One 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.

Fruit Set, Flavor & Unique Traits

Flower 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.

Veteran is more attractive to birds, yellowjackets, and honeybees than any other peach Bob Purvis grows.

Freestone. Hardy to zone 5 and possibly protected zone 4 sites. It may be able to survive -30°F. Our suspicion is that this may be hardier than Reliance but less hardy than Contender—certainly less hardy than Siberian C.

Tree Details

Trees are 5–7 ft tall and grafted onto Lovell semi-dwarf rootstock.