Georgia producers are reaping the benefits of cold weather in 2025 with almost 600 peach chill hours. These chill hours allow the peaches to mature. Depending upon the variety, peaches need 500 to 800 chill hours.

Jeff Cook, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources (ANR) agent for Peach and Taylor counties reported that trees continued to enjoy temperatures at or below the designated mark of 45 F during the last week. The forecast indicates it will remain cold.

Cook reports there were very few chill hours before the end of December. Recent cold weather allowed the temperature totals to surge. Chill hours will be recorded through February 14.

Read more about the cold weather benefitting the Georgia peach crop here.