Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Flordaprince Peach
Flordaprince is one of the earliest peaches you can grow, ripening in late April to early May in Arizona. The yellow fruit is larger than Desert Gold, and the variety is more tolerant of desert heat. It needs only about 150 chill hours, so it fruits even after a mild Valley winter. It sets fruit on its own, and pink blossoms open on the bare branches in late winter.
Best for: the earliest homegrown peaches of the year, yards in the warmest parts of the Valley, and a single fruit tree that bears without a partner.
Flordaprince ripens in late April to early May in Arizona, among the earliest of all peaches. The fruit is ready before the worst summer heat arrives.
It needs only about 150 chill hours, well under the 300 to 400 most of the Valley gets. That makes it a steady choice for the warmest parts of town and mild winters.
It is self-fruitful, so a single tree bears without a second peach nearby. Plant it about 15 to 20 feet from other trees so you can reach around it to prune and pick.
Heavy crops need thinning, or the peaches stay small. Birds find ripe fruit first, the trunk can sunburn without white paint, and the leaves and pits are toxic to pets.
- Row of fruit trees15 ft apart
- Open planting18-20 ft apart
Water a new tree often while it roots in. Once established, soak the root zone at least 18 inches deep, and up to about 3 feet, about every 1 to 2 weeks while it is growing. In winter, water about once a month.
Prune while the tree is bare, before the buds break in January. Peaches fruit on the growth made the year before, so prune them harder than most fruit trees.
Soon after fruit set, thin the small peaches so they sit about 4 to 8 inches apart. The fruit left on the tree sizes up better.
Feed in early spring as the tree wakes up, again in May, and again in September.
Paint the trunk with white tree paint to prevent sunburn. Birds find ripe fruit first, so cover the tree with netting or bag the fruit before it ripens.
Drops its leaves in winter and leafs out again in spring.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
When does Flordaprince ripen?
It ripens in late April to early May in Arizona, one of the earliest peaches of the year. Pick when the fruit softens a little and the color deepens.
How many chill hours does Flordaprince need?
Only about 150 chill hours. Most of the Valley gets about 300 to 400, so it fruits well even after a mild winter.
Do I need two trees for fruit?
No. Flordaprince is self-fruitful, so one tree sets fruit on its own.
Is it a clingstone or a freestone?
It is a semi-cling peach. The flesh holds to the pit a little, and it pulls away more easily when the fruit is fully ripe.
Flordaprince or Desert Gold?
Both are early, self-fruitful yellow peaches. Flordaprince needs fewer chill hours, about 150 against 250, has larger fruit, and is more tolerant of desert heat.
How big does a Flordaprince tree get?
Plan on about 15 to 20 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide. Yearly winter pruning keeps it lower and easier to pick.
How far apart should I plant peach trees?
Plant them about 15 feet apart in a row, or 18 to 20 feet apart for open, separate trees. The Spacing tab shows both.
How do I get bigger peaches?
Thin the fruit soon after it sets, leaving about 4 to 8 inches between peaches. The fruit left on the tree grows larger and better.
When and how should I prune it?
Prune in January while the tree is bare, before the buds break. Peaches fruit on last year's growth, so cut back some of that growth each winter.
How often should I water it?
Once it is rooted in, soak the root zone at least 18 inches deep about every 1 to 2 weeks while it is growing. Water about once a month in winter.
Are peach leaves and pits safe for pets?
No. The stems, leaves and seeds contain cyanide compounds that are toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Pick up fallen fruit and pits, and call your vet if a pet chews them.
How do I keep birds off the fruit?
Birds find ripe peaches before you do. Drape bird netting over the tree or slip bags over the fruit before it ripens.
Flordaprince Peach for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Flordaprince Peach is a very low chill yellow peach that ripens in late April to early May in Arizona. Below is what to expect, including chill hours, harvest time, tree size, spacing, watering, pruning, thinning and the problems people ask about most.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Earliest peach tree for Phoenix
Flordaprince ripens in late April to early May in Arizona, among the earliest peaches of the year. It needs only about 150 chill hours.
Flordaprince vs Desert Gold peach
Both are early, self-fruitful yellow peaches. Flordaprince needs fewer chill hours, has larger fruit and is more tolerant of desert heat.
Low chill peaches for the Valley
Most of the Valley gets about 300 to 400 chill hours a year. Flordaprince needs about 150, so it fruits even after a mild winter.
How far apart to plant peach trees in Arizona
Plant them about 15 feet apart in a row, or 18 to 20 feet apart for open, separate trees.
Pruning and thinning a peach tree
Prune in January before the buds break, cutting back some of last year's growth. Thin the small fruit to about 4 to 8 inches apart for bigger peaches.
Protecting peaches from sun and birds
Paint the trunk white to prevent sunburn. Cover the tree with bird netting or bag the fruit before it ripens.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.