General comments on 09/03/09 apple maturity: with the exception of Northboro Honeycrisp, all fruit from 2nd leaf trees. With the exception of Northboro Honeycrisp, all fruit needs a week to develop better sugar, maturity, and flavor. Starch index of the Northboro Honeycrisp was unusually high, meaning the fruit were very mature, or there was not much start to start -- harvest of these Honeycrisp should commence as soon as color is adequate.

Cultivar
date
Location
color % red
fruit diameter inches
firmness lbs
soluble solids
starch index
(range)
 comments
Lindamac
9/3/2009
Northboro
75
3.3
14.2
11
3.6
(3-4)
 not ready yet, quality will improve, too green; need another week
Gale Gala
9/3/2009
Northboro
95
2.9
20.7
11
2
 needs another week at least, has not developed sugars or flavor; generally attractive and clean, very large crop for 2nd leaf trees
Honeycrisp
9/3/2009
Northboro
45
3.0
16.3
11.7
7
 starch index may not be indicative of actual maturity; evidence of sunburn on exposed cheek; heavy crop
Buckeye Gala
9/3/2009
Northboro
90
2.9
19.9
10
2.1
 not ready yet, needs at least another week
Lindamac
9/3/2009
Stow
80
3.4
17.9
13
3.5
(2-5)
 large fruit on 2nd leaf trees; should be given another week
Gale Gala
9/3/2009
Stow
95
2.95
22.1
11.9
3 (2-5)
 2nd leaf trees, heavy crop but looks good; need another week
Honeycrisp
9/3/2009
Stow
40
3.1
17.6
11.9
4 (1.5-6.5)