★★★★★ Rated 4.8 out of 5 Stars

1 Year Warranty on All Plants

Get 10% Off with code FALL10

Up to 81% Off- Shop the Fall Sale Now!

Contender Peach Tree

$11995 $21995
Height
Pack Options
Free Shipping - Your plants ship tomorrow
Plant Health Guaranteed
Free Lifetime Support
Risk-Free 1 Year Warranty
Use code "FALL10" for an extra 10% off!

Your Plants are Guaranteed to Grow

Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

Free Shipping on All Orders

Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Contender Peach Tree

Planting Instructions for Contender Peach

  1. Site Selection: Choose a sunny location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Contender peaches thrive in well-draining soil, ideally sandy loam with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Avoid areas where water pools after rain, as peaches dislike "wet feet."
  2. Soil Preparation: Before planting, amend the soil with organic matter such as compost to improve drainage and nutrient content. Test the soil pH and adjust if necessary using lime (to raise pH) or sulfur (to lower it).
  3. Planting:
  4. Mulching and Watering: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk. This will help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Water thoroughly after planting and ensure the soil remains moist but not waterlogged.

Care Instructions for Contender Peach

  1. Watering: During the first year, water the peach tree deeply once a week, especially during dry spells. Young trees require consistent moisture to establish their root system. Be careful not to overwater, as peaches are prone to root rot in soggy conditions.
  2. Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) about 6 weeks after planting, following package instructions. Be cautious with nitrogen-heavy fertilizers, as they can encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of fruit production.
  3. Monitoring: Watch for signs of pests such as aphids, scale, or peach tree borers. Disease issues like peach leaf curl can also arise, so inspect leaves regularly and consider spraying a fungicide during the dormant season to prevent fungal infections.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care for Contender Peach

  1. Pruning: Prune peach trees annually during the dormant season (late winter) to maintain an open center shape, which allows light and air to penetrate the canopy. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches to promote healthy growth and fruit production.
  2. Pest Control: Use organic or chemical pest controls as needed, depending on your preference. Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs to control aphid populations, and wrap the base of the tree to prevent peach tree borers.
  3. Thinning Fruits: When the tree starts producing fruit, thin the peaches to about 6-8 inches apart once they reach the size of a nickel. This helps the tree focus energy on fewer, larger, and healthier fruits.

Additional Tips for Growing Contender Peach

  1. Cold Hardiness: The Contender peach variety is known for its excellent cold hardiness, thriving in USDA zones 4-8. It’s one of the few peach varieties that can withstand late spring frosts and still produce fruit. This makes it a great choice for colder climates, but if you live in an area prone to extreme cold, consider adding a layer of insulation or wrapping the tree trunk with burlap during the winter.
  2. Pollination: Contender peaches are self-pollinating, so you don’t need a second tree to get fruit. However, planting another peach tree nearby can increase your overall yield.
  3. Preventing Peach Leaf Curl: To avoid this common peach tree disease, consider spraying the tree with a copper-based fungicide during the dormant season (late fall or early winter). Keep the area around the tree clean of fallen leaves and debris, as this can harbor fungal spores.
  4. Frost Protection: If you're growing your Contender peach tree in an area with late frosts, protect the blossoms by covering the tree with frost cloth or blankets overnight when frost is predicted. Avoid using plastic, as it can trap moisture and damage the blooms.
  5. Summer Pruning: In addition to winter pruning, light summer pruning can help control vigorous growth and improve air circulation. This can be especially helpful in areas with high humidity, reducing the risk of fungal diseases.

Harvesting Information for Contender Peach

  1. Timing: Contender peaches ripen in late summer, typically from late July to early August, depending on your growing zone. The fruits develop a vibrant yellow-red blush and should feel slightly soft to the touch when they’re ready to be picked.
  2. How to Harvest: When harvesting, gently twist the peach off the branch. Ripe peaches should come away easily. If the fruit doesn’t release with a gentle twist, it’s best to wait a little longer to avoid picking them too early.
  3. Post-Harvest Care: After picking, handle the peaches carefully to avoid bruising, as they are quite delicate. Peaches can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, but for the best flavor, let them ripen on the counter at room temperature for a day or two if they are still slightly firm when picked.
  4. Using Your Peaches: Contender peaches are ideal for fresh eating, canning, freezing, or baking. They have a sweet, juicy flavor and firm texture, making them perfect for pies, cobblers, and preserves.
What Customers say about the Contender Peach Tree:

The Contender Peach Tree thrives in Zones 5-9

Growing Zones for the Contender Peach Tree

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Contender Peach Tree.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones 5-9
Mature Height 12-15 ft.
Mature Width 12-15 ft.
Cannot Ship To AR, AZ, CA, ID, LA, OR, WA
Sunlight Full to Partial Sun
Botanical Name Prunus persica 'Contender'

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

Close-up of pink peach blossoms with delicate petals and tiny water droplets, set against a soft, blurred background. The flowers are in full bloom, showcasing their vibrant color.

Beware- not all Contender Peach Trees are the same.

Be sure to get superior fruit trees, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" fruit trees to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Contender Peach Trees in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that is ready to grow and produce!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall fruit trees in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" tree, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy tree.

Contender peach tree with ripe red and yellow peaches among dense green leaves in a sunny orchard.

The Contender Peach is one of the most cold-hardy peaches you can grow- big, sweet, juicy peaches even where other peach trees struggle.

  • Sweet, juicy freestone peaches with red-blushed skin and a hint of tartness
  • Later bloom time helps the flowers escape many late spring frosts
  • Self-pollinating- one tree produces on its own, and a second peach can boost your harvest
  • Ripens late July to early August and grows well in zones 5-9

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Arrives in its pot with soil intact Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Growing naturally until it ships Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Measured from the top of the soil Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure trees including the pot and roots, so their "6-7 ft." tree may only be about half that size when planted. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!

You Want Contender Peach Trees Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship thin, underdeveloped fruit trees grown in tiny pots to save money. These weak, "root bound" trees can spend years recovering before they give you a real harvest.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Contender Peach Trees, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed root systems. A strong start helps your tree settle in quickly and begin bearing fruit, often around 2-4 years after planting.

Read more about the Contender Peach Tree

Contender Peach Tree – A Hardy, Juicy Peach for Every Home Orchard

The Contender Peach (Prunus persica 'Contender') is a reliable, cold-hardy peach tree known for producing large, sweet, and incredibly juicy peaches perfect for fresh eating, baking, or preserving. Ideal for home orchards, this self-pollinating variety thrives in colder climates where many other peach trees struggle, making it a favorite for gardeners who want both beauty and productivity. With its stunning pink spring blossoms and bountiful summer harvest, the Contender Peach Tree is an exceptional addition to any yard.

Key Features of Contender Peach Tree:

  • Large, Juicy Peaches: Produces full-sized, yellow-fleshed peaches with a perfect balance of sweetness and a hint of tartness—ideal for snacking, canning, or making desserts.
  • Cold-Hardy Variety: Specifically bred to thrive in colder climates, withstanding late frosts and temperatures as low as -20°F (USDA Zones 4-8).
  • Self-Pollinating: No need for a second tree—this tree will produce peaches on its own, though planting multiple trees may increase your harvest.
  • Stunning Spring Blossoms: Bursts with fragrant pink flowers in early spring, adding beauty and attracting pollinators to your garden.
  • Easy to Grow & Maintain: Compact size makes it perfect for small orchards, backyards, or gardens, and it requires minimal care once established.

Key Differences of Contender Peaches

  1. Cold Hardiness: The Contender peach can tolerate colder temperatures than many other varieties, withstanding winter lows and late frosts that would damage other peach trees. It’s popular in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8.

  2. Late Blooming: This variety blooms later in the season, which helps avoid damage from late spring frosts—a common issue in colder regions. This feature makes it a reliable producer even in more challenging climates.

  3. Flavor and Texture: Contender peaches are celebrated for their sweet, rich flavor, which many consider superior to other cold-hardy varieties. They’re juicy, with a fine-textured flesh that’s great for eating fresh, canning, or baking.

  4. Freestone Variety: Unlike clingstone varieties, the flesh of Contender peaches easily separates from the pit, making them easier to prepare for canning and cooking.

  5. Appearance: The fruit is medium to large in size with yellow flesh and red-blushed skin. While this isn’t a unique identifier, the red blush can sometimes be deeper on Contender peaches, giving them a more intense color.

How to Identify a Contender Peach Tree

  • Labeling: Contender peach trees should be clearly labeled when you purchase them, as the variety is usually grafted onto rootstock designed to enhance hardiness.
  • Bloom Timing: If you’re comparing varieties in early spring, a Contender peach will bloom noticeably later than other types in your area, which helps it avoid frost.
  • Fruit Characteristics: Once the tree bears fruit, look for medium to large peaches with a vibrant red blush on yellow skin. The flesh should be yellow and juicy with a sweet flavor, and the pit should separate easily from the flesh.

Sweet, Juicy Peaches Perfect for Fresh Eating and Baking

The Contender Peach Tree is celebrated for its large, freestone peaches that are bursting with juicy sweetness. With its rich yellow flesh and balanced flavor, this peach variety is ideal for fresh eating right off the tree. The Contender peach is also perfect for baking into pies, cobblers, and crisps or preserving for homemade jams and jellies. Harvested in mid to late summer, this tree produces a reliable crop of high-quality peaches that you can enjoy throughout the season.

Cold Hardy for Northern Climates

One of the standout features of the Contender Peach Tree is its remarkable cold hardiness. Unlike many peach varieties, the Contender is bred to thrive in colder climates and can withstand late frosts and temperatures as low as -20°F. This makes it an ideal choice for gardeners in USDA Zones 4-8, where harsher winters can be a challenge for other fruit trees. Despite its resilience to cold, this tree performs equally well in warmer climates, ensuring versatility for a wide range of growing environments.

Beautiful Spring Blossoms

Before producing its delicious peaches, the Contender Peach Tree puts on a beautiful show in early spring with its fragrant pink blossoms. These blooms not only add a touch of ornamental beauty to your garden but also attract bees and other pollinators, ensuring a bountiful harvest of peaches. Whether planted as a focal point or in a backyard orchard, the Contender Peach Tree brings both charm and productivity to your outdoor space.

Perfect for Home Orchards and Backyards

The Contender Peach Tree is a compact tree that typically grows 12-15 feet tall with a similar spread, making it an excellent choice for home orchards or smaller gardens. Its manageable size allows for easy pruning, harvesting, and maintenance, while still producing an abundant crop of high-quality peaches. Whether you have a large yard or a small space to work with, this tree is ideal for any garden layout.

Easy to Grow and Self-Pollinating

The Contender Peach Tree is self-pollinating, meaning you only need one tree to enjoy a full harvest. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and once established, it is drought-tolerant and requires minimal care. Light pruning in late winter or early spring will help maintain its shape and ensure continued fruit production, but overall, this peach tree is easy to grow and maintain. Its pest and disease resistance make it an excellent low-maintenance option for gardeners of all skill levels.

Why Choose Nationwide Plants?

At Nationwide Plants, we are committed to delivering the highest-quality fruit trees and shrubs to homeowners across the country. Our Contender Peach Trees are hand-selected for their superior fruiting performance and adaptability to different climates. With fast shipping and exceptional customer service, Nationwide Plants makes it easy to grow your own delicious peaches right from your backyard.

Grow Your Own Juicy Peaches – Order Your Contender Peach Tree Today!

The Contender Peach Tree is the perfect choice for your home orchard, especially if you're planting your first peach tree! This cold-hardy, low-maintenance tree produces sweet, juicy peaches that are a delight to grow and enjoy. Perfect for any garden, it’s a must-have for fruit tree enthusiasts of all levels. Now is a great time to bring the Contender Peach Tree to your home—buy now and enjoy fresh peaches right from your own yard for years to come!

Frequently Asked Questions about the Contender Peach Tree

How big does a Contender Peach tree get?

A Contender Peach tree typically grows 12 to 15 feet tall with a similar 12 to 15 foot spread. That compact, manageable size makes it a great fit for backyards and small home orchards, and it keeps pruning, thinning, and harvesting within easy reach. Give each tree enough room for its full canopy so sunlight and air can move freely through the branches.

What growing zones is the Contender Peach tree hardy in?

The Contender Peach tree grows well in USDA Zones 5 through 9. It is known as one of the most cold-hardy peach varieties, and its later bloom time helps the flowers escape many late spring frosts that ruin other peaches. In areas with late frosts, cover the tree with frost cloth overnight when a freeze is predicted during bloom.

Is the Contender Peach tree self-pollinating?

Yes, the Contender Peach is self-pollinating, so a single tree will produce a crop on its own. Planting a second peach tree nearby can still boost your overall yield. If you want that extra production, Nationwide Plants offers a Pollination Pack that pairs a Contender Peach with an Elberta Peach so the two trees can cross-pollinate.

How long does it take a Contender Peach tree to bear fruit?

Most Contender Peach trees begin bearing fruit about 2 to 4 years after planting, depending on the size of the tree, your climate, and how well it establishes. Consistent watering the first year, full sun, and annual pruning all help the tree mature faster. Avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which pushes leafy growth at the expense of flowers and fruit.

When are Contender peaches ready to pick?

Contender peaches usually ripen from late July to early August, depending on your growing zone. Ripe fruit shows a vibrant yellow and red blush and feels slightly soft when gently pressed. Twist each peach lightly off the branch; if it does not release easily, give it a few more days. Firm peaches can finish ripening on the counter.

How much sun does a Contender Peach tree need?

A Contender Peach tree does best in full sun to partial sun, ideally with 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day for the best fruit set. Plant it in well-draining soil, ideally sandy loam with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0, and avoid low spots where water pools, since peaches dislike wet feet.

How do you prune a Contender Peach tree?

Prune a Contender Peach tree every year during the dormant season in late winter. Aim for an open center shape so light and air reach the middle of the canopy, and remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. Light summer pruning can also control vigorous growth and improve airflow, which helps reduce fungal problems in humid areas.

Are Contender peaches freestone or clingstone?

Contender peaches are freestone, meaning the juicy yellow flesh separates easily from the pit. That makes them much easier to slice for canning, freezing, pies, and cobblers. The medium to large fruit has red-blushed skin and a sweet, rich flavor with a hint of tartness that many growers prefer over other cold-hardy peaches.

How do I prevent peach leaf curl on a Contender Peach tree?

Prevent peach leaf curl by spraying a copper-based fungicide on your Contender Peach during the dormant season, in late fall or early winter. Rake up fallen leaves and debris that can harbor fungal spores. Also watch for aphids, scale, and peach tree borers, and wrap the base of the trunk to help keep borers out.

Can Contender Peach trees be shipped to every state?

No, Contender Peach trees cannot be shipped to Arkansas, Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Oregon, or Washington because of agricultural shipping restrictions on this plant. Customers in all other states can order it. If you live in one of the restricted states, check with a local nursery for a cold-hardy peach variety that is approved for sale in your area.
Back to top