Southwest Michigan apple maturity report – Oct. 9, 2019
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EmailRed Delicious harvest is finishing up, with Fuji and Ida Red next in line.
General apple harvest comments
Continued mild weather is helping to speed up harvest and improve apple quality. Brown marmorated stink bug activity is relatively light and seems to be associated with orchards close to field crops. San Jose scale damage seems to be more common in older trees where spray coverage is more difficult.
Samples collected for this report are from the central Berrien County region, targeting more mature fruit on the outside of the tree canopy. Fruit in the interior of the tree will be less advanced than shown here. Sites with heavier soils and greater crop loads will generally be less mature.
|
Apple maturity in southwest Michigan for apples harvested Oct. 7, 2019 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Variety |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Golden Delicious |
16.5 (15.0-19.3) |
4.8 (3.0-6.6) |
13.5 |
|
Red Delicious |
16.0 (15.0-17.0) |
4.7 (3.4-6.0) |
11.7 |
|
Ida Red |
16.4 (16.0-17.0) |
2.4 (2.0-3.0) |
11.6 |
|
Fuji (late season) |
17.8 (17.1-18.4) |
3.5 (3.0-4.8) |
13.2 |
|
Rome |
21.7 (20.0-23.0) |
3.0 (3.0-3.0) |
11.8 |
|
Cameo |
18.2 (18.0-18.4) |
3.0 (2.6-3.4) |
13.0 |
|
Braeburn |
21.8 (20.0-23.0) |
3.1 (2.6-3.8) |
10.7 |
|
Evercrisp* |
21.0 |
3.6 |
16.2 |
* Based on one site
Individual variety results
Golden Delicious
Golden Delicious was sampled for the fourth week. Starch conversion this week is averaging 4.8 compared to 4.1 for the previous week, with 3 as the target for mature for this variety. Fruit firmness this week averaged 16.5 pounds and is below the general guideline of a minimum of 17 pounds firmness for best long-term controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. Over 95% of the area’s Golden Delicious fruit have been harvested. Skin finish is generally good.
|
Golden Delicious maturity sampling for the harvest season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 16 |
17.5 (17.0-18.0) |
1.6 (1.0-2.0) |
11.4 |
|
Sept. 23 |
17.6 (16.0-19.0) |
3.5 (2.8-4.0) |
12.4 |
|
Sept. 30 |
17.1 (16.0-19.0) |
4.1 (2.0-5.0) |
12.5 |
|
Oct. 7 |
16.5 (15.0-19.3) |
4.8 (3.0-6.6) |
13.5 |
Red Delicious
Red Delicious was sampled for the third week. Fruit at 16.0 pounds firmness or lower are suited for short-term CA storage and more immediate consumption, with the average for this week at 16 pounds firmness. Starch conversion is now averaging 4.7, with a reading of 3.5 or greater considered sufficiently mature for harvesting. The predicted peak harvest date for Red Delicious in central Berrien County is Oct. 7. About two-thirds of the Red Delicious in the area have been harvested.
|
Red Delicious maturity sampling for the harvest season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 23 |
17.1 (16.0-18.1) |
3.3 (3.0-4.0) |
10.7 |
|
Sept. 30 |
16.5 (16.0-18.0) |
3.5 (3.0-4.6) |
10.9 |
|
Oct. 7 |
16.0 (15.0-17.0) |
4.7 (3.4-6.0) |
11.7 |
Ida Red
The current starch test average of 2.4 is still well below the mature threshold of 3.5. Minimum recommended firmness for long-term CA storage is 16 pounds, currently averaging 16.4. The predicted harvest date for Ida Red in central Berrien County is Oct. 15.
|
Ida Red maturity sampling for the harvest season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 23 |
18.0 (17.0-18.0) |
1.7 (1.0-2.0) |
10.5 |
|
Sept. 30 |
17.3 (16.2-20.0) |
2.2 (2.0-3.0) |
11.3 |
|
Oct. 7 |
16.4 (16.0-17.0) |
2.4 (2.0-3.0) |
11.6 |
Fuji (late season varieties)
The current firmness is testing at 17.8, about 1 pound less than last week and above 16 pounds, which is the recommended minimum firmness for long-term CA storage. Accordingly, harvest can be delayed to wait for better size, brix and skin color. The recommended minimum starch reading for maturity is 3.0, the current reading is 3.5. The predicted harvest date for Fuji for central Berrien County is Oct. 28.
|
Fuji (main season) maturity sampling for the harvest season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 23 |
20.5 (19.4-22.0) |
3.2 (2.4-4.4) |
11.8 |
|
Sept. 30 |
18.9 (18.3-20.4) |
3.3 (3.0-4.4) |
12.5 |
|
Oct. 7 |
17.8 (17.1-18.4) |
3.5 (3.0-4.8) |
13.2 |
Rome
A minimum of 3.0 for the starch index is recommended for harvesting, with current regional average of 3.0. Since the current firmness is testing well above 18 pounds—the recommended minimum firmness for long-term CA storage—harvest can be delayed to wait for better size, brix and skin color. The predicted harvest date for Rome for central Berrien County is Oct. 15. Harvesting of some fruit for processing is underway.
|
Rome maturity sampling for the harvest season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 30 |
23.0 (23.0-23.2) |
3.0 (3.0-3.0) |
11.5 |
|
Oct. 7 |
21.7 (20.0-23.0) |
3.0 (3.0-3.0) |
11.8 |
Braeburn
A minimum of 3.0 for the starch index is recommended for harvesting for fresh for Braeburn. Since the current firmness is testing well above 16 pounds—the recommended minimum firmness for long-term CA storage—harvest can be delayed to wait for better size, brix and skin color. The predicted harvest date for Braeburn for central Berrien County is Oct. 28.
|
Braeburn maturity sampling for the harvest season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 30 |
23.8 (22.0-26.0) |
2.2 (1.6-2.8) |
10.4 |
|
Oct. 7 |
21.8 (20.0-23.0) |
3.1 (2.6-3.8) |
10.7 |
Cameo
A minimum of 3.0, the current average for the starch index, is recommended for harvesting for fresh. Current firmness is 18.2 pounds. Harvest can be delayed to wait for better size, brix and skin color. Other harvesting indicators are 50% red color (for original strain) and background beginning to change from green to cream white.
|
Cameo maturity sampling for the harvest season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 30 |
20.0 (19.0-21.0) |
2.5 (2.0-3.0) |
12.3 |
|
Oct. 7 |
18.2 (18.0-18.4) |
3.0 (2.6-3.4) |
13.0 |
Evercrisp (MAIA 1)
A minimum of 3.0 for the starch index is recommended for harvesting for fresh for Evercrisp, the current average is 3.6. The current firmness is testing 21.0 pounds at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in central Berrien County, well above the minimum of 18 pounds for best long-term CA storage—harvest can be delayed to wait for better size, brix and skin color.
This variety is known for high brix levels, currently testing 16.2%. Our best guess is this variety harvests about 15 days after Red Delicious, or approximately Oct. 15 this year for central Berrien County. This is a relatively new variety and so the optimal pressure and starch test readings are still not known. Changing of background color from green to a lighter green or slight yellow appears to be a good indicator of a mature apple.
|
Evercrisp maturity sampling for the harvest season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 30 |
24.0 |
3.0 |
14.5 |
|
Oct. 7 |
21.0 |
3.6 |
16.2 |
|
Normal and predicted 2019 peak harvest dates for apple varieties in central Berrien County in southwest Michigan based on weather data at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center, Benton Harbor, MI. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Variety |
Normal date |
2018 Predicted peak harvest date |
2019 Predicted peak harvest date |
|
Paula Red |
Aug. 22 |
Aug. 20 |
Aug. 28 |
|
Zestar |
Aug. 22 |
Aug. 20 |
Aug. 28 |
|
Gingergold |
Aug. 20 |
Aug 18 |
Aug. 26 |
|
McIntosh |
Sept. 10 |
Sept 8 |
Sept. 16 |
|
Gala |
Sept. 8 |
Sept 6. |
Sept. 14 |
|
Early Fuji |
Sept. 3 |
Sept. 1 |
Sept. 10 |
|
Honeycrisp |
Sept. 13 |
Sept. 13 |
Sept. 20 |
|
Empire |
Sept. 19 |
Sept. 23 |
Sept. 26 |
|
Jonathan |
Sept. 22 |
Sept. 24 |
Sept. 30 |
|
Jonagold |
Sept. 22 |
Sept. 24 |
Sept. 30 |
|
Golden Delicious |
Sept. 25 |
Sept. 27 |
Oct. 1 |
|
Red Delicious |
Sept. 28 |
Oct. 1 |
Oct. 7 |
|
Ida Red |
Oct. 5 |
Oct. 8 |
Oct. 15 |
|
Rome |
Oct. 5 |
Oct. 8 |
Oct. 15 |
|
Fuji |
Oct. 20 |
Oct. 22 |
Oct. 28 |
|
Braeburn |
Oct. 20 |
Oct. 22 |
Oct. 28 |
|
Goldrush |
Oct. 26 |
Oct. 28 |
Nov. 3 |
|
Suggested firmness and starch index levels for long-term and shorter-term controlled atmosphere (CA) storage by variety. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Variety |
Firmness (pounds)* |
Starch Index* | |||
|
Short CA |
Mid-CA |
Long CA |
Mature |
Over mature | |
|
McIntosh |
14 |
15 |
16 |
5 |
7 |
|
Gala |
16 |
17 |
18 |
3 |
6 |
|
Honeycrisp |
15 |
16 |
17 |
3.5 |
7 |
|
Empire |
14 |
15 |
16 |
3.5 |
6 |
|
Early Fuji |
16 |
17 |
18 |
3 |
7 |
|
Jonagold |
15 |
16 |
17 |
3.5 |
5.5 |
|
Jonathan |
14 |
15 |
16 |
3.5 |
5.5 |
|
Golden Delicious |
15 |
16 |
17 |
3 |
6.5 |
|
Red Delicious |
16 |
17 |
18 |
2.5 |
6 |
|
Idared |
14 |
15 |
16 |
3.5 |
6 |
|
Fuji |
16 |
17 |
18 |
3 |
7 |
|
Rome |
15 |
16 |
18 |
3 |
5.5 |
|
Braeburn |
16 |
17 |
18 |
3.0 |
7.0 |
*Firmness is measured with a mechanical 11-millimeter wide probe inserted into the pared flesh of a fruit to a distance of 8 millimeters. Starch index is measured on equatorial cross section of an apple stained with iodine solution and rated using the Cornell University starch-iodine index chart for apples on a 1-8 scale (Predicting Harvest Date Window for Apples by Blanpied and Silsbey, Cornell Extension Bulletin 221.)
