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Apple variety

Spartan

The short answer

Spartan requires 800–1,000 chill hours[1] and grows in USDA zones 4–8[1]. It needs a pollination partner[2].

Growing facts

Spartan growing facts
Chill requirement800–1,000 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessUSDA zones 4–8[1] (nursery figure)
PollinationNeeds a pollination partner[2]
Harvest windowSeptember–October[1]
Years to bearing4–5 years (typical for apples)[3]
Spartan appleSpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Pollination partners

Plant another Apple variety with an overlapping bloom time nearby.

Notes

  • A McIntosh-type dessert apple; resistant to apple scab, susceptible to powdery mildew and cedar-apple rust, highly susceptible to fire blight.[4]
  • Ripens early fall (about with Red Delicious).[1]

A year with your Spartan

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 Spartan where I live?

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

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

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Questions

How many chill hours does Spartan need?
Spartan needs 800–1,000 chill hours.
What hardiness zones suit Spartan?
Spartan grows in USDA zones 4–8.
Is Spartan self-pollinating?
No — Spartan needs a compatible pollination partner nearby.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Apples — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] University of Minnesota Extension. Growing apples in the 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] Cornell University (College of Agriculture & Life Sciences). Disease Susceptibility of Common Apples — Apple Variety Database — accessed July 2026