This is my peach tree. Just a little tyke in the world of peach trees and hardly more than about 7' tall. It has been in the ground two seasons now. The warm spring brought tons of little peaches. I picked about 50% off to start as I knew there was no way the tree would hold that many. The second time I cleared another 25% as it was looking really heavy. Last week I came home to find it nearly laying on the ground and decided it was time for a little intervention. The peaches were mostly red so I picked 75% of them keeping the largest. I knew there had to be a way to turn them so they didn't go to waste.
A google search turned up the following idea. I placed them in the basement between two tea towels. Carefully laying them in one layer, stem side down and not touching, I tucked them in. About one week later, I have some wonderfully ripe peaches! I wish I had kept the small ones too but it will be wonderful when the few left on the tree ripen naturally. It seems pretty common to think they can be put in a paper bag to ripen but most of the research I turned up discouraged it.
The birds are coming now. Pecking at the ones that are visible. After the birds come the ants come. I hope there are a few ripe ones left on that that tree for me!
If you were wondering, I picked this tree up at Happy Life Gardens here in Greeley. It is a Red Haven Peach. I couldn't be happier with the selection!
