An absolute favorite of home gardeners. Fruit quality is excellent, and its showy pink flowers are phenomenal in spring. Contender is considered a dwarf tree, though does need pruning every couple years to ensure the tree stays compact. The tree produces medium to large sized fruit and is heavy bearing.
The Fruit
Fruit Free stone.
Fruit Quality Excellent
Fruit’s skin color when ripe Reddish orange.
Fruit Flavor Sweet and juicy.
Flesh color Yellow
Fruit size Medium to large.
Production Heavy bearing.
Additional information
Botanical name Prunus persica ‘Contender’
Family Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Grafted Yes. (Inquire for specific rootstock availability.)
Ripening season July 11-20 (Georgia)
Mature Height 10-15 feet if proper pruning is achieved.
Mature Width 8-12 feet.
Pollination requirements Another variety is not necessary for pollination but will increase fruit production if another variety is planted nearby. Plant no more than 30 feet apart. If growing in rows, plant 20 feet apart in rows 20 feet apart.
Chill Hour Minimum 1050. Zones 5b-8a.