flower and fruit management. Because there is no pollen, pollinizer trees should be arranged and artificial pollination should be carried out during the flowering period to promote fruit set. The fruit is large, and the fruit set rate after pollination is high, so fruits should be thinned reasonably to help increase fruit size and improve quality. Generally, leave 3-4 fruits on long fruiting branches, 2-3 on medium fruiting branches, and 1-2 on short fruiting branches; bouquet fruiting branches may be left without fruit. The yield should preferably be controlled at about 2000 kg per mu. Because insufficient light affects fruit coloring, leaf removal and branch thinning can be used to increase fruit coloring. Bagging measures can keep the fruit surface clean and make the color more vivid.

5. Timely harvest. Although the flesh of this variety is very firm, attention should still be paid to timely harvest. When the ground color of the peel has turned white and the fruit shows its inherent flavor, it can be harvested. When overripe, fruit drop may occur, quality declines, and commercial value is affected.

IV. Suitable Planting Areas

Suitable for planting in the Beijing area.