Well, the easiest way to tell is when a couple of the peaches fall off the tree, those were overripe and the rest of the tree should be ready. You can look at color too, the fruit should have a yellow undertone rather than green. At this point it should smell like a peach. Then test firmness, there should be a little bit of give rather than rock hard. Although if you pick them after they have turned color but before they are soft you can ripen them the rest of the way in a paper bag. I'll pick all of my peaches once some of them are completely ripe and let the hard ones sit in a bag for a day or two.

But the best way is to pick one and do a taste test.

Peach leaf curl can be treated by a dormant spray of either lime sulfur or copper in the fall after leaf drop and again at the end of winter.

Thanks Athena, one did fall from the tree today and I ate it and it was delicious. The fruit isn't big,but the stones are small so there was enough peach to be worthwhile. And, I'll spray the little tree this coming winter.

Smell.. You can really smell a ripe peach.

I should have known "smell" is right! That's what I do in the store to choose the tastiest fruit. But homegrown is certainly the best.

My ripe test for peaches - while it's still on the tree just take your finger or thumb and gently press on the peach's shoulder (upper part right next to the stem). If it gives a little (slightly soft) then it's ready to pick. If it's hard leave it on the tree and check daily.