Yesterday afternoon the time arrived, peach harvesting time. The tree, a native Iowa white peach, is still relatively young, around 15 years old, so it wasn't a huge harvest, but around 120 pounds. So now, resting in large black crates, are somewhat small, white peaches aging to their final ripeness. Sometime this week I will skin, slice and freeze these peaches to be made throughout the upcoming season in to our Ginger Peach Jam or Peach Butter. They aren't great fresh eating peaches, but in preserves they are perfect.
Its a good thing that we added a second big freezer this year, because next to the peach crates are a tall stack of pear crates, awaiting a similar fate. Its going to be a busy week!
A branch of nearly-ripe Iowa white peaches
2 comments:
Oh my, now I'm the envious one! I had planted a peach at my last home, which in its 4th year finally bore fruit. It was the same summer I sold the house, and I never had a single peach from it. I hope the new owners loved them (grumble...).
Now I have planted 4 new peach trees, 1 last fall which didn't flower this spring, and 3 this spring. I hope I don't have to wait 4 years again.
I live in Georgia and haven't seen any peaches this year that were that pretty. The peach butter sounds awesome. Do you have a good recipe to share.
The pears also sound divine. My grandmother passed away this year (at the ripe old age of 96) and I'm going to really miss her pear perserves. They were to die for!
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