Apple
Can I Grow Cortland?
Cortland's snow-white flesh resists browning better than any other apple, making it the top choice for salads and fruit plates. It has McIntosh's aromatic flavor with better storage life.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
800
Hardiness Zones
3-4-5-6-7
Harvest
Late September
Pollination
Needs pollinator (McIntosh, Empire, or Red Delicious)
Results
Enter your zip code to see if Cortland will thrive in your area.
Ready to start your orchard?
Log pruning, spraying, and harvests. See what you did last season. All your trees in one place.
Start Tracking FreeFree plan. No card needed.
About Cortland
Cortland's snow-white flesh resists browning better than any other apple, making it the top choice for salads and fruit plates. It has McIntosh's aromatic flavor with better storage life.
Cortland requires 800 chill hours — the number of hours between 32°F and 45°F during winter dormancy. Without enough chill, the tree may fail to flower properly or produce poor fruit.
⚠️ Common Challenges
Soft texture isn't for everyone; susceptible to fire blight in warm, wet springs.
❌ Common Misconception
Can I grow Cortland in Zone 8 or warmer?
No. While Cortland is listed for zones 3-7, it requires 800 chill hours to produce fruit. Warm zones like 8+ typically receive only 200-400 chill hours. The tree may survive but will not fruit reliably. Consider low-chill alternatives like Anna apple (200h) or Tropic Snow peach (200h) instead.
Other Apple Varieties
Plan Your Orchard
Log pruning, spraying, and harvests. See what you did last season. All your trees in one place.
Start Tracking Free →Chill hour data from Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. Variety information compiled from university extension services.