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Peach variety

Contender

The short answer

Contender requires 900+ chill hours[1] and grows in USDA zones 4–8[2]. It is self-fertile[2].

Growing facts

Contender growing facts
Chill requirement900+ chill hours[1]
HardinessUSDA zones 4–8[2]
PollinationSelf-fertile[2]
Harvest windowAugust[2]
Years to bearing3 years (typical for peaches)[3]
Contender peachSpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Notes

  • Cold-hardy yellow freestone from the NC State breeding program; hardy to USDA zone 4 and ripens mid-to-late August.[2]
  • Late-blooming, which helps it escape spring frosts; ripens about 3 weeks after Redhaven.[4]
  • Excellent resistance to bacterial spot.[5]
  • Self-pollinating.[2]

A year with your Contender

When the work happens for a peach in USDA zone 6, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Peach in zone 6
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune——————————
Thin———————————
Spray timing——————
Harvest————————
Care———————————

See the full month-by-month peach calendar for zone 6 →

Can I grow Contender where I live?

Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:

Growing a Contender? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, starting with this month’s tasks for one tree, free.

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Questions

How many chill hours does Contender need?
Contender needs 900+ chill hours.
What hardiness zones suit Contender?
Contender grows in USDA zones 4–8.
Is Contender self-pollinating?
Contender is self-fertile, though a pollination partner can improve cropping.

Sources

  1. [1] University of Georgia Extension (CAES). Home Garden Peaches (Circular 1063) — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] NC State Extension (NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox). Prunus persica 'Contender' (Contender Peach) — accessed July 2026
  3. [3] University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Growing Fruit Trees in Maine — Lack of Fruitfulness — accessed July 2026
  4. [4] Dave Wilson Nursery. Peaches — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026
  5. [5] Michigan State University Extension. Management of bacterial spot on peaches and nectarines — accessed July 2026