Growing peach
stone fruit
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.
Where peach grows best
Hardy in zones 5-9, and it needs enough winter cold - about 400-1000 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
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.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does peach grow in?
Peach grows in USDA hardiness zones 5-9. In the warmest of those (zone 9), winters may be too mild to give the chill it needs, so choose low-chill varieties there.
How many chill hours does peach need?
Roughly 400-1000 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Is peach self-pollinating?
Self-fertile — one plant crops on its own. Almost all peaches are self-fertile - one tree is enough. ('J.H. Hale' is a rare exception.)
Which states can grow peach?
Peach suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and 16 more, and parts of 21 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.