Lovell is good as a rootstock. You might be interested in this old thread http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1451176/growing-out-rootstock-seedling-peaches. The part you graft on to lovell is what will determine the taste. For example a contender peach grafted on lovell will always taste like contender and nothing like lovell. A Q 1 8 peach is reported to have a good flavor and grow well in zones 5-9. Here is some information on raintree about the peach you are growing http://www.raintreenursery.com/Q_1_8_peach_Lovell_C530.html

The information matched fairly closely with the information from Dave Wilson Nursery http://davewilson.com/product-information/product/q-1-8-white-peach

Don't worry so much, you won't be eating the fruit from the rootstock (unless it sends up suckers and they aren't removed). Your peaches will be Q-1-8 regardless what rootstock is used. The rootstock is like the foundation for your house.

Lovell rocks as a rootstock! And Lovell peaches are not that bad either, but has nothing to do with this post as you're growing Q-1-8 which is a decent peach!

There is research out there that does show differences in fruit quality between rootstocks. Yield, fruit size, maturity can vary between them too. Considering how common Lovell is, it must do pretty good (i've used it here with container trees). I personally am moving to more hardy rootstocks because of my climate (in ground trees). Peaches don't live long here so if i use a hardy rootstock, i can at least regraft instead of taking the whole tree out.

It only get's to -14 here and Lovell had no problems. Either did Citation or Gesela 5. Now the trees did, but not the rootstocks.

Frosty,

As mentioned, you Q-1-8 peaches will taste fine on Lovell. I have had several different rootstocks for peaches (including Lovell, which is the most common for the Midwest) and as long as the grafted variety is good, the peaches will be good. As Frank mentions, some rootstocks can impart some different characteristics in the fruit, but with peaches it's fairly uncommon. The only one I've read about doing so with peaches is Citation. I've read Citation is supposed to produce slightly larger fruit with slightly higher brix, but my opinion is that the effects are probably nominal, otherwise peaches on Citation would be much more common.

I've used Citation before and don't necessarily like it. Because it's a peach/plum cross Citation is more prone to suckering, plus I found it not to be as drought tolerant as a true peach rootstock like Lovell, Halford, Bailey, or Tenn. Natural, etc.

drew-
Peaches here ooze (the trunks) like crazy... My thought has always been its due to winter injury. Maybe its cold days like today (4F and sunny) and cold nights... Remember...this area is not for growing peaches (3 out of 5 winters probably drop to -20F or colder). I'm pushing my luck and its why i grow in containers. I still have a few peaches out in the yard (seedlings) but don't expect much out of them. I actually had a peach seedling (nectarine i found out later) make it through a winter here and flower...the fruit was probably a California grown nectarine...i almost wonder if a seedling of Contender or Reliance would be even hardier...who knows.

Olpea-
You're probably right. I'm sure the differences to a home grower are minimal. On a commercial scale i'm sure a few more pounds per tree can make a lot of difference. I just thought i'd mention it because i've come across it a few times when researching rootstocks. I personally would lean towards Citation over the others in a colder climate. I have Krmysk coming from Raintree and plan on giving that a shot with some multigrafted fruit trees. The problem with Citation is that is not available!

I plan on trying Krymsk or a plum seedling of some

Yeah at -20 I would be concerned. Even here though I'm thinking of giving up on peaches. Long term predictions are for cold weather for about 15 years, so I may be fighting a losing battle. Cherries, apples and other fruits do OK. Tomorrow night predicted to be -12 which will kill peach tree fruit buds on most, so again it looks like a peachless summer for me.

Drew, I got -12 last year and most peach varieties set too much fruit (as usual). I was annoyed that Messina did not. Below -18 and I wouldn't expect a single peach though.

Where did you get your 15 year forecast? I don't think things are that predictable.

Frank,

Dave Wilson puts a lot of their peaches on Citation. If you obtained on of their peaches on Citation, you could start propagating your own rootstocks from it if you wanted.

The 15 year forecast is based on solar flare activity. How accurate it is, is unknown at this time. I'm not giving up on peaches, just frustrated. Blackberries are also difficult with this weather. It made it to -9 last night, talk about close! I went by the lake last night, and it was like I was on the moon. The last two days have been a bear, as not only is it cold, but I have a painful kidney stone I'm trying to pass! Those suckers hurt! I'm so worn out, I'm just sitting in front of the tube today and drinking as many liquids as I can stand.