Elberta Peaches
(Prunis persica)
The Elberta peach is a late-season, free-stone variety developed by Samuel Rumph in the 1870s. Rumph was an amateur botanist and nurseryman who triumphed in his creation of a tree that was hardy, highly productive and offered large, lushly sweet peaches. His contributions to the peach world did not end there. He was also an inventor of a number of peach-related devices and packages. He designed the first mortise jointed wood boxes that became the iconic "peach crate" and he developed the first systems of refrigeration for peaches traveling by railcar. Both accomplishments fueled the fresh peach market in the late 1880s and enabled Southern farmers to have access to Northern markets, particularly New York. Within his lifetime the Elberta peach population reached six million trees, sealing the fate of the "Peach State." Always a thoughtful and kind man Rumph gave away his inventions and graciously named his peach "Elberta" in honor of his wife who shares a middle name with this lovely peach.
These peaches were organically grown in my garden in the Valley of the Moon.
C Lindquist
Vegetables of Interest, 2008
When do elberta peach's ripen.What month? in the south.Thanks
Posted by: veris thompson | June 21, 2010 at 07:02 PM
Thak you for sharing them with us , I think it's worth reading
Posted by: Evering2010 | October 07, 2011 at 05:36 PM
Hi!! really interesting to know ,how Elberta peaches got their name.Ralph did a great work. I like peaches very much.I have ten peach trees in my garden.
Posted by: password management | November 16, 2011 at 06:42 AM