If you can dig in your soil, plant it. Water it as needed - probably not much after the initial, soil-settling dose until it starts to grow, but keep an eye on, and a finger testing, the soil in the root ball - water if it is dry. Mulch as widely as you can - at least 3', but more is better - no deeper than 4", and put no mulch in the inch or so next to the trunk. If your soil is still frozen, then keep it somewhere cool, so it doesn't break dormancy early, but where it won't freeze hard. Keep the root ball damp, but not soggy. Plant it as soon as you can dig your soil - it will do better in the ground than staying in the pot. Keep it watered as needed - when the soil is dry 2" or so down - over the summer, and into next year.

I would do no pruning until it has been in the ground for the summer, and probably not 'til next spring - the more leaves it has, the more roots it can grow over the summer. You want to prune it to a vase shape - get a book on home orchards and see what it has to say about pruning fruit trees, and especially peach trees. You don't prune fruit trees as you prune ornamentals - you are looking for the best fruit growth, not the most attractive tree, so it is a bit different.

It will take a few years for it to grow up enough to flower and fruit - at least 2, maybe 5. I don't know if that cultivar will need a pollinator or not - you may have to get another peach tree to plant near it.

Thanks!

-p

Peaches are self-fertile so require no pollinator. But different types of peaches (and most other fruits) are bred to perform best under specific climate and growing conditions, so a peach cultivar well suited to Georgia may not do as well in Jersey :-)) And BigLots is not a plant grower, so they may not make that distinction with what they are selling. Not trying to discourage you but source of plant origin and location may play a big role in how well your tree does.

Peaches generally start bearing fruit pretty early and it could even possibly produce some this year. But you want to remove any small fruit you see developing, at least for this year. It is best for the tree to allow it to establish and develop a good root system before letting put all that energy into fruit production.

My family had planted three peach trees on their property here, and they all survived, mostly on their own. I don't rememeber ever prunning them. Right from the beginning, they produced peaches, thought I agree, if your peach tree produces any fruit this year, you might pick those off for this year to let the tree have a better chance to establish itself.

Except for watering in the beginning, I would let the tree do its own thing establishing itself.