Apple
Can I Grow Gala?
Gala is America's most popular apple — mild, sweet, and kid-friendly with beautiful red-orange striping. Originally from New Zealand, it thrives in a wide range of climates.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
500
Hardiness Zones
4-5-6-7-8-9
Harvest
Late August to September
Results
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Pruning dates, harvests, spray schedules, what worked. The gardeners who get the most from their trees are the ones who kept records.
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About Gala
Gala is America's most popular apple — mild, sweet, and kid-friendly with beautiful red-orange striping. Originally from New Zealand, it thrives in a wide range of climates.
Gala requires 500 chill hours — the number of hours between 32°F and 45°F during winter dormancy. Without enough chill, the tree may fail to flower properly or produce poor fruit.
⚠️ Common Challenges
Thin skin bruises easily during harvest; fruit size suffers without aggressive thinning.
❌ Common Misconception
Will Gala produce more fruit in colder climates?
Not necessarily. Gala only needs 500 chill hours. Planting in very cold zones (3 or colder) risks winter damage without improving fruit production. The ideal zones are 4-9 where the tree gets enough chill without excessive cold stress.
If you plant it, write it down.
Variety, rootstock, planting date — and every pruning and harvest after that. Future you will thank you.
Free for up to 30 plants. No card needed.
Other Apple Varieties
Chill hour data from Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. Variety information compiled from university extension services.