Growing peach
stone fruit
WINTER CHILL NEEDED
~400–1000 hrs
POLLINATION
Self-fertile — one plant crops on its own
Pollination
Almost all peaches are self-fertile - one tree is enough. ('J.H. Hale' is a rare exception.)
Growing it
Zones 5-9; low-chill types down to Zone 10. Thin fruit to a hand-span apart; prune hard every winter for size and light. Peach leaf curl needs a dormant copper spray in wet climates.
Will you get enough chill?
Peach needs roughly 400–1000 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.