-
What are Chill Hours?
What are Chill Hours?
The first answer to this question is that they are approximate! Chilling is achieved at temperatures that are approximately forty-five degrees or below, roughly between November 1 and February 15, with the most benefit being derived from chilling hours occurring in December and January. These hours are cumulative and need not be continuous. Daytime temperatures above sixty degrees during this period may negatively affect the cumulative total.
Most fruit trees require some winter chill in order to set fruit. We have included the chilling requirements for most of our stock, but they should be used only as guidelines. If you are unable to determine how many chill hours you get in your area, consult your local Agricultural extension office or a local independent nursery.
If you live in an area that gets little winter chill, see our list of Low Chill Varieties. Bear in mind that many people in low chill areas have had success with varieties that are supposed to need somewhat higher hours, so experimentation can be fruitful, within limits. We do NOT, however, encourage ordering varieties that are clearly incompatible with your climatic conditions.
If you have had success with varieties that are not, strictly speaking, suitable for your area, we would like to hear your comments!
Other Resources
Dave Wilson Nursery: Methods Used To Define Chill Requirements For Fruit Trees
Wikipedia: Chilling Requirement
About.com: What are Chill Hours?
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: Look Up Your Local Hardiness Zone
Almonds
- All-in-One (3-400)
- Garden Prince Dwarf (250)
- Nonpariel (400)
- Price (400)
Apples
- Anna (200)
- Beverly Hills (300)
- Dorsett Golden (100)
- Ghost (3-400)
- Gordon (400)
- Pettingill (300)
- Pink Lady (3-400)
- Sundowner (2-300)
- White Winter Pearmain (400)
- Winter Banana (400 or less)
Apricots
- Autumn Royal (400)
- Blenheim (400)
- Flora Gold (400 or less)
- Gold Kist (300)
- Tropic Gold (350 or less)
Blueberries
- Emerald (150)
- Jubilee (4-500)
- Misty (150)
- Peach Sorbet (300 or less)
- Pink Lemonade (200)
- Sharpblue (150)
- Southmoon (2-300)
- Sunshine Blue (200)
Cherries
- Lapins (400 or less)
- Minnie Royal (2-300)
- Royal Crimson (2-300)
- Royal Lee (2-300)
- Stella (400)
Figs
- All varieties
Interspecific Hybrids
- Cot-N-Candy Aprium (400)
- Dapple Dandy Pluot® (4-500)
- Dapple Supreme Pluot (300)
- Delight Cherry-Plum (400)
- Emerald Drop Pluot® (400 or less)
- Flavor Delight Aprium (300)
- Flavor Grenade Pluot® (3-400)
- Flavor King (400 or less)
- Flavor Queen (4-500)
- Flavorella Plumcot (250)
- Geo Pride (400 or less)
- Spice Zee Nectaplum (2-300)
- Splash Pluot® (400 or less)
- Sprite Cherry-Plum (400)
- Sweet Treat Pluerry (2-300)
- Tri-Lite Peach x Plum (4-500)
Jujubes
- All varieties
Kiwifruit
- All varieties
Mulberries
- All varieties
Multiple Budded Trees
- 4-N-1 Low-Chill Apples
- 4-N-1 Low-Chill Peach
- 4-N-1 Low Chill Plum
- 4-N-1 Zee Sweet Nuggets
- 2-N-1 Cherry-Plum
Nectarines
- Arctic Glo (4-500)
- Arctic Star (300)
- Desert Dawn (250)
- Desert Delight (1-200)
- Double Delight (300)
- Necta Zee (400)
- Nectar Babe (400)
- Panamint (250)
- Snow Queen (250-300)
Peaches
- August Pride (300)
- Babcock (250-300)
- Bonanza (250)
- Bonita (400)
- Donut (2-300)
- Double Jewel (3-400)
- Eva's Pride (1-200)
- Fairtime (4-500)
- Flordaprince (150)
- Honey Babe (400 or less)
- July (Kim) Elberta (4-500)
- May Pride (150-200)
- Mid-Pride (250)
- Peachy Keen (150-200)
- Pix Zee (400)
- Red Baron (250-300)
- Santa Barbara (300)
- Saturn (250-300)
- Sauzee Swirl (400)
- Strawberry Free (4-500)
- Sweet Bagel (3-400)
- Tropic Snow (200)
Pears
- Flordahome (3-400)
- Hood (1-200)
- Keiffer (2-300)
- Monterrey (300)
- Pineapple (200)
- Southern Bartlett (400)
- Tennosui (400)
Pears (Asian)
- Many varieties at 450
- 20th Century (3-400)
- Hosui (3-400)
- Shinseiki (250-300)
Pecans
- Mahan
- Mohawk
- Pawnee
- Western Schley (all at 250)
Persimmons
- All varieties
Plums & Prunes
- Beauty (250)
- Burgundy (300)
- Catalina (3-400)
- Golden Nectar (400 or less)
- Late Santa Rosa (400 or less)
- Mariposa (250)
- Methley (250)
- Nubiana (4-500)
- Santa Rosa (300)
- Satsuma (300)
- Weeping Santa Rosa (2-400)
Pomegranates
- All varieties
Walnuts
- Pedro (400)
- Placentia (300)