Select The Best Peaches for Your Region

Peaches grow in other places besides Georgia, USA. A decade long period of mild winters in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) have increased gardener confidence about growing peaches. Peaches (Prunus persica) tend to flower in early spring when the threat of spring frosts is still high. In many years spring frost may kill 80% of flower buds, yet still produce a “full” crop in July and August.

Standard (non-dwarf) peach trees grow and are easy to harvest by pruning them to 10-12 feet in height. Dwarf peach trees are unreliable as they live only a short time and are not worth the high purchase price. Dwarf peach root systems are weak and break off from the graft union.

Only freestone peach varieties are listed below. If you garden in zone 7-a or further north, their long winter chilling requirement is not a problem. Freestone peaches are great for eating and ideal for baking and canning; the flesh does not stick to the pits. Clingstone peaches are also a good choice for their sweetness and taste.

Table 1. New peach varieties and approximate harvest times for East Tennessee, Western NC and Southwest VA (zone 6-b):

3^rd week July               Contender (yellow flesh, freestone)

4^th week July               Nectar (white flesh, freestone)

1^st week August          Carolina Gold (yellow flesh, freestone)

2^nd week August        China Pearl (white flesh, freestone)

Late August                  Intrepid (yellow flesh, freestone)

Table 2. Older reliable varieties for East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia include:

Cresthaven (medium to large fruit, yellow flesh, freestone)

Jefferson (early season, medium yellow-orange flesh, freestone)

Monroe (late harvest, medium yellow flesh, freestone)

Red Haven (medium, nearly fuzzless, yellow flesh, freestone)

Credit: Dr. David Lockwood, Extension Fruit Specialist at the Universities of Tennessee and Georgia recommend these varieties.