Reliance Peach

Reliance Peach (Prunus persica 'Reliance')

Reliance Peach is an exceptionally cold-hardy, freestone peach chosen for reliable crops in challenging climates; trees bear showy pink spring blossoms followed by medium to large, yellow-fleshed fruit with classic sweet flavor on a manageable, rounded canopy.

Distinctive Features

Cold-tolerant flower buds and vigorous growth deliver consistent production after tough winters; freestone fruit with golden flesh and red-blushed skin suits fresh eating, canning, and baking.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun for strongest bloom, sweetness, and color.
• Soil: Deep, well-drained loam enriched with organic matter; avoid soggy or compacted sites.
• Water: Keep evenly moist from bloom through fruit swell; reduce slightly after harvest.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8.
• Mature Size: About 12 to 15 ft tall and wide on semi-dwarf; 8 to 12 ft on dwarf rootstocks.
• Bloom Time: Spring; fruit ripens mid to late summer depending on climate.
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, about 6.0 to 7.0.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Pink blossom and blushed fruit create a seasonal highlight.
• Home Orchard: Reliable freestone harvests for fresh use and preserves.
• Cold-Climate Gardens: Dependable choice where winters are severe.
• Small Yard Tree: Manageable size on dwarf or pruned semi-dwarf suits patios and lawns.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deeply soak when the top 1 to 2 in are dry; increase frequency during heat and fruit swell.
• Pruning: Train to open center; winter prune to renew fruiting wood and summer thin watersprouts for light and airflow.
• Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with a balanced fruit tree fertilizer based on soil test; avoid excess nitrogen that softens fruit and boosts disease.
• Mulching: Apply 2 to 3 in organic mulch, keeping it a few inches from the trunk to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
• Notes: Self-fertile; thin fruit to 6 to 8 in spacing for size and branch safety; monitor for leaf curl, brown rot, and borers and use sanitation and timely sprays where pressure is high.

Why Choose Reliance Peach?

• Cold-Hardy Performer: Sets fruit after harsh winters.
• Freestone Convenience: Pit releases cleanly for easy prep.
• Versatile Fruit: Excellent fresh, canned, or baked.
• Garden-Friendly: Manageable size and straightforward training.

Plant in full sun with deep, well-drained soil, maintain steady moisture during fruit set, and prune and thin regularly for reliable, high-quality peaches.