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The botanical name for a peach is: Prunus persica |
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The peach originated in China, where it is the symbol of long life, and one of the most ancient domesticated fruits in China.
Documents show that the first peach stones date back to 6000-7000 BC. |
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Peaches were first introduced to the US in the early 16th Century. |
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There is a strong relationship between peach growth and soil conditions. Peaches require good soils and they respond to high fertilization. |
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Frost protection and pest control techniques were also developed by the Chinese to ensure good peach orchard management. Frost damage to the blooms will cause production failure. The earliest form of frost protection was to burn straw mixed with manure, releasing smog that helped prevent frost. This practice is still one of the major applications widely used in Northern China. When controlling for insects in the orchards, the Chinese would light torches in the Chinese New Year creating an ultraviolent light as their insect application. Some of the most common insect problems include: pyralid moth, aphids, leaf moth, trunk borer and root-knot nematodes. The most common method of insect control today is chemical, agricultural, physical and bio-controls for peach production. In the future, more bio-control approaches are trying to be met to meet the demand for organic fruits. |
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Peaches are one of the top five most important fruit tree crops in China, also making China the largest peach producer in the world. |
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The peach flower is one of the most important cut flowers for the Chinese Spring Festival. The Chinese people are very fond of the peach flowers, also know as ‘the Christmas tree in China’. |
