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Variety fit — Massachusetts

Can I grow Empire apple in Massachusetts?

The verdict

Yes

  • Your zone 6a and typical 1616 chill hours both suit this variety.

Based on Massachusetts’s main growing area (01002): zone 6a, ~1,616 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.

The numbers

Empire requirements vs. Massachusetts climate
Empire chill requirement800 chill hours
Empire hardinessUSDA zones 4–8
Massachusetts average chill (01002)1,616 hours (1,393–1,881 across 10 winters)
Massachusetts zone (01002)USDA zone 6a
Empire appleSpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Keep checking

Or the same verdict for another region:

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Questions

Can I grow Empire apple in Massachusetts?
Yes — Your zone 6a and typical 1616 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