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Variety fit — Colorado

Can I grow Empire apple in Colorado?

The verdict

Yes

  • Your zone 7a and typical 1650 chill hours both suit this variety.

Based on Colorado’s main growing area (81501): zone 7a, ~1,650 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.

The numbers

Empire requirements vs. Colorado climate
Empire chill requirement800 chill hours
Empire hardinessUSDA zones 4–8
Colorado average chill (81501)1,650 hours (1,253–1,821 across 10 winters)
Colorado zone (81501)USDA zone 7a
Empire appleSpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Keep checking

Or the same verdict for another region:

Planting an Empire in Colorado? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.

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Questions

Can I grow Empire apple in Colorado?
Yes — Your zone 7a and typical 1650 chill hours both suit this variety.

Sources

  1. [1] Open-Meteo / Copernicus ERA5. Historical Weather API (hourly 2m temperature) — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] USDA / PRISM (Oregon State University). 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — accessed July 2026
  3. [3] Utah State University Extension. Apple Production and Variety Recommendations for the Utah Home Garden — accessed July 2026
  4. [4] Dave Wilson Nursery. Apples — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026