To see what WSU may have for you...

Here is a link that might be useful: WSU Locations

Tomcot

Everything i've been told and read says that is the apricot to go with. I have no idea if i'll get it to fruit in my climate, but i'm going to try (my mom had a huge apricot tree in her yard when i was younger and we got fruit about every other year).

Right now Raintree has small ones for $12 on Lovell rootstock... Has to be a good price. Mine came from there last year and its a very nice tree.

bboy. I'm used to seeing you on the Hosta Forum, I'm glad to see you here. Thank you for this link. Looks like either the Goldcot or Tilton will work. Maybe I'll plant one of each.

Thank you again
Alexis

5b? And everything you've read says go apricot? They are so much more cold tender than peaches and you are on the absolute edge of their range. Good luck, but I think you need to work with your environment first and dream later. Start peach, experiment with ap later.

This guy grows a bunch of different apricots in Minneapolis.

http://www.oakcreekorchard.com/id82.html

I grow apricots in Z6 and loose them all the time- they are very fragile and are only grown commercially in northern areas where there is lake moderation of weather. I was raised in S. Ca. and grew up on tree ripened apricots but have been unable to get good crops on my property. Been trying for about 20 years. On more favored sites nearby I've had success but trees still tend to die suddenly. I paint the trunks white but I don't know how much it helps.

Alexis- Definitely start with peaches, maybe "Frost" which is a WSU introduction, and has performed well for me. Apricots are are the hardest stonefruit to get a crop from, and stonefruits as a whole are the least reliable and most disease susceptible fruit trees.

Even areas far south of here would have a hard time getting fruit often. A lot of areas get warm way too early(along with no snow cover) and then encourage the tree to come awake, while winter sits up in Canada laughing ready to deliver a blow or two come late March/early April. A guy in another forum grows peaches near Austin, TX and came out with less peaches then me! At least up here the tree is still in a deep sleep until at least late March if not later...I keep snow piled around all my peaches in hopes of delaying flowering. The later the better up here. The problem here i believe is the extreme cold killing the fruiting buds, which is what happened last winter with most of mine (i came out with 10 peaches!). This year looks the same. This is probably the main reason? that apricots are really only grown commercially in California?

HOWEVER.. I don't have space to be messing around with!
My Husky chainsaw could get a workout this spring if i don't see peach flowers :) Or i may prune them back, dig them up and put them in mom's yard!

Its one reason i'm starting a container fruit tree garden for my zone denial..(sweet cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots). I've got an insulated attached garage, large driveway and a dolly!!!

I would go with a Reliance peach or Madison peach(from Jungs in WI).

Harvestman, Fruithack and Franktank thank you so much for all the useful information. If I'm being honest with myself, I more or less suspected that Apricots in my area were not a good idea. :( Being an old So. Cal gal and being raised with them I was just hoping that there might be a reliable variety that would produce here. So peach it is. I'll research the varieties you have already suggested. Any others I should look at.

Thank you very much, you've not only saved me money but disappointment.

Alexis

Don't do Reliance- it's advantage in bud hardiness is tiny and it's not a great peach. Red Haven would probably be better for you in that season. Madison is one I can recommend- but decide when you can make best use of the peaches. Elberta is another high quality bud hardy peach they grow in your state if you want a later peach. Madison and Redhaven have an advantage of a week longer harvest than most varieties.