The Orchard

The Peach Orchard has undertaken a few changes in recent years. We have replaced most of the Florda Gold Peaches with the Sherman’s Red variety. Trees were grafted onto the disease resistant rootstock Golden Queen. We have recently constructed insect proof netting as a necessity when the withholding period on the pesticide we originally used changed, rendering it an unfeasible practice. Fruit Fly are the major pest in the peach orchard and lay their eggs when the fruit is almost ripe. However the withholding period on the pesticide extended to 42 days and therefore fruit would be overripe by the time we could pick it. The first harvest after the netting was constructed was in 2017. We were able to leave the fruit on the tree until fully ripe and of a larger size, producing a better quality fruit at harvest in the spring time. Most peaches are sold through the canteen fresh. Some years we are able to value add and make peach jam or sorbet sold in waffle cones at lunchtime in summer.