For those who think the risks are worth the rewards of home grown fruit, here are some suggestions to improve your chances of success. However, all stone fruits are prone to frost injury during bloomtime, because they flower a few weeks earlier than apples. The hazards of deep-freeze or spring frost injury increase at sites farther away from the major lakes, northward, and upward in elevation. The safest sites are on slopes near the lakes or along valley side-slopes, but not on bottom lands where coldest air often settles. Protected microclimates against south-facing slopes or walls of substantial buildings also provide some relief from cold, but the daily temperature fluctuations in these microclimates can be extreme, which creates additional problems for the trees.
Some varieties are more cold-tolerant or bloom later than others.
The popular 'Redhaven' peach has proven its ability to survive northeastern winters since it was introduced back in the 1940s, and it produces fruit of good quality. These are excellent varieties for home growers, because they were selected for good fruit quality, cold hardiness and improved disease resistance. Soil Requirements Stone fruits are notoriously fussy about soil moisture and fertility. Where the soil is saturated for long periods during the dormant season, or for more than a few days continuously during the growing season, trees will not thrive. The best sites are upland gravelly or sandy loams.