Fruit

When to Plant Peaches

Warm-climate fruit tree producing sweet, juicy stone fruits. Need winter chill hours and summer heat to produce well.

Sun

Full sun (8+ hours)

Water

1-2 inches per week

Days to Harvest

365

Difficulty

intermediate

Spacing

240"

Frost Tolerance

moderate

The Short Answer

Peaches are typically planted from bare-root stock or nursery plants in early spring, 0 weeks after your last frost date. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Peaches

Growing peaches is growing summer itself — nothing from a store compares to a tree-ripe peach still warm from the sun. The critical number is 'chill hours' — hours below 45°F during winter dormancy. Most peach varieties need 600-1,000 chill hours; too-warm zones lack sufficient cold for proper bud development. Thin fruit aggressively to 6-8 inches apart when fruitlets are marble-sized — this feels destructive but produces larger, sweeter peaches. The main disease enemy is peach leaf curl; a single dormant-season fungicide application (copper spray) prevents it.

Transplanting

Move seedlings outside 0 weeks after your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 50°F.

Growing Tips

Plant bare-root trees in late winter while dormant. Most varieties need 600-1000 chill hours below 45°F — too-warm zones won't produce. Self-fertile varieties available. Thin fruit to 6-8 inches apart for larger peaches.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Garlic Tansy Basil

Peaches Planting Dates by State

Click your state for peaches planting dates specific to your location:

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026