• Red gala apples growing on a leafy tree in an outdoor orchard setting.
  • A potted young gala apple tree with green leaves and a bamboo stake, in a black plastic nursery pot, isolated on a white background.
  • Informational graphic for a Gala Apple Tree Tree, featuring a top photo of apples and text stating it is self-pollinating and produces a full crop on its own.
  • A USDA hardiness zone map of the United States with labeled patio and outdoor zones, showing a light teal map on a beige background with explanatory text blocks below.
  • A leafy gala apples tree in a grassy outdoor field, bearing several red apples.
  • Close-up of flowering gala apple branches with pale pink and white blossoms, green leaves, and brown branches against a blue sky.
  • A close-up of several red and yellow gala apples piled inside a dark bowl or basket, with the main apple centered and others partially visible around it.
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Gala Apple Tree

Crisp, naturally sweet flavor best enjoyed fresh

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About the Variety

New

Key Features

Frost Tolerant
Heat Tolerant
Attracts Bees
Fragrant
Easy to Grow
Edible

Plant Details

LIFE CYCLE

  • Perennial

SEED TYPE

  • Live Plant

LIGHT REQUIREMENT

  • Full Sun

BLOOM SEASON

  • Spring

GROWTH HABIT

  • Upright

COLOR

  • Red
  • Yellow
  • Orange

MATURE SIZE

  • 10-20 ft. x 8-10 ft.

Sweet, crisp, and wonderfully mild, Gala is the crowd-pleasing apple that makes fresh-from-the-tree snacking irresistible. Gala Apple Trees produce beautiful red-orange blushed fruit with thin skin and fine-grained, creamy flesh that's naturally sweet and low in acidity. Give it a sunny spot in your backyard orchard and enjoy versatile apples perfect for lunchboxes, salads, baking, or pressing into sweet, fragrant cider.

This item is excluded from coupon codes and site-wide promotions.

Available across most of the U.S. — except AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, OR, WA.

  • • Great for snacking, baking, and cider
  • • Stores well in cold storage, feeding you long past the harvest
  • • Needs a pollinating partner; plant a different but compatible apple variety nearby to set fruit

Planting Information

PLANTING SEASON

  • Spring
  • Fall

PLANTING DEPTH

  • Plant no deeper than the root ball

WATER NEEDS

  • Average

PLANT SPACING

  • 8 to 10 feet

HARDINESS ZONES

  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8

Planting Guide

recommended growing zone View our Apple Tree Planting Guide to learn more.

Ready to Grow

We guarantee that our seeds & bulbs will be true to type and ready to thrive. If something doesn't grow as expected, we will make it right. Questions? Call us at 855-440-2929

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Gala Apple Tree FAQs

How does Gala taste, and how is it different from other apples?

Gala is prized for being sweet and mild rather than tart. It has high natural sugar, low acidity, and a fine, crisp, juicy texture with a faint honeyed, floral note. Compared with a sharp apple like Granny Smith, Gala is gentler and more snackable straight off the tree, which is why it is such a favorite with children.

Do I need a second tree to get fruit?

Yes! Gala is not reliably self-fertile, so for a good crop you should plant a different apple variety that blooms around the same time within roughly 50 feet. Good partners include Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious. A flowering crabapple nearby can also provide pollen.

How soon will it bear fruit?

Most young apple trees begin bearing within about two to four years of planting, depending on rootstock, growing conditions, and care. Steady sun, water, and annual pruning help the tree establish a strong framework and come into reliable production sooner.

Can I grow Gala in a cold climate?

Gala is hardy in zones 5 through 8, so it tolerates real winters and actually needs that winter chill to set fruit. In zone 5 it should overwinter outdoors without protection. If your winters are colder than zone 5, the tree may not be reliably hardy in the ground.

Why is my tree dropping fruit or leaves?

A modest early-summer fruit drop is normal, the tree is shedding excess so it can size up what remains. Heavier drop or leaf loss usually points to drought stress, poor pollination, or pest and disease pressure such as apple scab. Check that the tree is watered deeply during dry spells, that a pollinator partner is nearby, and that fallen leaves and fruit are cleared to break disease cycles.

When and how do I harvest, and what can I make with the fruit?

Harvest in October–November when the green background color turns yellow and the apples lift and twist off the spur easily. Gala is excellent fresh as a snacking apple and shines in salads, sauce, and sweet cider; because it holds its shape and natural sweetness, it also bakes and roasts well with little or no added sugar. Stored cool in the refrigerator, Galas keep for several weeks to a few months.

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