Variety fit — New Mexico
Can I grow First Kiss apple in New Mexico?
The verdict
Not recommended
- Your zone 7b is warmer than this variety's range (zones 4–4); it may not receive reliable winter chilling.
Based on New Mexico’s main growing area (87102): zone 7b, ~1,601 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.
The numbers
| First Kiss hardiness | USDA zone 4 |
|---|---|
| New Mexico average chill (87102) | 1,601 hours (1,362–1,795 across 10 winters) |
| New Mexico zone (87102) | USDA zone 7b |
Better apple choices for New Mexico
These meet New Mexico’s chill hours and zone comfortably:
Keep checking
Or the same verdict for another region:
Questions
- Can I grow First Kiss apple in New Mexico?
- Probably not — Your zone 7b is warmer than this variety's range (zones 4–4); it may not receive reliable winter chilling.
Sources
- [1] Open-Meteo / Copernicus ERA5. Historical Weather API (hourly 2m temperature) — accessed July 2026
- [2] USDA / PRISM (Oregon State University). 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — accessed July 2026
- [3] University of Minnesota (Minnesota Hardy / Horticultural Research Center). All University of Minnesota Apple Varieties — Minnesota Hardy — accessed July 2026