Flordaking Peach
Prunus persica ‘Flordaking’
Status: Active
Location: Chesed Ranch Orchard
Planted: February 2023
Source: Pat’s Nursery
Tree ID: CR-PCH-001
Sole Survivor
Our Flordaking Peach holds a unique place at Chesed Ranch for several reasons.
First, this tree changed our family’s perception of what a truly home-grown peach could be. Its second-year fruit was among the best peaches we had ever tasted.
One of our favorite memories from that harvest was a homemade peach-bourbon pecan ice cream Michelle made from the fruit. It was unforgettable, and the tree continued producing peaches of the same exceptional quality in the years that followed. Even now, the boys talk about those peaches throughout the year and eagerly wait for harvest season to return.
Flordaking is also the sole surviving tree from the original orchard planting that predated the winter of 2025–2026.
During that exceptionally cold season, the ranch lost all of its mature citrus trees, including trees that had been in the ground for approximately three years and were nearly a decade old. While the freeze reshaped the future of the orchard, Flordaking survived and remains a living connection between the original orchard vision and the orchard being established today.
Quick Facts
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Clingstone Peach |
| Chill Requirement | 150-200 Hours |
| Harvest Season | Early-Mid May |
| Pollination | Self-Fertile |
| Growth Habit | Vigorous |
| Disease Notes | Moderate bacterial spot susceptibility |
| Resources | Link (PDF) |
Why We Chose Flordaking
Flordaking was selected as one of the primary peach cultivars for Chesed Ranch due to its proven performance in North Florida and its ability to produce quality fruit with moderate chill requirements. Because our location regularly experiences winter chill accumulation in the range needed for reliable production, Flordaking was chosen as an important component of our long-term orchard plan.
Tree Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Planting Date | July 2023 |
| Initial Height | 4 ft |
| Rootstock | Guardian |
| Mulch Type | Arborist Wood Chip Mulch |
| Irrigation | Drip |
| Soil Type | Amended Clay-Sand Mix |
| Mycorrhizae Applied | No |
Location in Orchard
Eventually:
📍 Orchard map
Row 1 – Tree 2
Annual Growth Log
2026
Planting Date: July 2023
Observations
- Established successfully.
- Produced moderate vegetative growth.
- No fruit retained during establishment year.
Photos
(Insert Year 1 photos)
2027
Winter Chill
- Chesed Ranch: 438 Hours
- Regional Average: 425 Hours
Bloom Date
- February 18
Fruit Set
- Good
Harvest
- May 15
Comments
- No Fruit set in 2026 due to late February frost event.
Weather & Climate Summary
Season Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Chill Hours | 438 |
| GDD | 3,950 |
| Rainfall | 57.8″ |
| Last Freeze | Feb 22 |
| Peak Summer Temp | 98°F |
Performance at Chesed Ranch
Strengths
- Reliable bloom
- Good vigor
- Strong fruit set
Challenges
- Requires thinning
- Bacterial spot monitoring needed
Overall Assessment
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Our current cornerstone peach cultivar currently planted at Chesed Ranch.
Related Resources
UF/IFAS Publications
Related Trees
- Tropic Beauty Peach
- UFBest Peach
- Flordaprince Peach