Summer-sweet peaches without the drama. Contender Peach Tree is a cold-hardy, self-fruitful classic that shrugs off late frosts and still loads up with firm, juicy, freestone fruit. Pink spring blossoms, glossy green foliage, and dependable crops make it an easy win for edible landscapes and small orchards alike.
Expect mid to late summer harvests with yellow flesh and a red-blushed skin that’s perfect for fresh eating, baking, and canning. Its naturally upright, spreading habit stays manageable on semi-dwarf roots, so it fits beautifully in modest yards and large containers.
Contender Peach Tree Care
Plant in full sun for 6 to 8+ hours daily. Provide well-drained soil, pH 6.0 to 7.0; avoid low, wet areas and improve clay with compost and grit for drainage. Water deeply the first two seasons about once per week, then during dry spells (every 7 to 10 days). Mulch 2 to 3 inches deep, keeping mulch a few inches from the trunk. Feed in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fruit-tree fertilizer.
Prune in late winter to an open-center vase shape, removing crossing and inward shoots; thin young fruit to 6 to 8 inches apart for size and branch strength. Self-fruitful; no pollinator needed. Requires roughly 900 to 1,000 chill hours. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8; blossoms are notably frost tolerant, but cover if a hard freeze is forecast.
Contender Peach Tree Spacing
For a specimen, allow 12 to 15 feet of space (10 to 12 feet on dwarf rootstock). In orchard rows, plant 12 to 14 feet on center. Keep 8 to 10 feet from walls, fences, and hardscape.
For containers, choose a dwarf tree and a pot 18 to 24 inches wide with excellent drainage; position 3 to 5 feet from a south or west window on patios, or in the sunniest outdoor spot.
Stake young trees the first season and use branch spreaders to set wide crotch angles for long-term strength.
Why Grow Contender Peach Tree?
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Cold-hardy reliability that handles Zone 4 winters and late frosts
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Self-fruitful freestone peaches for easy harvest and prep
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High flavor with firm, juicy texture ideal for fresh eating, pies, and preserves
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Spring bloom and tidy form add real ornamental value
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Lower maintenance than many peaches when pruned to an open center and thinned properly
Bring home a proven producer and enjoy baskets of homegrown peaches without babying the tree. Plant Contender this season and lock in sweet, dependable harvests for years.
- SKU:
- EDB-PEA-CON-LGL
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations