Prunus persica 'Contender' This delicious, late-blooming peach escapes spring frosts and sets fruit in much of the nation. Its freestone peaches are large and sweetly aromatic, with bright red-over-yellow skin and yellow flesh. It is great for fresh eating, freezing, and especially canning, since its firm flesh resists browning. Introduced from the North Carolina Experiment station in 1988, it has a high chilling requirement of 1050 chill hours, so it's not recommended in the Deep South. It is exceptionally versatile, thriving in regions as diverse as the East Coast, Colorado, and the warmest areas of the Pacific Northwest. Hardy to USDA Zone: 4 Mature Height: 12'- 14' unpruned Sun: Full Sun Ripening Time: Mid-Late Season Pollination: Self Fertile Rootstock: St. Julian A(Dwarf), Citation(Semi-Dwarf) Read our Peach Growing Guide
