Apple
Can I Grow Red Delicious?
Once America's most popular apple, Red Delicious is known for its deep crimson color and elongated shape. While commercial varieties have declined in flavor, heirloom strains remain sweet and aromatic.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
700
Hardiness Zones
4-5-6-7-8
Harvest
September to October
Pollination
Needs pollinator (Golden Delicious, Gala, or Fuji)
Results
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About Red Delicious
Once America's most popular apple, Red Delicious is known for its deep crimson color and elongated shape. While commercial varieties have declined in flavor, heirloom strains remain sweet and aromatic.
Red Delicious requires 700 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
Modern commercial strains prioritize appearance over taste; mealy texture develops quickly in storage.
❌ Common Misconception
Can I grow Red Delicious in Zone 9 or warmer?
No. While Red Delicious is listed for zones 4-8, it requires 700 chill hours to produce fruit. Warm zones like 9+ 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
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Start Tracking Free →Chill hour data from Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. Variety information compiled from university extension services.