One of the most popular supermarket apple varieties, and a good mid-season variety for the garden in many areas. The sweet flavor of ripe Gala apples eaten straight from the tree is quite a surprise compared to supermarket examples. Gala is also a good variety for juicing, as you might expect the flavor is rich and sweet, useful for mixing with other sharper varieties.
Because of the commercial importance of Gala a large number of Gala "sports" exist. These are naturally occuring mutations, and are mostly indistinguishable from the original in terms of flavor but may have a deeper coloration or more pronounced flush to the skin.
Delivery discounts. Prices are for individual trees excluding delivery. There is no minimum quantity but it is cost effective to order in multiples of 3 trees.
Delivery period: Trees are delivered in March and April. However it is best to order as soon as you can to ensure items are reserved for you. If you live in a warm zone (e.g. Southern California, Alabama etc.) Fall delivery is possible. More details on our spring shipping schedule by state.
*Mature heights: Height shown is the approximate height of the tree when mature (after 5-10 years), not the height when supplied. Actual mature heights may vary considerably dependent on your local conditions and training and pruning regime.
Stock availability: Items showing as 'sold out' will probably be available again next season. If you would like to reserve in advance use our enquiry form - this does not commit you to anything.
Gala is partially self-fertile, but fruiting will be improved if there is a compatible tree of a different variety nearby.
Our online pollination checker lists suitable pollination partners for this variety.
More advice about pollination.
Gala is grown on a commercial basis in South Africa, Chile, New Zealand, and France. One of its unique characteristics is that Gala will produce good-quality apples across an unusually wide range of climates from cool temperate to hot. Whilst not quite a low-chill variety, its chilling requirement of about 800 hours is at the lower end of the range, which helps when growing in warmer climate zones.
In the USA it can be grown with good quality from zones 5-9 - an unusually wide range.
Gala appears to be susceptible to just about every problem known to affect apples, but don't let this put you off. In practice, provided you have a dry climate, it is not too difficult to grow - and the flavor of home-grown ripe Gala apples us worth a bit of effort.
Most sports of Gala have some degree of self-fertility - but will set much better crops if there is a nearby pollination partner.
Planting instructions.
Pruning instructions.
Developed by New Zealand apple enthusiast J.H. Kidd from one of his earlier successes, Kidd's Orange Red crossed with Golden Delicious. Through this parentage Gala unites three of the world's most influential apple varieties, Cox's Orange Pippin, Delicious, and Golden Delicious.
