No thanks to me whatsoever, the peach tree in my back yard is producing a bumper crop this year. I didn’t get any peaches last summer, perhaps because of the ferociously cold winter that shattered water pipes all over town, but the year before that I ate sheer deliciousness right off the tree.
For that I thank Alice Ann, who lived here prior to me. And who planted the peach tree years ago.
I really, really ought to have culled some of the fruit this year. I think the ripening peaches might have been a little larger right now if I’d had the forethought (and courage) to murder my darlings. (I do it when writing. Why can’t I do it in the garden?) I’m guessing. I’ve no idea how fruit trees work. Is there a Law of Conservation of Juiciness? Beats me.
So, the peaches might be a little small this year, but dang they are plentiful. And just standing next to the tree makes everything smell like peaches. Gosh.
The back yard looks like this right now:
and this:
Those look delicious! Alas, no fresh from the tree peaches up here yet–if the climate zones keep inching up, though, who knows?
My mother’s second husband grew a peach tree in their yard in Minnesota. It actually did so well that the tree split apart because it was bursting with not-quite-fully-ripe peaches. That was, oh, about 11 years ago, I guess. But could’ve been a fluke. MN isn’t known as a center of peach production… yet…
My very new (only 3 years old) peach tree went nuts too. And like you I couldn’t bear to strip off the fruit to give the reamaning peaches room to grow. Mine are tiny, but delicious, but the birds are getting most of them. I just wasn’t prepared to cull, and get help to net the tree a month ago. On the other hand the drought is bad, and the poor birds probably need some juicy, yummy food so I’m trying to be sanguine about it.
Now I see that there are a couple of varieties of peaches that can do well in MN. So, my hopes are raised.
I also see that squirrels like peaches. That could be a problem.
Ian’s Peach Tree (A Cautionary Ditty, prior to harvest)
Pretty peaches,
Up in the tree
Looking so tasty
Or are they looking at me?
Gotterelektron,
There on the trunk.
Seemed like a plan
What could go wrong?
Now my tree
Is walking around
Down my street,
Free from the ground.
Maybe my picking
Should be delayed.
At least ’til my neighbors
Stop being flayed.
Once you’ve dealt with that small problem, here are some instructions for using excess fruit: (Be careful.)
Freezing peaches:
Step 1: Pick the peaches — nice and ripe, not mushy, but not rock hard. About 5 good sized peaches will make a quart of frozen peaches.
Step 2: Wash the peaches. Just spray them to remove dirt/bugs.
Step 3: Get fruit juice (peach, apple or white grape). This is used to prevent freezer burn and oxidation. Also, juice a couple of lemons or obtain Fruit Fresh from the store.
Step 4: Boil a pot of water. You’ll want a large pot about half full of water.
Step 4a): Fill a large bowl about half full of water and ice. There should be enough water for 4 or 5 peaches to float.
Step 5: Add 4 or 5 peaches at a time to the boiling water. Leave them in the water about 30 seconds. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them in the ice water. Leave them there for a couple of minutes.
Step 6: Remove the peaches from the water. You should be able to slide the skin off easily. If it is reluctant to come off, then you may want to increase the amount of time in the boiling water by 10 seconds or so.
Step 7: Cut up the peaches. Be careful as they will be slippery. Remove and discard the pits.
Step 8: Place the cut fruit in a bowl. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of lemon juice over the peaches or Fruit Fresh as directed. This will prevent browning.
Step 9: Add 1 cup of the juice to the bowl for each quart of peaches.
Step 10: Add fruit mixture to a Freezer type Ziplock bag. Remove as much air as possible. Freeze.
Step 11: Enjoy months later.