Gardenview™

Rough Draft 1.0 10/5/2020

Fresh local peaches are one of the best things. Cherished family memories are built upon a box or boxes of freshly picked peaches. The aroma would fill the kitchen and there was no limit on how many you can eat. The race was on to can as many as possible. It might surprise you on just how many peach types there are. Let’s start with the basics.

Clingstone vs. Freestone

This is the general distinction that separates peaches into two groups. A clingstone peach means that the peach flesh is generally attached to the stone which makes it difficult to separate. Clingstone peaches are most commonly used in commercial operations such as canned peaches where machines do all the work. Freestone peaches are what you’ll commonly find in grocery stores. These peaches have flesh that separates more easily from the stone. Note that there are hybrid varieties known as semi-freestone, or semi-clingstone. 

Four major types of peaches and their uses

1. Yellow Peaches
   1. Sweet flesh that has a balanced acidity.
   2. Look for ones heavy for their size with a little give.
   3. Use your nose, “if it smells like a peach it’ll taste like a peach”.
2. White Peaches
   1. Variants of Asian peach trees.
   2. Slightly sweeter with lower acidity.
   3. Best for eating raw or grilling.
3. Donut Peaches
   1. Heirloom variety 
   2. Flat, saucer shape
   3. Look for these at local farmer’s markets
   4. In season between July and August.
4. Nectarines
   1. A peach without the fuzz.
   2. May be yellow or white
   3. Clingstone or freestone
   4. Sweet, honey-like flavor
   5. Excellent for grilling and eating fresh

Link Sources

https://www.allrecipes.com/article/types-of-peaches/

https://www.pickyourown.org/peachvarieties.htm

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/cooking/g27556949/types-of-peaches/

Rough Draft 1.0 10/5/2020

Sedges are triangular stemmed grasslike plant with inconspicuous flowers typically found in wet soil. There are some 5,500 known species. Traditionally, sedges are used for their strong, fibrous properties in the construction of household items such as baskets and mats as well as the construction of boats and thatching for houses. Several species are known for their aromatic and medicinal properties.

Identification tip – “Sedges have edges, and rushes are round, but grasses have nodes from their tips to the ground”. “The ‘edges’ refer to their stems, which are triangular in cross section”.

Sedges reside in the Cyperaceae family in the genus Carex.

• Sedges from Asia are “well adapted to shade and are often variegated.
• Sedges from New Zealand are more sun tolerant.
• Sedges from North America has sedge types that will fit almost any set of conditions and are highly useful in restoration, naturalizing, and greening applications.

Wildlife

The seeds of native sedges are a valuable food source for many kinds of wild birds, insects, and small mammals. They bloom early in the spring before native grasses begin to bloom. Their foliage also provide cover and nesting for birds and other animals.

Tips for Growing Sedge

• Cool season plants growing most actively during spring and fall.
• They bloom in early summer.
• Care needs to be taken in placement and soil prep
• Sensitive to soil moisture, salt, and temperature fluctuations.
• Observation is key. 
• Never cut back more than ⅔ the plants height.
• If the plant starts to die out in the center divide and transplant.
• Learn which type you are growing and what conditions it likes best.

Resource Links

http://hoffmannursery.com/carex

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/sedge/growing-sedge-plants.htm