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As of the third week in September, apple harvest is in full swing. Most growers have been through their Mac blocks at least once. The focus over the next week will be to finish the Mac harvest (color permitting) and move onto later maturing varieties such as Empire, Cortland, and Delicious. We are approaching the end of the harvest window for CA destined McIntosh (see Duane Greene’s summary below). Pre-harvest drop has been minimal, with the exception of earlier maturing Marshall McIntosh. Color has generally been outstanding except in warmer areas of eastern Massachusetts. With the end of Mac harvest approaching, an NAA application on low-color blocks may bring on some additional color and allow the fruit to be picked soon. Be advised that the end result of NAA application will be rapid maturity and significant drop -- watch the fruit closely.
Reports from neighboring states indicate the harvest is progressing nicely with the bulk of McIntosh being picked over the next ten days. The extended forecast call for warm temperatures over the next several days with a rapid cool-down for the weekend when daily high temperatures will only be in the 60's.
Here is Dr. Greene’s ‘Harvest the Potential’ report for September 18. Note that most of his comments are based on Belchertown observations.
Harvest of McIntosh is in full swing in all areas. Color continues to be good and further red color development is favored by cooler nights. The value of starch iodine figures as an indicator of harvest maturity has been questioned. However, with starch iodine levels above 6, and all other indicators of maturity also suggest that fruit harvested from now on, may best be placed in regular air storage. Drop control continues to be good in ReTain treated blocks, and maturity of fruit from these trees appears to be delayed by at least one week. Starch iodine levels in Gala is between 7 and 8 and all other indicators of maturity suggest that harvest should be completed soon. Honeycrisp should have been spot picked last week. Starch iodine levels, are quite variable, but average above 6. We recommend harvest of Honeycrisp when starch iodine levels reach 5 to 6, even if full red color development has not been reached. Starch iodine levels in Macoun and Empire now average above 3. Spot picking of these varieties can be started within the week.
Deerfield
Rogers McIntosh 6.2
Cortland 2.1
Empire 2.9
Delicious 2.5
Shelburne
Marshall McIntosh 6.2
Pioneer McIntosh 5.4
Honeycrisp 5.0 (range 2 6.5)
Gala 4.7 (range 2 7)
Hawley
Marshall McIntosh 4.8
Empire 2.5
Cortland 1.5
Macoun 2.5
Honeycrisp 3.3 (range 1 5)
Healthy Fruit is written by Dan Cooley, Ron Prokopy, Jon Clements, Starker Wright, Arthur Tuttle, Wes Autio, Bill Coli, and Duane Greene except where other contributors are noted. Publication is funded in part by the UMass Extension Agroecology Program, grower subscriptions, and the University of Massachusetts IPM Program. A text version can be e-mailed to you if you contact Doreen York. Please cite this source if reprinting information.
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