Predicted 2013 apple harvest dates

Phil Schwallier<schwalli@msu.edu>, and Amy Irish-Brown, Michigan State University Extension - July 23, 2013

The roller coaster-like spring weather still results in 2013 apple harvest dates near normal averages.

The 2013 season began with a roller coaster of weather across Michigan. A late-starting winter and extended cool period delayed spring and was then followed by alternate periods of warm and cold weather that surged tree development forward and backward. Some areas experienced a severe frost. This unusual spring was also characterized by considerable, seemingly unending, record precipitation in some state locations. At times, apple tree development was two to three weeks behind normal, but in the end most of the state bloomed near normal to slightly behind normal dates. Southwest and southeast Michigan bloomed two to three days behind normal and the rest of the state bloomed near normal to slightly late. In some parts of the state, the severe frost killed some primary bloom (bloom on 2-year-old wood and older), but the later primary and secondary bloom (bloom on 1-year old-wood) was not hurt and a heavy fruit set resulted.

Last year’s early bloom (about 30 days early) resulted in record early predicted harvest, about 20 to 30 days ahead of normal. The 2013 predicted harvest dates (Table 1) are between one to seven days behind normal depending on the area. These predicted harvest dates are for the center or peak harvest of these varieties for CA storage. Gala is notorious for ripening early when late summer temperatures are above normal. Other varieties are less prone to hot temperatures, advancing fall maturity. Still, other varieties ripen when triggered by cold temperatures occurring near harvest time. Michigan State University Extension advises growers to keep in mind that heavy crops will mature a few days later than average fruit set.

Table 1. 2013 predicted peak harvest dates.

Full bloom date				Predicted harvest date
Enviro-weather station	McIntosh	Jonathans	Reds	McIntosh	Jonathans	Reds	Observer
SWMREC	9-May	13-May	14-May	11-Sep	27-Sep	3-Oct	Shane
Deerfield	8-May	9-May	10-May	9-Sep	26-Sep	4-Oct	Tritten
Romeo	15-May	16-May	16-May	15-Sep	2-Oct	8-Oct	Tritten
Peach Ridge	15-May	16-May	17-May	15-Sep	29-Sep	5-Oct	Schwallier
Hart	19-May	20-May	20-May	20-Sep	5-Oct	11-Oct	Schwallier
NWMHRS	21-May	21-May	22-May	23-Sep	8-Oct	16-Oct	Rothwell

Table 2. 2013 predicted peak harvest dates compared to normal and last year.

Days compared to normal (- = before, + = after)				Days compared to last year (- = before, + = after)
Enviro-weather station	McIntosh	Jonathans	Reds	McIntosh	Jonathans	Reds
SWMREC	+4	6	+5	+34	+29	+28
Deerfield	+1	+5	+2	+27	+16	+16
Romeo	+2	+7	+5	+25	+17	+17
Peach Ridge	+1	+3	+1	+27	+18	+16
Ludington	+2	+2	-3	+28	+16	+17
NWMHRS	+1	+2	-1	+25	+20	+19

The normal harvest dates for other varieties are listed in Table 3 for the Grand Rapids, Mich., area. This year's 2013 predicted dates and adjusted predicted dates are a rough estimate based on the McIntosh, Jonathan and Red Delicious predicted dates. Other areas of the state should adjust non-predicted varieties based on their own history. Use 30 days before 2013 predicted harvest dates to time applications of ReTain for stop drop management.

Table 3. Normal peak harvest dates for varieties for the Grand Rapids, Mich., area

Variety	Normal date	2013 predicted date
Paulared	8/24	8/24
Gingergold	8/26	8/26
Gala	9/10	9/10
McIntosh	9/14	9/15
Honeycrisp	9/18	9/18
Empire	9/22	9/22
Jonathan	9/26	9/29
Jonagold	9/28	9/28
Golden Delicious	10/2	10/2
Red Delicious	10/4	10/5
Idared	10/10	10/10
Rome	10/15	10/15
Fuji	10/25	10/25
Braeburn	10/25	10/25
Goldrush	11/1	11/1

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).