沛縣冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)開花于(yu)(yu)春天,比普通桃(tao)樹(shu)還早6-7天。這種桃(tao)子不需嫁接,性(xing)耐(nai)寒,開花較早,生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)期(qi)很長(chang)(chang)。坐果(guo)后(hou),桃(tao)子長(chang)(chang)至(zhi)像青櫻(ying)桃(tao)那么大(da)時暫停生(sheng)長(chang)(chang),待到8-9月后(hou),天氣變得涼(liang)爽時,桃(tao)子才開始長(chang)(chang)大(da),直到冬(dong)(dong)至(zhi)成熟,生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)期(qi)達250多天,為(wei)一(yi)般桃(tao)樹(shu)的2-3倍。成熟的冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)表(biao)面(mian)有一(yi)層白(bai)色(se)(se)絨(rong)(rong)毛綠瑩瑩的,顏色(se)(se)紫紅、味道(dao)甘甜,為(wei)一(yi)般桃(tao)樹(shu)的2-3倍。冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)皮色(se)(se)白(bai)中透(tou)紅,外表(biao)長(chang)(chang)著一(yi)層乳白(bai)色(se)(se)絨(rong)(rong)毛,皮薄而核(he)小,核(he)與靠近的果(guo)肉呈赤紅色(se)(se),肉厚而汁多。由于(yu)(yu)冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)成熟期(qi)長(chang)(chang),在樹(shu)上(shang)經受了“三伏(fu)”的考驗,所以味道(dao)既香(xiang)又甜,嚼(jiao)起來脆(cui)嘣嘣的,細(xi)細(xi)品來,還有點冰糖(tang)味。便于(yu)(yu)貯藏(zang),成為(wei)冬(dong)(dong)季珍果(guo)。
沛縣(xian)冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)性(xing)(xing)寒味甘醇,能治療目赤腫(zhong)痛、咽喉腫(zhong)痛等疾病,具有(you)一定的(de)藥用價值。桃(tao)果實(shi)營(ying)養豐富,除含(han)有(you)蔗(zhe)糖(tang)、葡萄糖(tang)、果糖(tang)、麥芽糖(tang)外,還含(han)有(you)多種礦物質(zhi)、維生(sheng)(sheng)素、有(you)機酸(suan),尤(you)其鐵的(de)含(han)量較豐富,是(shi)缺鐵性(xing)(xing)貧(pin)血(xue)患者的(de)理想(xiang)食(shi)療佳(jia)果。此外,桃(tao)果含(han)鉀多,含(han)鈉少,水腫(zhong)患者宜食(shi)之。炎夏食(shi)桃(tao),可養陰生(sheng)(sheng)津、潤腸燥,養顏(yan)美容(rong),有(you)較高的(de)滋養性(xing)(xing)。沛縣(xian)冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)果實(shi)成熟(shu)時(shi)期恰逢新(xin)年,因此在冬(dong)(dong)季水果市(shi)場(chang)上很受歡迎,暢(chang)銷上海、南(nan)京、杭州等大城市(shi)。
相(xiang)傳,清朝(chao)光緒年間沛縣(xian)有(you)個(ge)姓吳名鳳柱的(de)人出任湖北(bei)省襄(xiang)陽(yang)提督,他將冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)(tao)引進沛縣(xian)栽培。冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)(tao),其樹形、樹高(gao)和樹葉與普通桃(tao)(tao)樹差不多,但(dan)抗寒(han)能力很強,天(tian)寒(han)地凍,大雪紛飛,冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)(tao)樹仍枝葉茂盛,碩果飄(piao)香。這種(zhong)桃(tao)(tao)子(zi)(zi)長到櫻桃(tao)(tao)大小時即停止生長,經過漫長的(de)夏天(tian),到9月氣溫下降后(hou)桃(tao)(tao)子(zi)(zi)生長迅速(su),“大雪”后(hou)桃(tao)(tao)子(zi)(zi)進入成熟期,“冬(dong)(dong)至”前(qian)后(hou)采摘(zhai)上市。