Heirloom peach Old Mixon Free

[drew51]

In 1807 Timothy Matlack sent Jefferson cuttings of both the "much boasted" Oldmixon Cling peach and Oldmixon Free, "a fine peach." They differ in the way the flesh adheres to the stone. The Oldmixon Cling ranked second only to the Heath Cling in the praise it received from pomologists. The tree's origin is attributed to John Oldmixon, author of The British Empire in America, 1741, and it rivals the Heath as the oldest named American peach. The Free variety originated
very early in the nineteenth century from a seedling of the cling, and by 1811 it was list by the Landreth nursery of Philadelphia. The juice of the Oldmixon peaches is uncommonly candy-sweet.
Text adapted from Fruit and Fruit
Trees of Monticello by Peter J. Hatch

Ordered from Tierra Madre Farm

Well living in the Midwest and buying trees on the west coast is always a problem. But at the time it was the only nursery that had Old Mixon Free. I have since found a closer nursery, but I already ordered it. It came in yesterday and no chance of planting anytime soon.
Anyway the tree is awesome. it is a thick caliper 3/4 inch PLUS, maybe even an inch! But branching is already super low!! So I have low scaffolds on this one already Yeah!!
It appears dormant still. Root ball is massive, and it looks great.
A little concerned about what to do with it with a foot of snow outside. Once planted I will cut it down, and leave the bottom scaffolds, although they all look excellent. Too many though. I guess I have to make choices...
Anyway wow, what an impressive tree. I'm super happy with it. In the photo the graft union is just above the plastic bag. The first scaffold starts 6 inches above it. The bag is all roots, as you sort of can see, lot's of roots.

[Doug9345]

That's an impressive looking tree. I hope it does as well for you as it looks.

[drew51]

My third peach tree. I have PF Lucky 13 and Indian Free which is another tree Thomas Jefferson grew. I also have a Arctic Glo nectarine, and a Spice Zee Nectaplum.
All seemed to have survived the winter well. All young trees going into 2nd leaf this spring. Well the Nectaplum looks to have some branch dieback. -14 degrees F was pushing it. In a way doesn't matter as I'm still forming scaffold structure, so all will be pruned very hard. I don't expect much fruit, most of the fruiting wood will be pruned off. They are full of fruiting wood though, so some will remain. I'll let them produce 5 or less fruit, anymore will be removed. I need the trees to establish. I'll get loads of fruit 2015.
Some of the fruting buds are probably dead from the extreme cold this winter.

The backyard in December. The other trees can be seen. A raspberry patch by the back fence, my raised beds, and on the left are blackberry canes.
Trees will be kept to 8 feet tall. I will soon prune them, and will prune during the summer to decrease vigor.



A photo from the summer

[Worth1]

I bought 2 peach trees they both got galls right at the graft line.
In other words they are nothing but root stock.

Nice tree.

Worth

[gssgarden]

Good luck! Love me a Peach tree!!

Greg

[Hermitian]

Very nice individual you received.