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Apple variety

Red Delicious

Also known as Delicious

The short answer

Red Delicious requires 700–800 chill hours[1] and grows in USDA zones 4–8[2]. It needs a pollination partner[2].

Growing facts

Red Delicious growing facts
Chill requirement700–800 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessUSDA zones 4–8[2]
PollinationNeeds a pollination partner, bloom group 3[2]
Harvest windowOctober[2]
Years to bearing4–5 years (typical for apples)[3]
USDA pomological watercolor of Red Delicious apple
Malus domestica: Red DeliciousUSDA pomological watercolor, Mary Daisy Arnold, 1932 · USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Plate provenance[4]

Pollination partners

Red Delicious blooms in group 3. The closest bloom-time matches make the most reliable partners:

Show 27 more compatible varieties

Notes

  • Mid-season bloom; needs a compatible pollinizer.[2]
  • Moderately resistant to fire blight and powdery mildew; susceptible to apple scab and cedar-apple rust.[5]

A year with your Red Delicious

When the work happens for an apple in USDA zone 6, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Apple in zone 6
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune—————————
Thin——————————
Spray timing——————
Harvest——————————
Care———————————

See the full month-by-month apple calendar for zone 6 →

Can I grow Red Delicious where I live?

Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:

Growing a Red Delicious? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.

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Questions

How many chill hours does Red Delicious need?
Red Delicious needs 700–800 chill hours.
What hardiness zones suit Red Delicious?
Red Delicious grows in USDA zones 4–8.
Is Red Delicious self-pollinating?
No — Red Delicious needs a compatible pollination partner nearby.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Apples — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] Utah State University Extension. Apple Production and Variety Recommendations for the Utah Home Garden — accessed July 2026
  3. [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
  4. [4] USDA National Agricultural Library. USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection (Rare and Special Collections, 1886-1942) — accessed July 2026
  5. [5] Cornell University (College of Agriculture & Life Sciences). Disease Susceptibility of Common Apples — Apple Variety Database — accessed July 2026