Item Number: FT354
Contender Peach Tree
Cold-hardy peaches with bold flavor
Contender Peach Tree is made for gardeners who want a peach that feels abundant, traditional, and reassuringly dependable. Its large fruit ripens with golden skin beneath a rosy red blush, while the yellow freestone flesh becomes melting, exceptionally juicy, and richly sweet. At firm-ripe it slices beautifully; left to soften fully on the tree, it delivers the glorious, juice-running-down-your-arm experience that defines a memorable summer peach. Contender also brings handsome spring bloom and vigorous growth to the orchard, creating a tree that looks energetic long before harvest. For growers in colder peach regions, its combination of hardiness, late bloom, generous production, and familiar peach flavor makes it more than a practical selection—it is an opportunity to grow warm-summer fruit where less resilient varieties can disappoint. Contender was developed at North Carolina State University from a cross involving the cold-hardy peach Pekin.
This semi-dwarf tree needs about 800 chill hours and grows in USDA zones 4–9. Harvest generally runs from mid-July into early August. Give it full sun, well-drained soil, and annual pruning to manage its vigorous growth.
Contender is self-fruitful and can crop alone. Another compatible peach with overlapping bloom may increase pollinator activity and support fruit set while extending the harvest season.
Contender Peach Tree Details
- Fruit: Large golden-yellow freestone peach with a rosy red blush
- Flavor and texture: Melting, extra juicy, sweet, and traditionally peachy
- Best uses: Fresh eating, canning, baking, preserves, and freezing
- Harvest: Mid-July to early August
- USDA zones: 4–9
- Chill hours: About 800 hours
- Tree size: Semi-dwarf on Citation rootstock
- Pollination: Self-fruitful and productive on its own; another compatible peach may support pollinator activity and fruit set.
- Recommended companions: Pair with Frost Peach or Elberta Peach.
- Special care: Prune annually to control vigorous growth and thin the crop for larger fruit.
- Something special: Released after breeding work begun at North Carolina State University, Contender became a modern standard for cold-hardy yellow peaches.
Orchard Planning Resources
Check Your Zone Compatibility:
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Since 1976, we've served our customers at every stage of growing. Please contact us at any time. We are happy to support and assist you.
Shipping Information
Shipping Information
Cannot ship to the following states: HI, AK, PR, GU, VI
Shipping Weight: 5.0 lb
Dimensions: 47.5"L x 7.3"W x 2.75"H
Features
Features
- Bare Root
- Self-fruitful
Characteristics
Characteristics
Planting & Care
Planting & Care
Useful Information
Useful Information
Guarantee
Guarantee
Limited Dormant Tree & Plant Guarantee
* Claim deadline is June 15th
We guarantee that your dormant tree or plant will arrive in good, viable condition. If your tree arrives in substandard condition, notify us within 3 days of delivery. Please email pictures of the box, inside packaging, the tree and its roots to helpdesk@groworganic.com. We will investigate your claim and process a request to exchange or refund the damaged product.
If your dormant tree or plant has not grown new leaves by June 15th, you may be eligible for our Limited Dormant Tree & Plant Guarantee. This guarantee provides for a store credit for the purchase price of the tree, excluding shipping. Please see the Instructions below.
Important Dates:
- April 1st Dormant trees/plants must be planted in the ground
- May 15th Perform scratch test, if no new leaves have grown
- June 15th Deadline to apply for a dormant tree/plant credit
All required documentation must be received by June 15th for your claim to be considered. Claims or documentation received after June 15th will be denied, without exception. Instructions listed below
Terms and Conditions
We cannot guarantee that your tree or plant will remain alive and healthy after it is received, or bear fruit as there are too many variables in your environment that are beyond our control (i.e. soil preparation, weed and pest control, proper irrigation, chill hours, compatible hardiness for your growing zone, proper choice of pollinator, extreme weather, rodent damage, disease, etc.).
We cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide a replacement tree/plant of the same species either that same growing season or in future years. Customers are responsible for all shipping fees associated with replacement trees and plants.
If we determine that the tree you purchased directly from us is not viable, we will issue you a store credit (not a refund) for the purchase price of the affected dormant tree or plant. Shipping is not included in the dormant tree/plant guarantee. Store credits can be used to purchase any product we sell and are valid for use only until July 1st of the following year.
Historically, 98% of our dormant trees and plants grow and thrive when they have been cared for and planted using our growing guides. Dormant trees and plants must be planted in the ground by April 1st in order to be eligible for credit. If the ground in your area is still frozen solid, you may temporarily plant your tree or plant in a pot.
Potted, non-dormant trees or plants are excluded from this guarantee as they are not dormant at the time of shipment. Evergreen trees such as citrus, avocado and olive trees are not available for credit under the Dormant Tree and Plant Guarantee.
Instructions
We guarantee that your dormant fruit tree or plant will leaf out, if you care for it according to our growing guides. In the unlikely event that your dormant tree or plant does not have leaves by May 15th, follow these simple steps to apply for a store credit:
Before you call or email, please perform a “scratch test” to determine if the tree or plant is still alive. This video shows how to check for live tissue under the bark. Scratch tests need to be done a few inches above and below the graft.
Green Cambium Layer / Living Trees
If the cambium layer under the bark is green, give your tree a little more time. It is still alive, but hasn’t come out of dormancy yet. Check to make sure that it is getting the right amount of deep root water, enough sunlight and that the weather is warm enough for that type of tree/plant to come out of dormancy. Every tree has its own personality and will come out of dormancy at different times. Be sure to submit the required documentation listed below by June 15th, if it doesn’t grow leaves.
Brown Cambium Layer / Dead Trees
If the scratch test shows a brown cambium layer or if your dormant tree/plant doesn’t have leaves by June 1st, please email us at helpdesk@groworganic.com. All required documentation listed below must be received by June 15th for your claim to be considered. To be considered for the guarantee claim, all required documentation must be received by June 15th. Incomplete submissions will be denied.
Required Documentation
- Order number
- Name of dormant tree/plant and the quantity affected
- Photos of each tree or plant showing:
- The roots (tree or plant must be pulled out of the ground)
- The scratch test areas
- The entire tree/plant
We reserve the right to not issue credit for items that have already been replaced. We also reserve the right to require photographic evidence that the tree/plant was not killed by root rot, rodent or mechanical damage.
