Growing apple (high-chill)

pome fruit

Pollination

Needs a compatible second variety with overlapping bloom.

Growing it

Old cold-climate and heirloom types (Zones 3-6). Will not break dormancy properly and fruits poorly where winters are mild.

Will you get enough chill?

Apple (high-chill) needs roughly 800–1200 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.

Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.