{"title":"Brown Rot Resistant Stone Fruit","description":"\u003cp\u003ePeaches, nectarines, apricots and plums that resist brown rot, the fungus that turns ripe fruit into fuzzy brown mush right before you pick it. It loves warm, wet weather at bloom and harvest. A resistant variety is the difference between a crop and a pile of rotten fruit in a rainy year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdetails class=\"mft-more\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eMore about brown rot\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor peaches, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/contender-peach\"\u003eContender\u003c\/a\u003e (zone 4) is the one we'd start with, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/redstar-peach\"\u003eRedstar\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/risingstar-peach\"\u003eRisingstar\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/glohaven-peach\"\u003eGlohaven\u003c\/a\u003e resist it too. Redstar and Risingstar also resist bacterial spot and bloom late. For nectarines, look at \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hardired\"\u003eHardired\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mericrest-nectarine\"\u003eMericrest\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/zard-apricot\"\u003eZard\u003c\/a\u003e apricot resists brown rot and shot hole and blooms very late for an apricot. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/la-crescent-plum\"\u003eLa Crescent\u003c\/a\u003e is the hybrid plum on the list, hardy to zone 3 and a late bloomer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePick up mummified fruit and thin crowded fruit so it dries out after rain, and brown rot has a lot less to work with. The \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/peach-nectarine-disease-resistance-chart\"\u003epeach and nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/apricot-disease-resistance-chart\"\u003eapricot\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-disease-resistance-chart\"\u003eplum\u003c\/a\u003e disease resistance charts have the full ratings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat peach trees resist brown rot?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContender, Redstar, Risingstar and Glohaven. Contender is the hardiest at zone 4.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs there a brown rot resistant apricot?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZard. It resists brown rot and shot hole, and it's rated to zone 3b.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow do I keep brown rot down?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant resistant varieties, clean up mummified fruit and thin the crop so fruit isn't touching. Good airflow helps the fruit dry fast after rain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"contender-peach","title":"Contender Peach (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Contender Peach is a peach tree rated hardy to zone 4 in our ratings (winters to -30°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a peach or nectarine), and it ripens about Sep 1 to Sep 17 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 4 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 4, colder half included (winters to -30°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 1,050 hours (1,000 to 1,050). Well documented. Independent sources agree. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#contender-peach\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), early spring here. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. It is also a good pollenizer for \u003ca href=\"\/products\/veteran-peach\"\u003eVeteran\u003c\/a\u003e. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blushingstar-peach\"\u003eBlushingstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/glohaven-peach\"\u003eGlohaven Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pf-24ccoldhardy\"\u003ePF-24C Cold Hardy Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-gold-nectarine\"\u003eRed Gold Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e and 10 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/peach-pollination-map\"\u003ePeach Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 21st to Sep 3rd in Missoula. Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKrymsk 86: full size. Manchurian: full size, about 15 to 20 ft tall unpruned. The hardiest apricot root there is. Prairie Red Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. A seed-grown American plum hybrid from the USDA plant materials center in Bismarck; it suckers. Native Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. Suckers, so mow or pull suckers. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), canning and freezing (8\/10), salads and slicing (7\/10), pies and baking (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), juice and sweet cider (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-4 ft or 4-6 ft or 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eContender is one of the more consistent-bearing and cold-hardy varieties of peach grown in Montana. We would rank Contender right behind \u003ca href=\"\/products\/siberian-c-peach-seedling-bundle-of-2\"\u003eSiberian C\u003c\/a\u003e in terms of hardiness (although still a decent bit less hardy than Siberian C which we would put around -38°F), as this is the only commercial cultivar that has survived temperatures in the -30s (specifically, -32°F). It also has excellent flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFlavor Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eTaste notes from our 2022 company tasting of Forbidden Fruit’s Contenders:\u003cbr\u003e“Very yellow. Texture is great. Melts in your mouth. Not fibrous. Able to crush it on your palate. Not too sweet.”\u003cbr\u003eAnother noted: “Equally sweet and tart. Not fibrous or stringy. Likes it. Skin gives it a nice touch.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFreestone. Hardy to zone 4. On top of surviving -32°F, they survived our -25°F on 1\/13\/24 without any winter injury.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eDO NOT PLANT if you are in an area that has the potential to see lower than -32°F (unless well sited to avoid frost pooling, thermal buffering features nearby such as buildings or bodies of water, lots of air drainage, etc.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eTree Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese Contender trees are grafted onto full size Krymsk 86, semi-dwarf \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e and Native Plum, and full size \u003ca href=\"\/products\/manchurian-apricot-bundle-of-2\"\u003eManchurian apricot\u003c\/a\u003e rootstock, the former of which will make for a 15 ft tree at maturity, and the latter three roughly 20 ft., respectively.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Contender Peach\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Contender Peach need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Contender Peach is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. It is also a good pollenizer for \u003ca href=\"\/products\/veteran-peach\"\u003eVeteran\u003c\/a\u003e. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blushingstar-peach\"\u003eBlushingstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/glohaven-peach\"\u003eGlohaven Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pf-24c-cold-hardy-peach\"\u003ePF-24C Cold Hardy Peach\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Contender Peach?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Contender Peach hardy to zone 4, which means winters down to about -30°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Contender Peach need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 1,050 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 1,000 and 1,050. That figure is well documented: independent sources agree. High chill (about 1,050 hours) keeps it dormant through warm spells and makes it bloom late, which lowers spring frost risk. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#contender-peach\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Contender Peach ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 21st to Sep 3 in Missoula, Montana (thear are from our trees). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Contender Peach get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Contender Peach onto Krymsk 86 (full size). Some sizes are on Manchurian, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, Native Plum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Contender Peach good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Contender Peach are fresh eating (8\/10), canning and freezing (8\/10), salads and slicing (7\/10), pies and baking (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Contender Peach?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Contender Peach now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Krymsk 86 Full Size: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":42498995486786,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 3-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42498995519554,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft.","offer_id":45125081595970,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45125081628738,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Krymsk 86 Full Size: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45125081661506,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/contender-peach-in-hand.webp?v=1789019810"},{"product_id":"hardired","title":"Hardired Nectarine (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardired Nectarine is a nectarine tree rated hardy to zone 4b in our ratings (winters to -25°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 2 of 7, early for a peach or nectarine), and it ripens about Aug 22 to Sep 4 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 4b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 4 only (winters to -25°F). Our notes have it taking -45°F. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 850 hours (750 to 950). Well documented. Independent sources agree. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#hardired\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 2 of 7 (early), early spring here. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. No pollenizer needed. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mericrest-nectarine\"\u003eMericrest Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/fantasia-nectarine\"\u003eFantasia Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flavortop-nectarine\"\u003eFlavortop Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/arctic-glo-nectarine\"\u003eArctic Glo Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/nectarine-pollination-map\"\u003eNectarine Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 22 to Sep 4 in Missoula (estimated for Missoula from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. Suckers, so mow or pull suckers. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (7\/10), pies and baking (7\/10), salads and slicing (6\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10), canning and freezing (6\/10), drying (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-4 ft or 4-6 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eAlthough Doug’s Big Red Juicy is the only one of our nectarines we’d put in true zone 4, Hardired is certainly hardier than the average nectarine. From its showy pink flowers in the spring to its sweet and tangy, creamy red fruits, you’ll think, \u003cem\u003e“I can’t believe we can grow these in Missoula!”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFlavor \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eGreat for fresh eating—we also top it on ice cream during our hot Montana summers because the tangy, sweet skin adds a wonderful bite. Great for nectarine cobbler, too! Self-fertile. Hardy to probably only about -27°F to -30°F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eSpring 2027 Stock Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese nectarine trees are offered for Spring 2027 in 3-4 ft. and 4-6 ft. (pruned to 5 ft. for shipping) grades and are grafted onto semi-dwarf native plum rootstock. Native Plum is hardy down to -45F, and possibly even -50F., making this perhaps the hardiest rootstock for nectarine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eImage courtesy of Sotaque under CC 2.0.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Hardired Nectarine\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Hardired Nectarine need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Hardired Nectarine is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. No pollenizer needed. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mericrest-nectarine\"\u003eMericrest Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/fantasia-nectarine\"\u003eFantasia Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flavortop-nectarine\"\u003eFlavortop Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Hardired Nectarine?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Hardired Nectarine hardy to zone 4b, which means winters down to about -25°F. Our notes have it taking -45°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Hardired Nectarine need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 850 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 750 and 950. That figure is well documented: independent sources agree. That's easily met in Montana. It blooms early, so a site that warms up late in spring helps protect the flowers. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#hardired\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Hardired Nectarine ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 22 to Sep 4 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Hardired Nectarine get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Hardired Nectarine onto Native Plum (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 10 to 15 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Hardired Nectarine good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Hardired Nectarine are fresh eating (7\/10), pies and baking (7\/10), salads and slicing (6\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Hardired Nectarine?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Hardired Nectarine now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":42499214639170,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45132081856578,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/hardired-nectarine-harvest.webp?v=1789020104"},{"product_id":"risingstar-peach","title":"Risingstar Peach (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Risingstar Peach is a peach tree rated hardy to zone 4b in our ratings (winters to -25°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 5 of 7, mid-late for a peach or nectarine), and it ripens about Aug 1 to Aug 5 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 4b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 4 only (winters to -25°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 950 hours (750 to 950). From published figures. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#risingstar-peach\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 5 of 7 (mid-late), early spring here. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. No pollenizer needed. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/redstar-peach\"\u003eRedstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/veteran-peach\"\u003eVeteran Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blushingstar-peach\"\u003eBlushingstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/contender-peach\"\u003eContender Peach\u003c\/a\u003e and 8 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/peach-pollination-map\"\u003ePeach Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 1 to Aug 5 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKrymsk 86: full size. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (7\/10), salads and slicing (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-4 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOne of Tom McCamant’s favorites at Forbidden Fruit Orchard in Montana. Even though the books don’t tend to list this variety as hardy along with others, they probably should. The tree is of medium vigor—hardy and productive—with good resistance to bacterial spot and peach canker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFruit Set, Flavor \u0026amp; Unique Traits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFlower buds and blossoms are very hardy, resulting in heavy fruit set and requiring diligent thinning to get decent fruit size. Fruits average 2-1\/2” and larger. The skin is 80% bright orange-red. Flesh is firm and melting, with a pleasing sugar-to-acid ratio. It’s non-browning and semi-freestone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFreestone. Hardy to zone 4b (-25°F). It's survived those temps at Tom McCamant's Forbidden Fruit Orchard in Paradise, MT. Our suspicion is that this may be hardier than Reliance but less hardy than \u003ca href=\"\/products\/contender-peach\"\u003eContender\u003c\/a\u003e—certainly less hardy than \u003ca href=\"\/products\/siberian-c-peach-seedling-bundle-of-2\"\u003eSiberian C\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eTree Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eTrees are 3-4 ft. tall and grafted onto Krymsk 86 full size rootstock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Risingstar Peach\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Risingstar Peach need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Risingstar Peach is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. No pollenizer needed. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/redstar-peach\"\u003eRedstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/veteran-peach\"\u003eVeteran Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blushingstar-peach\"\u003eBlushingstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Risingstar Peach?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Risingstar Peach hardy to zone 4b, which means winters down to about -25°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Risingstar Peach need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 950 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 750 and 950. That comes from published figures for this variety. Listed at 950 hours by USDA crop insurance, easily met in Montana. It blooms early for a peach, so keep it out of frost pockets. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#risingstar-peach\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Risingstar Peach ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 1 to Aug 5 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Risingstar Peach get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Risingstar Peach onto Krymsk 86 (full size).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Risingstar Peach good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Risingstar Peach are fresh eating (7\/10), salads and slicing (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Risingstar Peach?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Risingstar Peach now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Krymsk 86 Full Size: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":43014486163522,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/risingstar-peach-on-tree.webp?v=1789021037"},{"product_id":"zard-apricot","title":"Zard Apricot (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zard Apricot is an apricot tree rated hardy to zone 4 in our ratings (winters to -30°F), and self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 7 of 7, very late for an apricot).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 4 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 4, colder half included (winters to -30°F). Our notes have it taking -33°F. We're listing it conservatively until we have more data. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 900 hours (700 to 1,300). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#zard-apricot\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 7 of 7 (very late), very early spring here. Self-fertile, so one tree can crop. Dr 606 or Precious nearby as a pollenizer can improve fruit set. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dr-606-apricot\"\u003eDr 606 Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/precious-apricot\"\u003ePrecious Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wayne-apricot\"\u003eWayne Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zard-apricot-seedling-bundle-of-2\"\u003eZard Apricot Seedling (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/apricot-pollination-map\"\u003eApricot Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eManchurian: full size, about 15 to 20 ft tall unpruned. The hardiest apricot root there is. Plant about 15 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), drying (7\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-5 ft or 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZard is a heritage Iranian apricot valued in cold and frost-prone climates for one defining trait: it stays dormant longer than most apricots (but also incredible flavor!). That very late bloom habit can dramatically improve cropping reliability in places where winter thaws and early spring warmth routinely trigger premature bloom in other cultivars. Many of the prairie province apricots can withstand colder mid-winter extreme temps, but bloom earlier in the Spring. Zard also stands out as a pale yellow, very sweet apricot with a sweet kernel, placing it in the long Central and West Asian tradition of apricots selected as much for eating quality and drying potential as for hardiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZard is an old apricot cultivar from Iran with no documented modern breeding-program parentage; it is treated as a traditional cultivar rather than a named cross. The name Zard comes from Persian زرد, meaning yellow, and it is closely tied to the Persian word for apricot, زردآلو (zard-ālū). In other words, Zard is not a marketing name—its identity is embedded in the Persian language itself, reflecting both color and cultural familiarity. Zard’s late bloom behavior is repeatedly attributed to a combination of high chilling requirement and a need for substantial spring heat before budbreak, which helps explain why it avoids false-spring bloom events and later frosts better than many even cold hardy apricots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZard produces medium-sized, pale yellow fruit that are notably sweet when fully ripe, but also other wonderful flavor notes. This is Luke's favorite apricot he has ever tried, along with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/montana-mango-apricot\"\u003eMontana Mango\u003c\/a\u003e. A distinctive, well-attested trait is its large pit with a sweet kernel, which is unusual enough to merit mention because it connects Zard to traditional West and Central Asian apricots where kernels are sometimes valued. Zard is excellent for fresh eating at full ripeness and is also a strong candidate for drying and preserves in climates where the fruit can be ripened thoroughly on the tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZard has a very upright growth habit, tending toward narrower branch angles unless trained early. That upright structure makes training important in snow, wind, and heavy-crop regions—opening the canopy and building strong scaffold angles early will pay off long-term with better light penetration, easier pruning, and reduced breakage risk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe offer Zard on Manchurian full-size rootstock, which is the most cold hardy apricot rootstock in our experience. in multiple size variants. On standard \u003ca href=\"\/products\/manchurian-apricot-bundle-of-2\"\u003eManchurian apricot\u003c\/a\u003e rootstock, a spacing of approximately 15 feet between trees is a proven, practical baseline that balances canopy development with adequate light and airflow. If you want a larger tree with less pruning over time, give it more room; if you plan to prune annually and keep the canopy tighter, 15 feet remains a dependable standard spacing for managed trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZard is self-fertile and can set fruit as a standalone tree, but fruit set can be improved and stabilized by cross-pollination, especially in marginal spring conditions when weather reduces pollinator activity. Other late flowering cultivars we offer that overlap wit Zard's bloom window include Dr. 606 and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/precious-apricot\"\u003ePrecious\u003c\/a\u003e. That said, the prairie province apricots should also overlap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZard’s main reliability advantage is late bloom, but it also has a real, concrete cold-performance datapoint: it has been documented to withstand −33°F in southwestern Minnesota and still bear a full crop. That speaks not only to wood survival but to functional flowering and fruiting after a severe winter event. Like all apricots, true “limit temps” depend on dormancy state, site conditions, and winter pattern, so the most defensible approach is to anchor hardiness to documented events and observed performance rather than optimistic generalities. Purvis notes that its mid-winter extreme hardiness is in the low -40Fs. Even though it has survived colder temps, that may have been an outlier, since the tree was in deep soils on John Fearst's orchard in southwest Minnesota. We're listing it as hardy to zone 4 (-30°F).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fascinating detail about Zard is how directly it ties into Persian language and fruit culture: زرد means yellow, and زردآلو is the common Persian word for apricot, reinforcing that Zard is a deeply rooted, traditional cultivar identity rather than a modern reinvention. On disease resistance, there are no trustworthy, variety-specific claims that Zard has exceptional resistance to major apricot diseases. The most accurate framing is to manage it like other apricots: emphasize airflow and sun, avoid overly lush nitrogen-driven growth, protect trunks in harsh microclimates, and prioritize pruning hygiene to reduce canker and rot pressures in stressful years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Zard Apricot\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Zard Apricot need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Zard Apricot is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Self-fertile, so one tree can crop. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dr-606-apricot\"\u003eDr 606\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/precious-apricot\"\u003ePrecious\u003c\/a\u003e nearby as a pollenizer can improve fruit set. Partners we carry include Dr 606 Apricot, Precious Apricot, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wayne-apricot\"\u003eWayne Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Zard Apricot?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Zard Apricot hardy to zone 4, which means winters down to about -30°F. Our notes have it taking -33°F. We're listing it conservatively until we have more data. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Zard Apricot need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 900 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 700 and 1,300. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. The latest-blooming apricot we sell, likely from a higher chill and heat need. That late bloom is its big frost advantage. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#zard-apricot\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Zard Apricot get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Zard Apricot onto Manchurian (full size), which makes a tree roughly 15 to 20 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Zard Apricot good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Zard Apricot are fresh eating (8\/10), drying (7\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Zard Apricot?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Zard Apricot now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Zard Apricot ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 3-5 ft or 5-7 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":42511544713282,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 5-7 ft.","offer_id":42511544680514,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42751578046530,"sku":null,"price":84.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 6-8 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45144936710210,"sku":null,"price":109.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/zard-apricot-on-tree.jpg?v=1789021379"},{"product_id":"la-crescent-plum","title":"La Crescent Plum (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e La Crescent Plum is a plum tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 6 of 7, late for a hybrid or Japanese plum), and it ripens about Aug 10 to Aug 22 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 700 hours (500 to 900). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#la-crescent-plum\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 6 of 7 (late), early spring here. La Crescent blooms late, so pick a later-blooming hybrid such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pipestone-plum\"\u003ePipestone\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alderman-plum\"\u003eAlderman\u003c\/a\u003e as its partner. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/superior-plum\"\u003eSuperior\u003c\/a\u003e will not pollenize it, and it cannot pollenize European plums like \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stanley-plum\"\u003eStanley\u003c\/a\u003e. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kaga-plum\"\u003eKaga Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kahinta-plum\"\u003eKahinta Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/south-dakota-plum\"\u003eSouth Dakota Plum\u003c\/a\u003e and 3 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-pollination-map\"\u003ePlum Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 10 to Aug 22 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrairie Red: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. A seed-grown American plum hybrid from the USDA plant materials center in Bismarck; it suckers. Native Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. Suckers, so mow or pull suckers. Plant about 15 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 6-8 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"19\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"36\" data-end=\"268\"\u003eLa Crescent is a Japanese × American hybrid plum released by the University of Minnesota in the early 1920s. Its reported parentage is Prunus salicina ‘\u003ca href=\"\/products\/shiro-plum\"\u003eShiro\u003c\/a\u003e’ × \u003ca href=\"\/products\/native-american-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrunus americana\u003c\/a\u003e ‘Howard Yellow’.  We have grown Shiro, which is one of the hardier Asian plums (although likely only to about -30F), but since Howard Yellow is a seedling of native american plum, this is where La Crescent gets its hardiness.\u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"270\" data-end=\"295\"\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Parentage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"296\" data-end=\"529\"\u003eLa Crescent was introduced by the University of Minnesota (commonly dated to 1923) and is also sometimes sold under names like Golden La Crescent \/ Golden Minnesota. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"531\" data-end=\"557\"\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"558\" data-end=\"859\"\u003eLa Crescent is a thin-skinned yellow plum that can develop a pink blush, with tender, juicy yellow flesh and a sweet, aromatic flavor that is often compared to apricot-like notes. Bob Purvis pointed this out to Luke the first time he visited Bob's orchard in Homedale, ID back in 2022. It’s primarily used for fresh eating and preserving\/canning. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"861\" data-end=\"889\"\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"890\" data-end=\"1106\"\u003eIt’s growth habit is upright to spreading and vigorous. As a practical backyard spacing range, plan about 15 ft apart for trees on Native American rootstock (12 ft for tighter spacing\/more pruning), and 18 ft. for trees on Krymsk 86 (15 ft. for tighter spacing).\u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1108\" data-end=\"1125\"\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1126\" data-end=\"1377\"\u003eLa Crescent needs a pollenizer. You can use Native American plum, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, or another Japanese x American hybrid that overlaps bloom (\u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pipestone-plum\"\u003ePipestone\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/underwood-plum\"\u003eUnderwood\u003c\/a\u003e, or others).\u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1379\" data-end=\"1399\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1400\" data-end=\"1791\"\u003eWe do not have a whole lot of first hand data on La Crescent because this is one of the newer plums we have grown, although knowing that when Bob Purvis lists the hardiness of plums he grows, which is from whom we got cuttings of La Crescent, he goes off of the same USDA zone scale of temperatures, but if he lists something as Zone 3a, which is the case for La Crescent, then he implies here that the plum is hardy to -40F. And given we have grown plenty of other Asian x American hybrids that do well down to these temps, i.e. Pipestone and Underwood surviving -38F in Stevensville, MT without any winter injury, I think \"hardy down to -40F\" for La Crescent tracks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about La Crescent Plum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes La Crescent Plum need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. La Crescent Plum needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. La Crescent blooms late, so pick a later-blooming hybrid such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pipestone-plum\"\u003ePipestone\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alderman-plum\"\u003eAlderman\u003c\/a\u003e as its partner. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/superior-plum\"\u003eSuperior\u003c\/a\u003e will not pollenize it, and it cannot pollenize European plums like \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stanley-plum\"\u003eStanley\u003c\/a\u003e. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/toka-plum\"\u003eToka Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kaga-plum\"\u003eKaga Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kahinta-plum\"\u003eKahinta Plum\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is La Crescent Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate La Crescent Plum hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does La Crescent Plum need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 700 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 500 and 900. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. A late bloomer for a hybrid plum, which helps dodge spring frost. Chill is estimated around 700 hours from its parents. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#la-crescent-plum\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does La Crescent Plum ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 10 to Aug 22 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does La Crescent Plum get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft La Crescent Plum onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red\u003c\/a\u003e (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 10 to 15 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on Native Plum. Plant about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is La Crescent Plum good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for La Crescent Plum are fresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat La Crescent Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect La Crescent Plum with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Prairie Red Semi-Dwarf: 6-8 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":43865971261506,"sku":null,"price":109.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 6-8 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42500337500226,"sku":null,"price":119.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/la-crescent-plum-on-tree.jpg?v=1789020421"},{"product_id":"mericrest-nectarine","title":"Mericrest Nectarine (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mericrest Nectarine is a nectarine tree rated hardy to zone 5 from published sources (winters to -20°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 2 of 7, early for a peach or nectarine), and it ripens about Aug 17 to Aug 29 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 5 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 5, colder half included (winters to -20°F). UNH Extension says the tree may be hardy to -25°F. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 850 hours (600 to 950). Published figures disagree, so treat this as a middle estimate. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#mericrest-nectarine\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 2 of 7 (early), early spring here. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. No pollenizer needed. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hardired\"\u003eHardired Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/fantasia-nectarine\"\u003eFantasia Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flavortop-nectarine\"\u003eFlavortop Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/arctic-glo-nectarine\"\u003eArctic Glo Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/nectarine-pollination-map\"\u003eNectarine Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 17 to Aug 29 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. Suckers, so mow or pull suckers. Prairie Red: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. A seed-grown American plum hybrid from the USDA plant materials center in Bismarck; it suckers. Plant 12 to 15 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), salads and slicing (6\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10). Scores are our 1 to 10 ratings, but we're still new to this one, so they lean on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests. 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-4 ft or 4-6 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is our first year growing Mericrest, so everything below is secondhand until we get more long-term data from our own mother trees.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMericrest is a cold-country nectarine from New Hampshire. It's red-skinned with yellow, freestone flesh and a sweet, tangy flavor, and it's one of the hardier nectarines around.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was bred by Elwyn Meader at the University of New Hampshire. The Victory Horticultural Library dates it to 1971. UNH Extension still lists it as their hardy nectarine choice for New Hampshire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMedium sized, red over yellow, with yellow freestone flesh. Dave Wilson Nursery calls the flavor \"rich tangy,\" and Whiffletree in Ontario says \"rich and sweet, yet tangy.\" In Cornell's trials at Geneva, New York in the 1980s it was noted as \"one of the best in its season,\" with flesh that doesn't brown. It ripens mid to late August in the Northeast and the Intermountain West.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOurs are on two semi-dwarf plum rootstocks. Native plum tends to make a semi-dwarf tree in our dry, alkaline soils, but since it's grown from seed the size varies a bit. The rootstock itself is hardy to -45F, possibly -50F, which makes it about the hardiest rootstock you can put under a nectarine (the nectarine on top is much less hardy than that). Prairie Red is more uniform and tends to top out around 15 feet. Plan on 12 to 15 feet between trees on either. Several sources report good disease resistance for a nectarine, particularly to brown rot and bacterial leaf spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMericrest is self-fertile, so one tree will set fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUNH Extension says \"Reliance and Mericrest may be hardy to -25°F,\" compared with -10 to -15F for most peaches and nectarines. Keep in mind that's about the tree. Cornell's freezing tests rated Mericrest's blossom buds only medium, about like Elberta and less hardy than Redhaven, so a hard winter can still cost you the crop. We've listed it at zone 5, which is on the safe side for the tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhoto credit: USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Davis, California, accession \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1712843\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003ePI 673745\u003c\/a\u003e. Public domain (U.S. government work).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Mericrest itself. Photos of Mericrest are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “Nectarines” by Michelle Kassorla (profshelly1), via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/104876536@N05\/14427041779\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eFlickr\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e. Other photo: “Mericrest, PI 673745, bloom (GRIN image FR7T44, 2016-02-26)” by USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Davis, California, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1712843\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUSDA GRIN\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Mericrest Nectarine\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Mericrest Nectarine need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Mericrest Nectarine is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hardired\"\u003eHardired Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/fantasia-nectarine\"\u003eFantasia Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/flavortop-nectarine\"\u003eFlavortop Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Mericrest Nectarine?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Mericrest Nectarine at zone 5, which means winters down to about -20°F. UNH Extension says the tree may be hardy to -25°F, but its blossom buds are less hardy than that, so zone 5 is on the safe side. We haven't wintered our own trees yet, so we'll update it once we have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Mericrest Nectarine need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 850 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 950. Published figures for it disagree, so treat that as a middle estimate. Roughly 800 to 950 chill hours depending on the source. Montana winters cover that easily; winter cold, not chill, is the limit for nectarines here. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#mericrest-nectarine\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Mericrest Nectarine ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 17 to Aug 29 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Mericrest Nectarine get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Mericrest Nectarine onto Native Plum (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 10 to 15 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red\u003c\/a\u003e. Plant 12 to 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Mericrest Nectarine good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Mericrest Nectarine are fresh eating (8\/10), salads and slicing (6\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10). Since we're still new to it, those scores lean on published descriptions rather than our own harvests. Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Mericrest Nectarine?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Mericrest Nectarine now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":45178335297602,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Prairie Red Semi-Dwarf: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":45178335330370,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45178335363138,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Prairie Red Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45178335395906,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/nectarine-on-branch.jpg?v=1791617260"},{"product_id":"redstar-peach","title":"Redstar Peach (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Redstar Peach is a peach tree rated hardy to zone 4b from what we've seen of it around Montana (winters to -25°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 5 of 7, mid-late for a peach or nectarine), and it ripens about Aug 8 to Aug 20 in Missoula.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 4b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 4 only (winters to -25°F). It's taken -25°F at Tom McCamant's Forbidden Fruit Orchard in Paradise, MT. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 900 hours (750 to 950). From published figures. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#redstar-peach\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 5 of 7 (mid-late), early spring here. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. No pollenizer needed. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/risingstar-peach\"\u003eRisingstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/veteran-peach\"\u003eVeteran Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blushingstar-peach\"\u003eBlushingstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/contender-peach\"\u003eContender Peach\u003c\/a\u003e and 8 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/peach-pollination-map\"\u003ePeach Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 8 to Aug 20 in Missoula (dated from Redstar we've seen fruiting here, not our own trees yet). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrairie Red: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. A seed-grown American plum hybrid from the USDA plant materials center in Bismarck; it suckers. Plant 12 to 15 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (6\/10), canning and freezing (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Scores are our 1 to 10 ratings, but we're still new to growing this one, so they lean on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests. 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-5 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is our first year growing Redstar ourselves. Other than what we've seen of it around Montana, everything below is secondhand until we get more long-term data from our own mother trees.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRedstar is a mostly red, yellow-fleshed peach that ripens with Redhaven. Of all the peaches we've seen in Montana, it's the most prolific: the longest living, the heaviest bearing and the most consistent bearing of the bunch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRedstar came out of the Stellar breeding program at Fruit Acres Farm in Coloma, Michigan, the same program behind \u003ca href=\"\/products\/glowingstar-peach\"\u003eGlowingstar\u003c\/a\u003e. It was patented in 1998 as FA 52 by Annette and Randy Bjorge, and it's an open-pollinated seedling of Newhaven.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe patent describes the fruit as 65 to 80 mm across (about 2½ to 3 inches) with an 80% red blush over yellow-orange. The flesh is yellow, semi-freestone and doesn't brown when cut. It ripens with Redhaven or up to a few days after, and here in Missoula that means mid-August. The patent calls it a dessert and fresh market peach and rates its shipping and keeping quality as excellent. Ontario's agriculture ministry notes it has few split pits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOurs are on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red plum\u003c\/a\u003e, which makes a semi-dwarf peach around 15 feet here, maybe closer to 20 in really deep soil. Plan on 12 to 15 feet between trees. The patent describes a vigorous, spreading, very productive tree that ripens its crop over two pickings, and Rutgers says it has to be thinned hard and early to get big peaches. It also has good resistance to bacterial spot according to the patent, Rutgers, the University of Missouri and Ontario's agriculture ministry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRedstar is self-fertile, so one tree will set fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe patent calls Redstar \"very cold hardy,\" with a tree and blossoms hardier than its parent, but it doesn't give a temperature, and Stark Bro's and most other nurseries rate it zone 5. It's survived -25F at Tom McCamant's Forbidden Fruit Orchard in Paradise, MT, so we list it as hardy to -25F (zone 4b). It's not as hardy as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/contender-peach\"\u003eContender\u003c\/a\u003e, though, and certainly not as hardy as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/siberian-c-peach-seedling-bundle-of-2\"\u003eSiberian C\u003c\/a\u003e. Keep in mind that with any peach, the flower buds give out well before the tree does, so a hard winter can cost you a crop even when the tree comes through fine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Redstar itself. Photos of Redstar are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “Peaches through the netting” by Paul Long (plong), via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/plong\/5723401279\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eFlickr\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Redstar Peach\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Redstar Peach need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Redstar Peach is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/risingstar-peach\"\u003eRisingstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/veteran-peach\"\u003eVeteran Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blushingstar-peach\"\u003eBlushingstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Redstar Peach?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Redstar Peach at zone 4b, which means winters down to about -25°F. We're new to growing it ourselves, but it's survived -25°F at Tom McCamant's Forbidden Fruit Orchard in Paradise, MT. Most nurseries rate it zone 5. We'll update it once our own trees have been through some winters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Redstar Peach need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 900 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 750 and 950. That comes from published figures for this variety. Likely 850 to 950 hours like its Newhaven parent. Montana winters cover that; flower buds are the weak point in hard winters. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#redstar-peach\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Redstar Peach ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 8 to Aug 20 in Missoula, Montana (dated from Redstar we've seen fruiting here, not our own trees yet). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Redstar Peach get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Redstar Peach onto Prairie Red (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 10 to 15 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant 12 to 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Redstar Peach good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Redstar Peach are fresh eating (6\/10), canning and freezing (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10). Since we're still new to growing it, those scores lean on published descriptions rather than our own harvests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Redstar Peach?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Redstar Peach now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Prairie Red Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45178341589058,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/red-peaches-on-tree.jpg?v=1791617259"},{"product_id":"glohaven-peach","title":"Glohaven Peach (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glohaven Peach is a peach tree we've estimated at zone 4b (winters to -25°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a peach or nectarine), and it ripens about Aug 24 to Sep 4 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 4b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 4 only (winters to -25°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 850 hours (850 to 850). Well documented. Independent sources agree. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#glohaven-peach\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), early spring here. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. No pollenizer needed. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blushingstar-peach\"\u003eBlushingstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/contender-peach\"\u003eContender Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pf-24ccoldhardy\"\u003ePF-24C Cold Hardy Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-gold-nectarine\"\u003eRed Gold Nectarine\u003c\/a\u003e and 10 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/peach-pollination-map\"\u003ePeach Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 24 to Sep 4 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKrymsk 86: full size. Plant about 15 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCanning and freezing (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), juice and sweet cider (7\/10), salads and slicing (6\/10), pies and baking (6\/10). Scores are our 1 to 10 ratings, but we're still new to this one, so they lean on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests. 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is our first year growing Glohaven, so everything below is secondhand until we get more long-term data from our own mother trees.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlohaven is one of the Michigan \"Haven\" peaches, a big, nearly fuzzless, yellow freestone that ripens about a week and a half after Redhaven.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was bred at Michigan State University by Stanley Johnston, the same breeder behind Redhaven. Between 1924 and 1963 he released eight yellow-fleshed freestone \"Haven\" peaches, including Halehaven, Redhaven and Glohaven, according to Good Fruit Grower. We haven't found a published parentage for it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtah State University describes the fruit as large, nearly round, highly colored and \"practically fuzzless,\" with yellow, firm flesh and a pleasant flavor. The Michigan Peach Sponsors note that the flesh resists browning. It ripens about eight to ten days after Redhaven. Stark Bro's calls it excellent for canning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOurs are on Krymsk 86, which makes a tree around 15 feet here. Plan on about 15 feet between trees, 12 if you prune hard or 18 with less pruning. Adams County Nursery says the trees are vigorous and the buds are \"very hardy against spring frosts.\" The downside, according to Michigan State's peach specialist, is that it doesn't crop as heavily as some newer varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlohaven is self-fertile, so one tree will set fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe haven't found a documented winter survival temperature for Glohaven. Stark Bro's rates it zone 5. We've listed it at 4b for now, which is an estimate, and we'll update it once we've wintered our own trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Glohaven itself. Photos of Glohaven are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “IMG 5605” by Rosalee Yagihara (sumitramedia), via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/sumitramedia\/4865141674\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eFlickr\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Glohaven Peach\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Glohaven Peach need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Glohaven Peach is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blushingstar-peach\"\u003eBlushingstar Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/contender-peach\"\u003eContender Peach\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pf-24c-cold-hardy-peach\"\u003ePF-24C Cold Hardy Peach\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Glohaven Peach?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Glohaven Peach at zone 4b for now, which means winters down to about -25°F. That's an estimate. We haven't found a documented survival temperature, Stark Bro's rates it zone 5, and we haven't wintered our own trees yet. We'll update it once we have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Glohaven Peach need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 850 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 850 and 850. That figure is well documented: independent sources agree. Any Montana winter provides that. Spring frost is a bigger risk here than chill. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#glohaven-peach\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Glohaven Peach ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 24 to Sep 4 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Glohaven Peach get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Glohaven Peach onto Krymsk 86 (full size). Plant about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Glohaven Peach good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Glohaven Peach are canning and freezing (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), juice and sweet cider (7\/10). Since we're still new to it, those scores lean on published descriptions rather than our own harvests. Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Glohaven Peach?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Glohaven Peach now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Krymsk 86 Full Size: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45181661446210,"sku":null,"price":64.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Krymsk 86 Full Size: 5-7 ft. (Larger \u0026 More Branching) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45181662658626,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/ripe-peaches-on-tree.jpg?v=1791615476"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/brown-rot-resistant-stone-fruit.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}