syn: Black Peach, Blood Peach, Blackboy Peach, Pêche de Vigne, Indian Blood Peach, Weingartenpfirsich
Peach Sanguine
$50.00
The ‘Sanguine’ peach is a variety of red-fleshed peach known for its complex, juicy, and wine-like flavor. Its distinctive color and robust character have earned it several synonyms across different cultures. This hardy variety is a good choice for home gardeners because of its reliability and resistance to disease.
The Sanguine peach produces medium-sized fruit with a dark red-black, downy skin. The flesh is a deep, striking crimson or purple, often streaked with white. Unlike the sugary-sweet flavor of many commercial peaches, the Sanguine offers a more complex, intensely perfumed taste with notes of berries, plum, and red wine. It has a dense yet tender, freestone flesh that makes it ideal for eating fresh as well as for bottling, baking, and making jams.
The tree itself is deciduous, reaching a mature height of 3–5 meters. It features yellow autumn foliage and is self-fertile, meaning a single tree can produce fruit without a second pollinator. Sanguine peaches are typically a late-season crop, ripening in late summer or early autumn.
Sanguine peaches are known for being more resilient than many other peach varieties, though a few key considerations will ensure a heavy crop.
Planting
Location: Choose a sunny, sheltered position with good airflow to help prevent fungal diseases.
Soil: Plant in fertile, well-drained soil. If you have heavier clay soil, consider planting a tree grafted onto a plum rootstock.
Time: The best time to plant is in winter or early spring.
Care
Watering: Water consistently, especially during long dry periods and when the fruit is developing. Drip irrigation is recommended.
Fertilizing: Peaches require more nitrogen than many other fruit trees. Apply a balanced fertilizer or an organic compost in spring and early summer.
Pruning: Train the tree into an open, vase-shaped center to ensure good light penetration and air circulation. The Sanguine fruits on the previous season’s lateral growth, so prune to encourage fresh new wood.
Propagation: This variety is known to grow relatively true-to-type from seed, though grafted trees will fruit sooner.
Pests and diseases
Leaf curl: A major advantage of the Sanguine peach is its strong resistance to the common fungal disease, leaf curl (Taphrina deformans).
Prevention: While generally hardy, a copper fungicide spray can be applied in late winter as buds swell to prevent other diseases.
