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Variety fit — Alaska

Can I grow Red Delicious apple in Alaska?

The verdict

Maybe — with caveats

  • Your first fall frost typically arrives around September 27, before this variety's usual harvest begins in October — fruit may not ripen in a short season.

Based on Alaska’s main growing area (99645): zone 5a, ~1,031 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.

The numbers

Red Delicious requirements vs. Alaska climate
Red Delicious chill requirement700–800 chill hours
Red Delicious hardinessUSDA zones 4–8
Alaska average chill (99645)1,031 hours (743–1,368 across 10 winters)
Alaska zone (99645)USDA zone 5a
USDA pomological watercolor of Red Delicious apple
Malus domestica: Red DeliciousUSDA pomological watercolor, Mary Daisy Arnold, 1932 · USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Better apple choices for Alaska

These meet Alaska’s chill hours and zone comfortably:

Keep checking

Or the same verdict for another region:

Planting a Red Delicious in Alaska? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, starting with this month’s tasks for one tree, free.

Save your first tree free

Questions

Can I grow Red Delicious apple in Alaska?
Possibly — Your first fall frost typically arrives around September 27, before this variety's usual harvest begins in October — fruit may not ripen in a short season.

Planting a Red Delicious? Gear that helps

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Before you plantMySoil mail-in soil test kitLab-grade pH and nutrient analysis with amendment recommendations — worth doing before you plant.View on Amazon →First-year wateringTreegator slow-release watering bag20 gallons drips over 5–9 hours — the easiest way to keep a first-year tree consistently watered.View on Amazon →Bark protectionExpandable trunk protectors (5-pack)Stops rabbit, vole, and mower damage on young bark — cheap insurance for a new orchard.View on Amazon →

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