Prunus persica ‘TropicSweet’

Status: Active
Location: Chesed Ranch Orchard
Planted: June 2026
Source: Pat’s Nursery
Tree ID: CR-PCH-002

The Rebuild

TropicSweet was planted as part of the orchard rebuilding effort following the devastating winter of 2025–2026.

After losing all mature citrus and several established fruit trees during that historic cold event, we made the decision not only to rebuild the orchard but to expand it. The goal was to create a more diverse planting that would provide fresh fruit over a longer season while helping us identify the varieties best suited to our specific conditions in North Florida.

TropicSweet became part of that vision.

Developed by the University of Florida, TropicSweet is a proven low-chill peach variety capable of producing quality fruit under Florida growing conditions. Its reputation for dependable production and excellent flavor made it a natural choice for inclusion in the new orchard.

While it is still early in its journey at Chesed Ranch, we look forward to documenting its growth and performance in the years ahead.

Quick Facts

Characteristic	Value
Type	Freestone Peach
Chill Requirement	150–200 Hours
Harvest Season	Mid-May
Pollination	Self-Fertile
Growth Habit	Vigorous
Flesh Color	Yellow
Disease Notes	Moderate bacterial spot susceptibility

Why We Chose TropicSweet

TropicSweet was selected because of its proven performance in low-chill environments and its history of successful production throughout Florida.

As part of the orchard expansion, we intentionally selected several peach cultivars with varying ripening dates and growth characteristics. This approach allows us to spread harvests over a longer period while comparing each variety’s performance under the same growing conditions.

TropicSweet’s combination of low chill requirements, good fruit quality, and University of Florida breeding heritage made it a strong candidate for long-term evaluation at Chesed Ranch.

Tree Information

Item	Details
Planting Date	June 2026
Initial Height	6′
Rootstock	TBD
Mulch Type	Pine Bark
Irrigation	Drip
Soil Type	Amended Clay-Sand Mix
Mycorrhizae Applied	Yes

Location in Orchard

Eventually:

📍 Orchard Map

Row 1 – Tree 3

Annual Growth Log

2026

Planting Date

June 2026

Observations

Planted as part of the orchard rebuilding and expansion project.
Establishing root system.
Monitoring vigor and adaptation to site conditions.
No fruit expected during establishment year.

Photos

(Insert planting photos)

2027

Winter Chill

Chesed Ranch: TBD Hours

Regional Average: TBD Hours

Bloom Date

TBD

Fruit Set

TBD

Harvest

TBD

Comments

TBD

Weather & Climate Summary

Season Metrics

Metric	Value
Chill Hours	TBD
GDD	TBD
Rainfall	TBD
Last Freeze	TBD
Peak Summer Temp	TBD

Performance at Chesed Ranch

Strengths

Low chill requirement
Developed specifically for Florida conditions
Expected early and consistent production

Challenges

Monitoring bacterial spot pressure
Long-term freeze tolerance evaluation underway

Overall Assessment

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Promising low-chill peach cultivar with strong potential for North Florida production.

Tropic Sweet