There’s something special about biting into a perfectly ripe peach or nectarine, with juice running down your chin and the taste of summer in every mouthful. Stone fruit season is now underway, and local grower Rajesh Kumar is bringing a beautiful selection of fresh fruit to the farmers’ markets.
Growing low-chill stone fruit varieties suited to our subtropical climate, Rajesh’s season usually kicks off in late September or early October with early peaches and nectarines. As the season progresses, plums and later varieties follow, with picking hopefully continuing right through to Christmas, depending on the weather.
With around 15 different varieties of peaches and nectarines growing on his farm, Rajesh has plenty of variety to offer throughout the season. Growing both early and late varieties also helps extend the picking season, giving customers the chance to enjoy fresh local stone fruit for longer. He also grows something a little different, called a ‘nectacot’, a cross between a nectarine and an apricot.
So, what’s the secret to enjoying stone fruit at its best? Rajesh recommends keeping it simple and eating it fresh. If your fruit isn’t quite ripe, leave it on the kitchen bench to soften. Placing it in a paper bag or near a banana can help speed up the ripening process.
Growing stone fruit in our humid climate does come with its challenges, particularly disease and fruit fly. Rajesh says good pruning, keeping trees clear and thinning out excess fruit are important. Giving fruit plenty of space to grow helps reduce disease and allows the tree to put its energy into producing bigger, sweeter fruit.
So, make the most of stone fruit season while it’s here. Come and meet Rajesh, have a chat about his varieties and enjoy the taste of locally grown summer fruit!
Find Rajesh every Friday at Mullum Farmers Market from 7am to 11am, and every Tuesday at New Brighton Farmers Market from 7am to 11am.
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