Welcome to this post that will talk about how long it can take for a peach to ripen off the tree. The short answer will be around 3 – 5 months. This number will entirely depend on the climate that you are in and the age of the tree as well. Where the tree is located in the garden will also affect the soil.
In this article, we talk about precisely that. What you can do to make the most out of your tree and make sure you get really tasty peaches when harvest time comes around. Follow along to learn even more about growing this fantastic fruit tree.
If you are unsure when the best time is to pick peaches then we have written an entire article that will answer that. You will learn what to look for on the fruits and the temperature as well. You can find it here When To Pick Peaches.
How Long Do Peaches Take To Ripen Off The Tree
Just like we said at the beginning of this article. The fruit of the peach tree will take about 3 – 5 months to properly ripen. Some of the places that are really big on growing peaches in the states are California and South Carolina. Here the average temperature is a lot higher than in most of the other states. This high temperature is what makes it so efficient to grow them here. They will ripen very fast and also produce a high sugar level in them.
But fear not, you can also get delicious peaches at home even if you live in a colder climate. In our opinion, it might even be tastier than the ones that are grown in these climates. They will have a slightly brighter acidity to them that makes your mouth water when you eat them.
Some of the ways that you can make sure you have a peach tree that will produce plenty of fruit and be a joy to keep in the garden you need sun. We always recommend that you keep the tree in the sunniest spot in your garden. It will make a big difference. The fruit will be warm when you pick and eat them, which is the best state to eat them in. Fresh from the tree and still warm from the sun.
Another factor that makes it ripen faster is well-watered soil. It keeps the tree growing at a good place, and if the tree is growing so are the fruits. A pro tip you can make use of is to slightly hold back on the watering the last few weeks before harvesting. We haven’t found any proof of this but we feel the peaches are sweeter this way. Letting the tree struggle a little bit seems to concentrate the flavors.
How Long Does It Take For Hard Peaches To Ripen
Hard peaches will actually not take that long to ripen and become soft. Usually, only 1 – 2 days will be enough. It’s important that you leave them on the tree then. Here they will continue to grow and then eventually soften. We don’t recommend picking them until they are soft. They are the most delicious at that point so might as well have some patience.
If you have picked them already however then you can keep them in a small bag. Make sure there is not too much air coming in. In this bag, the peaches will start to emit something called ethylene. As this gets trapped in the bag then the peaches will start ripening faster as that is what the gas does.
Let’s reiterate again what we have been talking about here. The time for a peach to ripen will vary a lot depending on the climate you are growing in. Usually, between 3 – 5 months is the time. It will go faster the warmer the temperature is and vice versa. Never pick the peaches if they are still slightly hard. They will naturally ripen if you just let them hang a bit more on the tree.
If you want to learn even more about what time of the year most peaches are ready to be harvested is then we have the perfect article for you. It talks about the seasonality of peaches, find it here, What Time Of The Year Are Peaches Ready To Be Picked.
