Contender Peach

Contender is a full-size peach hardy in zones 5 through 9, maturing to roughly 12 to 15 feet tall and wide. It is best grown in the ground in a sunny, open spot with room to spread.

Planting

1. Choose a site in full to part sun with good air circulation; a slight slope helps cold air and frost drain away from the blossoms.
2. Plant in well-draining soil. Peaches resent wet feet, so avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
3. Dig the hole about twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than the roots came in their container.
4. Set the tree so the graft union (the swollen knob low on the trunk) stays a couple of inches above the soil line; do not plant too deep.
5. Backfill with native soil, water in thoroughly to settle out air pockets, then mulch the root zone while keeping mulch pulled back a few inches from the trunk.

Care & maintenance

• Water. Keep the soil evenly moist the first two seasons while roots establish, then water deeply during dry spells and especially as fruit sizes up in summer.
• Feed. Apply a balanced fruit-tree fertilizer in early spring as growth begins; avoid heavy late-season feeding that pushes tender growth into fall.
• Light & temperature. Give it full sun for the best crop. Contender is cold-hardy for zones 5 through 9 and carries enough chilling requirement to fruit dependably in colder regions.
• Prune. Prune in late winter while dormant, training to an open-center (vase) shape to let light and air into the canopy; peaches fruit on last year's wood, so renew that growth annually.
• Pollinate. Contender is self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit on its own. A second variety is not required.
• Pests & disease. Watch for peach leaf curl, brown rot, and borers; a dormant-season spray program and prompt cleanup of dropped fruit and leaves go a long way toward control.
• Harvest. Fruit ripens in August. Pick when the ground color shifts from green to gold and the peach gives slightly to gentle pressure with a fragrant aroma.

How does Contender taste, and what makes it different?

Contender has firm yellow flesh with a rich, balanced sweet-tart flavor and plenty of juice. As a freestone its flesh pulls cleanly off the pit, and its standout trait is dependability: it was bred to crop reliably in colder regions where other peaches fail.

Do I need a second tree to get fruit?

No. Contender is self-fertile, so a single tree will pollinate itself and set a crop. Planting a second peach can extend your overall harvest season but is not required for fruit.

How soon will it bear fruit?

A young peach typically begins bearing within about two to four years of planting, depending on its starting size, your climate, and how well it is fed, watered, and pruned. Patience in the first seasons pays off with heavier crops later.

Can I grow it in a cold climate?

Yes. Contender is one of the more cold-hardy peaches, rated for zones 5 through 9, and its slightly later bloom helps it dodge late spring frosts. Siting it where frost drains away, such as a gentle slope, further protects the blossoms.

Why is my tree dropping small fruit in early summer?

A light drop of immature fruit in late spring or early summer is natural "June drop," the tree shedding what it cannot ripen. Heavier loss can come from drought stress, a late frost on the blooms, or poor pollination weather. Keep the tree evenly watered and thin the remaining fruit to about a hand's width apart for larger, better peaches.

What can I make with the harvest?

Because it is a clean freestone, Contender is excellent fresh off the tree and just as good preserved. Use it for canning and freezing, pies, cobblers, jams, and grilling, since the firm flesh holds its shape well when cooked.