沛縣冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)開花(hua)于(yu)春天(tian),比普通桃(tao)樹還早6-7天(tian)。這種桃(tao)子(zi)(zi)不需嫁接,性耐(nai)寒(han),開花(hua)較早,生長(chang)(chang)期(qi)很長(chang)(chang)。坐果后,桃(tao)子(zi)(zi)長(chang)(chang)至像青(qing)櫻桃(tao)那么(me)大時暫(zan)停生長(chang)(chang),待(dai)到8-9月后,天(tian)氣變得涼爽時,桃(tao)子(zi)(zi)才開始長(chang)(chang)大,直到冬(dong)(dong)至成(cheng)(cheng)熟,生長(chang)(chang)期(qi)達250多天(tian),為(wei)一般(ban)桃(tao)樹的(de)(de)2-3倍。成(cheng)(cheng)熟的(de)(de)冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)表面有(you)一層(ceng)白(bai)色(se)絨(rong)(rong)毛(mao)綠瑩(ying)瑩(ying)的(de)(de),顏色(se)紫(zi)紅、味道甘(gan)甜(tian),為(wei)一般(ban)桃(tao)樹的(de)(de)2-3倍。冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)皮色(se)白(bai)中透紅,外(wai)表長(chang)(chang)著(zhu)一層(ceng)乳白(bai)色(se)絨(rong)(rong)毛(mao),皮薄而核小,核與靠近的(de)(de)果肉呈赤紅色(se),肉厚而汁(zhi)多。由于(yu)冬(dong)(dong)桃(tao)成(cheng)(cheng)熟期(qi)長(chang)(chang),在樹上經受了“三伏”的(de)(de)考驗,所以味道既香又甜(tian),嚼起來(lai)脆嘣嘣的(de)(de),細細品來(lai),還有(you)點冰糖味。便于(yu)貯藏,成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)冬(dong)(dong)季(ji)珍果。
沛(pei)縣(xian)冬(dong)桃(tao)(tao)(tao)性(xing)寒味甘醇,能治療(liao)目赤腫(zhong)(zhong)痛(tong)、咽(yan)喉腫(zhong)(zhong)痛(tong)等(deng)疾(ji)病,具有(you)(you)一(yi)定的藥用價值(zhi)。桃(tao)(tao)(tao)果(guo)實營養豐富,除含(han)有(you)(you)蔗(zhe)糖(tang)(tang)(tang)、葡萄糖(tang)(tang)(tang)、果(guo)糖(tang)(tang)(tang)、麥芽糖(tang)(tang)(tang)外(wai),還含(han)有(you)(you)多種礦物質(zhi)、維生(sheng)素(su)、有(you)(you)機酸(suan),尤其鐵(tie)的含(han)量(liang)較豐富,是(shi)缺鐵(tie)性(xing)貧血患者的理想(xiang)食(shi)(shi)療(liao)佳果(guo)。此(ci)外(wai),桃(tao)(tao)(tao)果(guo)含(han)鉀多,含(han)鈉少,水(shui)(shui)腫(zhong)(zhong)患者宜(yi)食(shi)(shi)之。炎夏食(shi)(shi)桃(tao)(tao)(tao),可養陰(yin)生(sheng)津、潤腸燥,養顏美容(rong),有(you)(you)較高的滋養性(xing)。沛(pei)縣(xian)冬(dong)桃(tao)(tao)(tao)果(guo)實成熟(shu)時期恰逢新年,因此(ci)在冬(dong)季水(shui)(shui)果(guo)市(shi)場(chang)上很受歡迎(ying),暢銷上海(hai)、南京、杭州等(deng)大城市(shi)。
相傳,清朝光緒(xu)年間沛縣有個(ge)姓吳名(ming)鳳柱的人出任(ren)湖北省(sheng)襄陽提督,他將冬桃(tao)引進(jin)沛縣栽培。冬桃(tao),其(qi)樹形、樹高和樹葉與(yu)普通桃(tao)樹差不(bu)多,但(dan)抗寒能力很(hen)強,天(tian)寒地凍,大雪(xue)(xue)紛飛,冬桃(tao)樹仍枝葉茂盛,碩果(guo)飄香。這(zhe)種桃(tao)子(zi)長到櫻桃(tao)大小時即(ji)停(ting)止生(sheng)長,經過漫長的夏天(tian),到9月(yue)氣溫下降后桃(tao)子(zi)生(sheng)長迅速,“大雪(xue)(xue)”后桃(tao)子(zi)進(jin)入成熟期,“冬至”前(qian)后采摘上市。