Prunus persica ‘Golden Queen’ is a classic and highly reliable peach variety, famous throughout Australia and New Zealand, particularly for preserving and bottling due to its firm, non-melting flesh. This deciduous fruit tree produces a prolific, heavy crop of medium-sized, round fruit with deep golden-yellow skin, sometimes showing a slight red blush on the sun-exposed side. The flesh is a deep, rich yellow, very firm, juicy, and sweet with excellent flavour. It is a clingstone variety, meaning the flesh sticks to the stone.
The tree has a moderate to large growth habit (reaching about 3-4 metres if standard, or a manageable 2-3 metres if dwarf-grafted) and is self-pollinating, making it an excellent choice for a solitary tree in the home garden. It matures very late in the season, typically around mid-March (late summer/early autumn in Australia).
Care Tips:
- Position: Requires a spot in full sun and protection from strong winds when young. Peaches thrive in cool to temperate regions that receive sufficient winter chilling hours.
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, fertile soil. Avoid heavy, waterlogged clay. When planting, ensure the bud union (graft) is kept above the soil line.
- Watering: Consistent and regular watering is crucial, especially during the spring bloom and the summer fruit development stages to ensure large, juicy fruit. Do not let the roots dry out.
- Pruning: Requires annual pruning in winter (when dormant) to maintain an open vase shape, which encourages good air circulation and sunlight penetration, leading to higher quality fruit. New growers should prune bare-rooted trees by about half upon planting.
- Fertilising: Fertilise in spring and autumn with a balanced fertiliser. Peaches are considered ‘hungry’ trees and benefit from regular feeding.
- Thinning: ‘Golden Queen’ is a heavy cropper and often requires fruit thinning in early summer to ensure the remaining fruit can reach a good size and to prevent branches from breaking under the weight.
