General comments on 09/29/09 apple maturity: Empire, except those treated with ReTain, are ready for start of harvest. Pick over the next week. ReTain-treated Empire could go another week. Royal Empire looks real nice, although fruit size is lacking on these rather weak trees on B.9 rootstock planted 2 feet apart. McIntosh and Honeycrisp harvest should be complete by now. I expect Golden Delicious, Mutsu, and 'Red' Delicious will be ready to pick the first full week in October (next week).
| date | Location | Cultivar |
pre-harvest drop |
color % red |
fruit diameter inches |
firmness lbs |
soluble solids |
starch index |
comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/29/2009 | Stow | nil |
85 |
2.95 |
17.1 |
11.0 |
4.5 (3-5) |
ready for harvest | |
| 9/29/2009 | Harvard | nil |
95 |
3.0 |
18.5 |
11.3 |
3.5 |
one with water core; nice, very attractive on trees; could wait a week to pick (treated with ReTain) | |
| 9/29/2009 | Belchertown | nil |
95 |
2.9 |
18 |
12.6 |
5 |
somewhat small size on weakish (B.9 rootock) trees; otherwise, very, very nice | |
| 9/29/2009 | Harvard | few |
70 |
3.0 |
16.4 |
14 |
7 |
left on tree after last pick; pretty well shot even with ReTain at this point | |
| 9/29/2009 | Harvard | some |
65 |
3.4 |
13.7 |
11.9 |
7.5 |
despite being treated with ReTain, should have been picked by now; hint of late-harvest off-flavor (alcohol) developing |