Avalon Pride Peach Tree

Avalon Pride Peach Tree

Peach leaf curl is the biggest threat to every peach tree crop, and there is no cure, only prevention. Avalon Pride is the world's most resistant variety to it ^[4], making it a very strong reason to buy if peach fruits are your main aim. Remember, resistant does not mean immune, so still worth taking protective measures (listed below).

Avalon Pride is a self-fertile (needs no second peach tree nearby to produce peaches), very productive, yellow-fleshed dessert peach with red-blushed to orange-red fruit, very good eating quality^[3], semi-freestone flesh, scented pink spring blossom and August cropping. It is less susceptible to frost damage than many peaches, and is supplied on St Julien A rootstock, usually reaching around 3.5-5m depending on pruning, training and growing conditions. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [9]}

Records describe the eating quality as very good, superior to Early Redhaven and Frost, and comparable to Redhaven.^[3]

Avalon Pride usually ripens in August, with the exact timing depending on the season, planting position and whether it is grown outside or with protection. It is mainly a fresh-eating dessert peach, but firm fruit can be picked early and allowed to finish ripening indoors if needed. ^{[1] [2] [4]}

Avalon Pride has strong cropping potential once mature. The patent record for ‘Croft’ aka Avalon Pride, describes productivity as high, with mature trees on non-dwarfing Lovell rootstock producing about 80 lb / 36 kg of fruit per tree, and notes that heavy thinning may be needed to achieve good fruit size. Our Avalon Pride is supplied on St Julien A, a semi-vigorous rootstock used for productive free-standing and fan-trained peach trees, so the patent figure supports strong cropping potential from a mature tree. ^{[10] [3] [9]}

Avalon Pride also has ornamental value before the crop arrives. The scented pink blossom appears on bare stems in spring, followed by glossy green foliage and then the developing peaches. It is also listed as a Plants for Pollinators plant, adding extra garden value beyond the fruit crop. ^[1]

Avalon Pride is best eaten fresh for the best flavour, but peaches can store much longer than a few days if handled properly. Post-harvest guidance gives the maximum market life for peach cultivars as 1-5 weeks when stored at about 0°C. To get close to that, fruit needs to be picked firm, cooled promptly, stored very cold at around -0.6°C to 0°C, and kept at a steady temperature without repeated warming and cooling. That level of storage is unlikely to be matched in a normal home fridge, but the point is simple: the colder and steadier the storage, the longer firm peaches will keep. Once Avalon Pride peaches are fully ripe at room temperature, eat them promptly, as ripe dessert peaches soften quickly and a few days is the likely shelf life. ^{[11] [12]}

A real UK Avalon Pride peach grower example from the north-west showed Avalon Pride grown organically as a freestanding tree. The grower still had to manage peach leaf curl, but by around year six reported about 80 full-sized peaches.

Planting Avalon Pride Peach Tree

Plant Avalon Pride in full sun, in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. A warm, sheltered spot is best, especially against a south-facing or south-west-facing wall if you want to fan train it. Avoid frost pockets, exposed positions, and wet ground. ^{[1] [5]} For wall-trained peaches, RHS advises a simple rain shelter from after leaf fall in November until mid-May, with the top and front covered but the ends open so pollinating insects can still get in. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Avalon Pride is RHS hardiness H4, around -10°C, and is less susceptible to frost damage than many peach varieties, but the blossom can still be caught by late frost. Most peach blossom should usually cope with around -1°C, but protection is still sensible because damage risk rises as temperatures fall further, especially near -3°C and below at full bloom. ^[13] If frost is forecast while the tree is flowering, cover the blossom with horticultural fleece and remove it during the day where possible so light and insects can reach the flowers. Hand pollination with a soft brush can also help if the weather is cold or insects are scarce. ^{[1] [4] [5]}

Water well during dry spells, especially while the tree is establishing and while fruit is swelling. Mulch after watering to conserve moisture, but keep mulch clear of the trunk. A balanced spring feed can support growth and fruiting. ^[5]

Peach Leaf Curl

A fungus lives on the tree all year. When it gets wet, it spreads to new buds and emerging foliage, causing the foliage to curl and deform. The only prevention is to keep the foliage dry between November and May with a rain shelter open on both ends to allow pollinating insects access to the blossoms. This is much easier when fan training a tree.

Pruning Avalon Pride

Prune Avalon Pride in spring or summer, not winter, to reduce the risk of silver leaf disease and bacterial canker. Free-standing peach trees are usually pruned in summer after fruiting, while fan-trained trees are pruned in spring and again after fruiting. ^[5]

Avalon Pride Issues

Brown rot can affect ripening fruit, bacterial canker can affect peaches, and birds or squirrels may take ripe fruit. Good airflow, sensible pruning and prompt removal of diseased fruit or leaves all help keep the tree healthier. ^{[7] [8]}

Interesting Information About Avalon Pride Peach Tree

Avalon Pride is the selling name used for the patented peach cultivar ‘Croft’. An old Raintree Nursery catalogue lists “AVALON PRIDE TM” as the patented cultivar Croft, and the US plant patent for ‘Croft’ gives the detailed fruit, cropping and peach leaf curl resistance records. ^{[10] [3]} In other words, they are the same tree, which is relevant because that unlocks more historical information.

Avalon Pride has a better backstory than most peach trees. It began as a chance seedling from Washington State, USA. The original seedling came from peach stones that germinated in a compost pile on Tiger Mountain, about 30 miles east of Seattle. ^[3]

The reason that seedling mattered was simple: peach leaf curl was a serious local problem, but this tree stayed virtually free of symptoms while other seedlings nearby were badly affected. After several years of observation, the tree was sent for evaluation at Washington State University’s Mount Vernon research site. ^[3]

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See What Our Customers Are Saying About Our Avalon Pride Peach Trees
Dear senior dogsbody, I have today received my Avalon Pride tree and would like to thank you and your team for managing to fulfil my order during these difficult times. I know that things have not been easy and that you have faced problems obtaining sufficient stock and/or even the correct stock. Once again, many thanks. Regards, Bob Collyer 1220