Growing Peaches in Alabama

Growing peaches in Alabama's humid summer climate and fluctuating winter freezes can be a challenge. But the hobby fruit grower can afford to take the risk!

Peaches develop their leaf and fruit buds in the summer for the coming year. During fall and winter months, these buds go into a resting or dormant period. Vegetative and fruit buds remain dormant until they have accumulated enough chilling hours (hours where temperatures are 45 F or below). If buds don't get enough chilling hours during the winter, trees may suffer delayed and/or reduced leafing-out and flowering. Conversely, a variety that has a low chilling hour requirement may come out of dormancy too early and begin bud swell only to be damaged by a late freeze.

Choosing varieties adapted to our climate and selecting several varieties which vary in chilling requirements, will maximize chances of getting fruit each year. See the variety charts below to determine required chilling hours.

Another consideration in choosing variety is taste. There is no relation between peach blush (red color) and taste! Yellow peaches are just as sweet. Also, peaches don't get sweeter after they are picked. This means as a home fruit grower, you can let peaches ripen on the tree for a sweeter taste!

Where can I find these varieties?

You may have to order trees by mail to get the cultivar (cultivated variety) selection you want. Two mail-order sources for fruit trees include Stark Brothers and Cumberland Valley Nurseries. Contact your local county Extension office for a list of these and other nurseries.

Most peach varieties are self-fruitful, which means they can produce a crop with their own pollen. J.H. Hale, a variety available at most nurseries, has sterile pollen and if used, must be planted with another variety. Some fruits (self-unfruitful) require more than one variety which has compatible or overlapping flowering dates.