Apple
Can I Grow McIntosh?
McIntosh is the quintessential New England apple — tender, juicy, and intensely aromatic with a wine-like tang. It's the parent of many modern varieties including Cortland and Empire.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
900
Hardiness Zones
3-4-5-6-7
Harvest
Early September
Results
Enter your zip code to see if McIntosh 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 McIntosh
McIntosh is the quintessential New England apple — tender, juicy, and intensely aromatic with a wine-like tang. It's the parent of many modern varieties including Cortland and Empire.
McIntosh requires 900 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
Flesh softens rapidly after harvest; highly susceptible to apple scab in humid regions.
❌ Common Misconception
Can I grow McIntosh in Zone 8 or warmer?
No. While McIntosh is listed for zones 3-7, it requires 900 chill hours to produce fruit. Warm zones like 8+ 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.