peach tree question

[Sticks&Strings]

I have a peach tree ( first year) and my peaches are red but not soft yet, and now the birds are starting to get them. Will they continue to ripen if I pick them and set them in my kitchen window with my tomatoes?

[MKH]

Put them in a papersack on the counter.

[Bucksaw]

Don't pick em early!!! My in-laws have about 500 trees and sell their crop at the Tyler farmer's market. If you pick them early, they cant set sugars. They will appear to ripen, but once you break contact with the tree they cant get any sweeter or more flavorful. TThey basically just get soft and change color. It still tastes like a green peach. That's speaking from their experience growing their peaches, and my own experience eating their peaches.

Same with the tomatoes, or any other fruit for that matter. Once you pick it, it stops developing. The ripening that most people experience is just a color change triggered by the release of ethylene gas, which is a result of decay. Leave it on the vine/tree and you will be glad you did.

[niceg3s]

You're going to lose some to birds and bugs. You can net the trees for birds and spray for bugs. I usually just take what's left over.

[bubinga]

Don't pick em early!!! My in-laws have about 500 trees and sell their crop at the Tyler farmer's market. If you pick them early, they cant set sugars. They will appear to ripen, but once you break contact with the tree they cant get any sweeter or more flavorful. TThey basically just get soft and change color. It still tastes like a green peach. That's speaking from their experience growing their peaches, and my own experience eating their peaches.

^ What he said. I worked on a peach orchard from the time I was 12 through my 1st summer in college and to this day can't hardly eat a store bought peach because they are not tree ripened.

[12 point]

Ya I'd suggest putting some netting over them to keep the birds off.

Here's a pic of last year's super sweet peaches from my orchard. I don't pick until they're ripe. Talk about a sugar high!