Which peach varieties are selling well in the market?

China is a major peach-growing country, with extremely rich varietal resources, and its cultivation techniques are also in a leading position in the world. Therefore, in recent years, although China has introduced some peach varieties from abroad, they have not had much impact on China's peach production. In last year's nursery stock market in China, the peach varieties that sold relatively well were almost entirely local varieties. So which peaches are selling well at present? Zhang Shubin, a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, answered this question.

Industry experts usually divide peaches into three major categories according to external characteristics: white peaches, nectarines and flat peaches.

The so-called white peach is what we usually call the fuzzy peach, also known as the common peach, and this type of variety is the most commonly seen on the market. A relatively good early-maturing white peach variety newly bred now is Zaomei. Its ripening period is in early June, the single fruit weight is about 150 grams, the fruit color is relatively good, and the sugar content is about 10%. A relatively good mid-maturing variety is Huayu, approved this year. This variety has large fruit, firm flesh, and is tolerant of transport; it is a freestone type, with an average single fruit weight of more than 200 grams, and the largest fruit weight can reach 350 grams. This variety is now being promoted. There is also a relatively good white peach variety called Wanmi. This is a late-maturing variety; its fruit is especially large, with an average single fruit weight of more than 250 grams. It is relatively high-yielding, and its flesh quality is also relatively good. It is tolerant of transport and is the best variety to go on the market before National Day. These varieties are all very suitable for planting in areas north of the Yangtze River, and some areas south of the Yangtze River can also cultivate them.

Among nectarines, a relatively good early-maturing variety now is Ruiguang 22. The fruit of this variety is bright red and belongs to the deep-red type. Its yield is relatively high, and it is currently one of the most popular varieties. Among mid-maturing varieties, there is Ruiguang 18. This is a yellow-fleshed variety, and its ripening period is in late July. The mid-maturing variety Ruiguang 19 is also relatively popular on this year's market. This is a white-fleshed nectarine, and its ripening period is slightly later than that of Ruiguang 18. It has a high yield and relatively good quality, and it is a variety currently being vigorously promoted. Another relatively popular variety is called Ruiguang 28. This is a late-maturing variety, and the biggest feature of this variety is its large fruit, with an average single fruit weight of 250 grams, and the largest can reach 350 grams. Among all nectarine varieties, Ruiguang 28 is the one with the largest fruit, and it is also the best among the late-maturing nectarine varieties bred in China. It now appears that all peach regions in our country, that is, within the range of 25 to 40 degrees north latitude, can cultivate nectarines.

Among the recently newly bred early-maturing flat peach varieties is Ruipan 8, whose ripening period is in early July, with relatively firm flesh and tolerance of transport. Ruipan 3 ripens in mid-to-late July. This variety has large fruit, high sugar content, relatively firm flesh, and tolerance of transport, and it is currently the best among mid-maturing flat peaches. There is also a mid-to-late-maturing variety, Ruipan 4, whose ripening period is from the end of July to early August. This variety has especially large fruit and relatively firm flesh, with an average single fruit weight of 350 grams, and the largest can reach 500 grams. This variety is tolerant of transport and also tastes sweet, but its color is slightly darker, so it should be bagged during cultivation. These flat peach varieties can be cultivated in all peach regions.