Experience with cold hardy peaches

[Holleg44]

Does anyone have experience with cold hardy peaches and peach rootstock? I planted this trees for my mother in Albany, NY zone 5 in 2008. It gives us big great tasting peaches every year. Aside from the little pruning I have done to it when I visit, it receives little attention. It’s never been sprayed, but has done great. These are what I harvested yesterday alone. I can’t believe a peach tree has done so well this far north. I’m guessing it’s a Reliance, not sure what rootstock though. I’m interest in grafting, taking scion wood from it and trying to grow it where I live in zone 4b near Watertown, NY. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[JillZee]

WOW. I have no experience as I’m a newbie to growing fruit, but that is quite the haul! I’d love to know what variety they are, also.

Congratulations!

[northwoodswis4]

My late sister had a peach tree in Valparaiso, IN, for many years that I doubt she ever sprayed or pruned, but it produced lots of peaches. My attempts at peaches in Wisconsin have all been dismal failures.

[SpokanePeach]

There is some great reading on first hand experience with cold hardiness from @Olpea at this link:

Further Evaluation of Winter Damage of Peach Buds

Three years ago, I reported winter freeze damage for the peach varieties I was growing at the time. Last winter, we had a significant cold winter event where it got down to about -10F in very early winter. I recognize -10F isn’t supposed to be a critical event for peaches, but it seems to be here. Once again we had winter damage to dormant peach fruit buds, and once again I went through and rated the damage. Surprisingly, the winter damage at these temps is highly cultivar dependent. Also, …

[ztom]

Reliance ripened at least a month ago for me in Ohio. My guess is that your mom’s tree is Elberta, which ripens around this time.

[Holleg44]

What rootstock would work best in zone 4b?

[jocelyn]

Reliance seedlings are pretty good, also Redhaven seedlings. I’m on the north shore of PEI, so use that as a guide.

[SpudDaddy]

The common rootstocks are Halford, Lovell and Bailey. Bailey is considered the hardiest. Avoid Nemaguard. I have never heard of Citation and ST Julian rootstock being cold hardy.

[Holleg44]

Thanks

[Olpea]

You might also consider Guardian. At the fruit expo last year a pretty cutting edge peach specialist claimed his tests showed Guardian was the most hardy of the seedling rootstocks.

A few notes from the Great Lakes Fruit/Vegetable Conference

Just got back from the Conference in Grand Rapids, MI. First time I’ve been to the Expo. It was pretty good. It was nice to hear presentations from some of the most recognized leaders and researchers in the fruit industry. Of course the conference was based on commercial production, but I thought there were a few takeaways which might interest backyard growers. Most of these points experience backyard growers have already figured out, but it was interesting to know research backs these thin…

[SpudDaddy]

Olpea,

Looking at the article K86 root stock looks interesting - In another post it looked like you might get some peach trees on that rootstock - how did the trees fair?

Spud

[Olpea]

@SpudDaddy

In another post it looked like you might get some peach trees on that rootstock - how did the trees fair?

Spud,

I’m sorry I don’t remember that post (which isn’t saying much, as I get older). I don’t think I currently have any on K86, though I believe at one time I did.

[Holleg44]

Im just trying to get organized for next spring. I appreciate the suggestion.

[Badger_gardener]

This past winter we got down to -30F and while all the fruit buds were dead, my intrepid peach (planted in 2015) survived with pretty minimal shoot dieback. I had a three year old Madison, 2 year old contender, and 1 year old reliance and PF-8 ball tree either die completely or had enough dieback that I just ended up replacing them. I stuck with the contender and reliance again but am trying veteran and hardired nectarine.

[northwoodswis4]

Keep us posted how they do. So far all peaches have done is tease me and make me lose money.

[Badger_gardener]

I’ve planted and replanted more peach trees than I have harvested peaches. I got maybe 10 or so intrepid peaches 2 summers ago, and they were so good compared to what you can buy that I’ve yet to give up on peaches.

Also blushingstar white peach is one that I planted several years ago that didn’t make it more than 2 winters.

[Olpea]

I think you get an. award with bringing any peach tree through -30f. There was a few years ago a discussion that it was implied that was impossible.

You get three thumbs up from me and an applause.

[RichardRoundTree]

I found my intrepid taste better with age too, the first year they were good peaches but after 5 years they have great peaches

[warmwxrules]

I had -33F and 1 peach bud bloomed and set a fruit and that was Saturn.

My Contender (it was only going on year 2) died last summer. That spring was really nasty…i don’t think it was winter kill. I lost more trees last spring/summer then this summer but i don’t have many peaches anymore. I’m trying to figure out a yellow peach to try again.

[warmwxrules]

I let a k86 rootstock grow out and it is a good size tree now. The thing bloomed heavily this spring. Very hardy tree…it doesn’t set fruit though.