Apple variety
First Kiss
Also known as Rave, MN55
Growing facts
| Chill requirement | 800–1,000 chill hours (our estimate — no published figure) |
|---|---|
| Hardiness | USDA zone 4[1] |
| Pollination | Needs a pollination partner[2] |
| Harvest window | August[1] |
| Years to bearing | 4–5 years (typical for apples)[3] |
| Appearance | Deeply colored red; extraordinarily juicy, spritely tart[1] |
Pollination partners
Plant another Apple variety with an overlapping bloom time nearby.
Notes
- A very early U of M release (2016), a Honeycrisp x MonArk cross; hardy to zone 4a and ripening mid- to late August.[1]
A year with your First Kiss
When the work happens for an apple in USDA zone 4, anchored to typical frost dates.
| Task | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prune | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Thin | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Spray timing | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Harvest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Care | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Can I grow First Kiss where I live?
Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:
Growing a First Kiss? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.
Save this tree in My OrchardQuestions
- What hardiness zones suit First Kiss?
- First Kiss grows in USDA zone 4.
- Is First Kiss self-pollinating?
- No — First Kiss needs a compatible pollination partner nearby.
Sources
- [1] University of Minnesota (Minnesota Hardy / Horticultural Research Center). All University of Minnesota Apple Varieties — Minnesota Hardy — accessed July 2026
- [2] University of Minnesota Extension. Growing apples in the home garden — accessed July 2026
- [3] Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. How soon will a newly planted fruit tree begin to bear fruit? (Yard and Garden FAQ) — accessed July 2026