Peach trees are normally associated with warmer temps in the south. Pensylvania Amish country is about the furthest north that you’ll find commercial peach orchards. I joked a while back that with climate change, we’ll finally be able to grown Peaches up here in Northern New England. It turns out, there are already a number of cold hardy peach tree varieties that are grown in zone 4, but it takes a bit of work to get them to fruit.
While some peach varieties may be hardy to zone 4, there’s a big difference between survival hardy and fruiting hardy. While the peach trees are hardy to zone 4, the flower buds aren’t quite so resilient. To harvest peaches in zone 4, the trees must be planted where they’ll be kept cold in the early spring. Ideally, somewhere that has spring shade and heavy snow cover, but strong summer sun.
Our local fruit nursery here in Central Vermont says that you’ll need good luck to harvest peaches north of Southern Vermont. For the best changes, they suggest planting peaches “in a well-drained location where the soil will be shaded from winter sun but the tree top will be in full sun during the growing season. The cold soil in spring will delay flowering and help protect them from frost damage. Protect the trunks from the warm southwest sun in winter that can cause injury.”
A peach tree breaking bud in spring. This is when the flower buds are most vulnerable to late spring frosts.
In our location, there is spring shade on the north side of our workshop before the sun angle changes in the late spring and rises above the peak. The steep roof provides plenty of snow cover, meaning the soil temperatures will remain cold long into the spring. Both of these characteristics make that an ideal planting location for northern peaches. The peaches will break bud late, meaning that they’ll avoid the late spring frosts and have a better chance of setting fruit.
Now that we have a suitable sight selected, it’s time to find a cold hardy peach variety that will not only survive but hopefully bear fruit on our cold northern homestead.
Cold Hardy Peach Varieties for Zone 4
For a long time, the “go to” peach for cold climates was Reliance. While it was the most dependable, the peaches weren’t the best quality. Breeding efforts have come a long way, and there are now a number of choices for zone 4 peach varieties. Most local nurseries still haven’t caught up, and the ones around here only sell reliance and contender. Given a choice, go with contender unless you’re in the coldest spots. The peaches are of much better quality.
- Reliance – As the name suggests, this is one of the most reliable peach varieties for cold climates. It’s rated to zone 4, but some sources say that the cold hardiness of this variety is exaggerated. It’s also rated to produce a “medium quality” peach, meaning that it’s not going to live up to all your peachy expectations. Freestone and ripens late July.
- Madison – Rated to zone 4, and reputedly of better quality than Reliance but still not the best. The fruit is a bit fibrous, though flavorful. Ripens in mid-August.
- Contender – Rated to zone 4, and of better quality than both Reliance and Madison. Freestone and ripens in late July.
- Blushingstar – This zone 4 hardy peach is small but flavorful. They’re only about 2.5 inches in diameter, but they have a sweet and fragrant white flesh. Said to be a good keeper, at least for longer than most peaches. This is a relatively new variety, introduced in 1996. Freestone and ripens in Mid-August.
- Intrepid– Hardy to zone 4, with exceptionally frost resistant flower buds. Some sources say that this variety can withstand a hard frost even in full bud. Good flavor, and great for baking. Ripen in August and produce a medium sized peach with firm flesh.
Other Cold Hardy Peach Trees
While there are only a few peach tree varieties that are hardy to zone 4, a number of others are good candidates in the warmest zones. They have special characteristics such as a late-blooming tendency that makes them worth a try with the right site preparation.
- Veteran – Rated to zone 5, but this peach variety blooms very late in the spring. That means with a little extra winter protection and mulching, it may stand a chance. This peach is freestone and richly flavored, making it worth the effort.
- Harrow Diamond – Rated to zone 5 and of excellent quality. This is an early peach, ripening in early July right alongside home-grown raspberries. The flesh has a strong red blush, making them a beautiful sight on the tree.
- Red Haven – Zone 5 peach with very low fuzz and creamy flesh. Blooms late to avoid frosts. Freestone and ripens in late July.
If you’ve had success growing peaches in zone 4 (or colder) I’d love to hear about it. Leave a note in the comments below.
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Joe Forshaw
I am an English man living with my wife and son here in retirement in the Philippines. Of course it was too cold to grow peaches in the UK and its too hot for them here in the tropics. Your article interested me greatly having tried to grow fruit wherever I have been living. When I lived a couple of years in Canada nearly 50 years ago I noticed and enjoyed the peaches growing in the Niagara peninsula. Did you know about that? The growers told me it was possible because of being surrounded by water. The apples there were delicious too but I really crave for the Cox’s Orange Pippin Apple’s I used to grow in the garden in England. Even the postman used to enjoy one every morning!!!!
Ashley Adamant
Yes! Here in Vermont, they grow peaches right along Lake Champlain. The water moderates the winter cold spells and creates a local very small section of zone 5. We were hoping our pond would have the same effect, but it’s so sunny by the pond and it melts out early in the spring. Those peaches will bud early and those tender buds will get frost killed. Oh well, so much for that idea on our land.
I’m sorry you can’t grow peaches in the Philippines. My mom keeps trying to grow cherries in the Mojave Desert by putting ice blocks on the ground mid-winter. She’s hoping that it’ll give enough chill hours to the soil, but no luck yet. That’s one idea to try in the Philippines if you’re really devoted to the idea of having peaches.
We have a Cox Orange Pippin in our orchard and it’s one of my very favorites =)
Peter Fisher
We have been growing peaches here in Iowa, northern part of zone 5. For 10 years. We have Reliance, contender, Canadian harmony, Madison (3 yrs old), fat lady, and star fire. We have not lost a tree due to cold. Our problem is a winter cold snap that kills the fruiting buds so they don’t even bloom. Last winter we had one night of 21 below. The Reliance produced a full crop, but nothing else bloomed. Previously 25 below had been enough to do in even the reliance. A few degrees below zero was not a problem for any of the trees but we haven’t had a test of 10 or 15 below to know which trees would still bloom at those temps.