Apple
Can I Grow Gravenstein?
Gravenstein is the heirloom apple that Sonoma County built its reputation on — intensely aromatic with a perfect sweet-tart balance that makes the best applesauce and pies. It's a triploid that produces no viable pollen.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
700
Hardiness Zones
4-5-6-7-8
Harvest
August
Results
Enter your zip code to see if Gravenstein will thrive in your area.
You checked if it'll grow. Now make sure you remember what happens when it does.
Pruning dates, harvests, spray schedules, what worked. The gardeners who get the most from their trees are the ones who kept records.
Start your free tree logFree for up to 30 plants. No card needed.
About Gravenstein
Gravenstein is the heirloom apple that Sonoma County built its reputation on — intensely aromatic with a perfect sweet-tart balance that makes the best applesauce and pies. It's a triploid that produces no viable pollen.
Gravenstein requires 700 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
Triploid — needs two other apple varieties for pollination; biennial bearing; bruises easily.
❌ Common Misconception
Can I grow Gravenstein in Zone 9 or warmer?
No. While Gravenstein is listed for zones 4-8, it requires 700 chill hours to produce fruit. Warm zones like 9+ typically receive only 200-400 chill hours. The tree may survive but will not fruit reliably. Consider low-chill alternatives like Anna apple (200h) or Tropic Snow peach (200h) instead.
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.