Best Types of Peaches to Grow in Colorado

Best Types of Peaches to Grow in Colorado

Colorado’s unique climate, with its high elevation, cool nights, and dry air, offers a favorable environment for growing certain varieties of peaches. While late spring frosts and cold winters can pose challenges, the state’s warm summers and long growing season allow for the cultivation of sweet, juicy peaches in certain regions, particularly in areas like the Western Slope. Here are the best types of peaches that thrive in Colorado’s diverse growing conditions.

1. Elberta Peach

Elberta peaches are a well-known and popular variety, prized for their large, golden-yellow fruits with a slight red blush. They have a firm texture, sweet flavor, and are excellent for fresh eating, canning, and freezing.

Key Features:

• Matures in 90 to 120 days
• Freestone peach variety
• Large, yellow fruit with red blush
• Ideal for canning, cooking, and eating fresh

Why It’s Great for Colorado:

• Elberta peaches are cold-hardy, making them a good choice for Colorado’s unpredictable spring weather. They produce abundant fruit and are also relatively resistant to pests and diseases, which makes them an excellent option for home gardeners.

2. Reliance Peach

Reliance peaches are a cold-hardy variety, specifically bred to withstand colder climates. They produce medium-sized, yellow-fleshed fruits with a pinkish-red blush. These peaches are sweet and juicy, perfect for both fresh eating and preserving.

Key Features:

• Matures in 88 to 95 days
• Freestone variety
• Medium-sized, sweet, juicy fruits
• Cold-hardy and adaptable to tough climates

Why It’s Great for Colorado:

• With its excellent cold-hardiness, Reliance is a fantastic choice for Colorado, especially in regions where late spring frosts are common. This variety ensures a reliable harvest, even in cooler, higher-altitude areas.

3. Redhaven Peach

Redhaven is a reliable, early-ripening peach variety that’s favored by both commercial growers and home gardeners. It produces medium to large fruits with a deep red color over a yellow background. The flesh is sweet, juicy, and firm, making it ideal for fresh consumption, baking, and canning.

Key Features:

• Matures in 85 to 90 days
• Freestone variety
• Medium to large fruits with red blush
• Firm, sweet flesh

Why It’s Great for Colorado:

• Redhaven is an early-maturing variety, which helps avoid damage from late frosts in Colorado’s spring. Its firm, high-quality fruits also make it a great choice for preserving, and its cold tolerance ensures good production.

4. Contender Peach

Contender peaches are known for their resistance to late frosts and ability to thrive in colder climates. This variety produces large, sweet peaches with yellow flesh and a red blush. The fruit is ideal for fresh eating, canning, and freezing.

Key Features:

• Matures in 90 to 100 days
• Freestone variety
• Large, sweet, and firm fruits
• Cold-hardy and frost-tolerant

Why It’s Great for Colorado:

• Contender is specifically bred to handle cold temperatures and late frosts, making it a top choice for Colorado’s unpredictable spring weather. It also produces consistently high-quality fruit, even in cooler growing seasons.

5. Cresthaven Peach

Cresthaven is a late-season peach variety that produces large, round, golden-yellow fruits with a red blush. Its firm, sweet flesh is perfect for canning, baking, and fresh consumption. Cresthaven is also known for its resistance to bacterial spot, a common disease affecting peach trees.

Key Features:

• Matures in 110 to 120 days
• Freestone variety
• Large, firm fruits with red blush
• Resistant to bacterial spot

Why It’s Great for Colorado:

• Cresthaven’s disease resistance and late-ripening nature make it an excellent choice for Colorado growers. The variety is especially well-suited for areas with warmer microclimates, such as the Western Slope, where the growing season can extend longer into the fall.

6. Halehaven Peach

Halehaven is a popular mid-season peach variety that produces large, sweet fruits with firm flesh. The fruits have a red blush over a yellow background and are excellent for fresh eating, baking, and preserving.

Key Features:

• Matures in 95 to 110 days
• Freestone variety
• Large, sweet, and juicy fruits
• Ideal for fresh eating and canning

Why It’s Great for Colorado:

• Halehaven peaches are known for their ability to adapt to different growing conditions, including Colorado’s cooler spring temperatures. They produce high yields and are easy to grow, making them a favorite among home gardeners.

7. Early Red Fre Peach

Early Red Fre peaches are an early-ripening variety that produces medium to large fruits with a bright red blush. The flesh is firm and sweet, making these peaches perfect for fresh consumption, baking, and preserving. This freestone variety is also resistant to bacterial spot and brown rot.

Key Features:

• Matures in 80 to 85 days
• Freestone variety
• Medium to large fruits with sweet, firm flesh
• Resistant to common peach diseases

Why It’s Great for Colorado:

• This variety’s early maturation helps avoid late spring frosts, a common issue in Colorado. Its disease resistance and ability to produce high-quality fruit early in the season make it an excellent choice for growers dealing with Colorado’s unpredictable climate.

Growing Tips for Peaches in Colorado

1. Choose the Right Location: Peaches need full sun and well-draining soil. Choose a location with good air circulation to reduce the risk of frost damage.

2. Planting Time: Plant peach trees in early spring, once the soil is workable. This gives them the best chance to establish before the hot summer months.

3. Pruning: Peaches require regular pruning to maintain their shape, improve air circulation, and promote fruit production. Prune during late winter or early spring.

4. Frost Protection: Spring frosts can damage peach blossoms. If frost is expected, cover your trees with frost cloth or use fans and heaters to protect them.

5. Watering: Peaches need regular watering, especially during dry periods. Water deeply to ensure the roots receive adequate moisture.

Conclusion

While Colorado’s climate can present some challenges for growing peaches, many varieties like Elberta, Reliance, and Redhaven are well-suited to the state’s conditions. By choosing cold-hardy, frost-tolerant varieties and following good growing practices, gardeners can enjoy a successful peach harvest year after year. Whether you’re growing for fresh eating, canning, or baking, Colorado offers the right environment for producing delicious, juicy peaches.