I'm looking at planting a peach tree or two in the backyard. In zone 8a (DFW) 800 chill hours.

1) does anyone have any good suggestions on what type of variety?

2) is there a great place to buy them? I would rather not pay shipping.

If someone has different fruit trees they enjoy let me know. Open to suggestions. Wife just loves peaches so thought it would be cool to get her one.

Your local nurseries should start carrying them in late winter/early spring

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/peach/peach.html

Ranger.

Womack Nursery in DeLeon. Make a road trip to pick them up.

SWCBonfire said:

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Womack's is good, but they also used to ship bare root trees.

Feliciana, redskin... you will probably have enough chill hours up there to plant whatever you want.

You might also consider "clingstone" varieties that have fewer chill hours since they ripen earlier, at least further south. Up north, they might try to put out too soon and get zapped.

Check with local extension/call in to a garden show on the radio.

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This is an old variety, but one of the best eating peaches I think I've had. Belle of Georgia. Think it may have the correct cold hours for your area also.

I'd echo all those mentioned up here already. We've got three trees in the backyard and they all produce nearly every year. Plant several varieties if you can so you have peaches throughout the summer.

We had a couple of Sam Houston peach trees growing up. They have lower chilling requirements - ~500hrs. If you've never grown peaches, they do take a lot of work, and a commitment to following spray schedules. They are susceptible to a lot of diseases and pests.

I've got one on Dallas. I've had zero problems with it. It has stayed healthy and produces a lot of peaches.

The only problem is in the 6 years that I have had it, I have only been able to beat the squirrels to 3 peaches.

So if you want fat and happy squirrels, I highly recommend.

Honestly this is my worry too. I'm wondering if it's worth trying to rig something up like what keeps squirrels / raccoons out of feeders.

Bob Wells nursery in MIneola is good, as well as Bruce Miller nursery in either Edgewood or Richardson.