There are many fans of peaches in the world, and it’s no wonder why. These juicy fruits are some of the tastiest fruits out there.
But the process of growing peaches can be complicated for beginners, especially compared to some other fruits.
Climate is an extremely important factor to consider, and that’s what we’ll be discussing today. Because the more educated you are about the peach tree growing process, the easier it will be.
What Temperature Do Peaches Grow In?
In order to grow peach trees, the temperatures would need to be about 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) during the summer and 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) in the winter.
This is part of the reason why growing peach trees is more difficult compared to other fruits. They need warmer weather during the summer, and colder weather during the winter time which makes the perfect temperature harder to achieve.
In fact, peach trees need to spend a certain amount of time per winter in a chilled environment in order to grow efficiently. So they need to be exposed to temperatures around 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) for about 150 to 500 hours.
The exact chilled temperature as well as the amount of time the trees need to spend in that environment varies somewhat based on the variation of the peach tree that you’re planting. So make sure to educate yourself about the exact variation.
The benefit to this, is that they can survive in varying temperatures and aren’t as sensitive to temperature changes as other plants. This trait makes for a hardier tree, which is helpful when you’ve invested time and money into growing something.
What Temperature Can Peaches Tolerate?
Since peach trees are so hardy, they can technically tolerate many different temperatures well. It would have to be fairly hot to severely damage a peach tree, and in terms of cold weather damage it depends a lot on the stage of growth.
Peach trees do the best in cooler climates but they can easily be grown in warmer weather as well, as long as certain conditions are met. Generally speaking however, it is best for growth if temperatures don’t go over 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius).
As for cold weather, it’s a bit more complicated. The amount of cold temperatures a peach tree can tolerate depends mostly on its stage of growth, so there is a lot more to take into consideration.
Peach tree flowers that have dropped their petals and are developing fruit are at their most delicate, and could be killed at temperatures of about 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 degrees Celsius) and below.
Flowers that have open blossoms but haven’t lost their petals can sustain injury at temperatures around 26 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) or below.
And peach buds that have recently developed are the toughest of all, and won’t start being damaged until around 20 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).
Can Peaches Get Too Much Sun?
Peaches can withstand quite a bit of sun before receiving any damage. And in fact, peaches need a lot of sun in order to thrive. So there isn’t much chance of your peach tree being exposed to too much sun.
During their growing season, peach trees need at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun, and they can even tolerate up to 10 hours without damage. The thing that they can’t tolerate is too much shade, a peach tree can’t grow in full shade.
If you’re forced to plant your peach tree in a place where it will only receive indirect sunlight then it will still grow but the harvest will be smaller, and as will the size of the peaches.
Can Peaches Survive Winter?
As long as the temperatures don’t dip below the limit that was mentioned earlier, not only can peach trees survive the winter but it is actually best if you can plant the tree during this time.
The reason behind this rather odd timing of when to plant your peach tree is that if it is planted during the late winter or early spring then it can have the entire growing season to establish itself.
Peach trees, as long as they are bare-root peach trees, are dormant during this time of year anyway so they won’t sustain much damage from the cold. If you’re not planting bare-root peach trees then you might want to wait until early spring to plant.
What Temperature Can Peaches Grow Indoors?
As long as you meet the minimum chilled requirement that peach trees need in the winter time, then your peach trees will probably thrive indoors at average temperatures. For the most part temperatures around 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) will suffice.
Regular temperatures will probably be safe for your peach trees, and them being indoors and having their environment regulated always makes things easier. Just don’t forget your peach tree variation’s specific needs where chill time is concerned.
What Is The Ideal Temperature For Peaches To Grow?
Both indoor and outdoor peach trees will be most comfortable in temperatures around 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius), but they can still thrive in most “regular” temperatures. They simply need to meet their minimum chilled time.
Typical temperatures will be safe for your peach trees in the summer, but just make sure that in the winter you give them plenty of time in the colder temperatures as well. And remember to check your peach tree variation’s specific needs.
And always keep in mind that there are many different variables to think about when you’re gardening, especially when it comes to more complicated trees such as the peach tree. It isn’t all about climate, even though it is a key factor.
