2011 Apple Maturity Report

UMass Cold Spring Orchard, Belchertown, MA 01007

Prepared by Jon Clements

Cultivar date Location pre-harvest drop fruit diameter inches color % red firmness lbs soluble solids starch index comments fruit picture
McIntosh 9/30/2011 Harvard significant 2.9 80 13.2 11.3 6.9 with Retain  
Liberty 10/6/2011 Belchertown few 3.15 95 16.1 13.4 6.3 (5-7.5) uneven ripening, could have been picked a week ago; very good for cider now Liberty Apple
Gibson Golden Delicious 10/7/2011 Belchertown none 3.15 0 14.4 12.1 6.5 top-notch Golden Delicious  
Cameo 10/9/2011 Belchertown nil 3.15 65 15.5 11.5 5.6 one with moldy core, variable fruit size and maturity but should be picked; SS should be higher... Cameo Apple
Mutsu 10/9/2011 Belchertown none 3.4 5 17.5 10.9 3.9 could wait a week to pick, not at it s peak yet Mutsu Apple
Crimson Gold 10/12/2011 Northboro none 2.95 60 18.5 13.5 5.9 1st-leaf trees; complex flavor, similar to Topaz Crimson Gold
Crimson Topaz 10/12/2011 Belchertown none 3.25 75 16.3 11.6 6.4 definitely ready to pick Crimson Topaz
Ambrosia 10/16/2011 Belchertown none 3.0 55 15.8 11 7 over-cropped, does not help eat quality Ambrosia
Suncrisp 10/21/2011 Belchertown none 3.2 20 17.3 13.4 6.9 very nice crop this year, requires vigilant thinning for best quality; equal to or better than Honeycrisp off the tree Suncrisp
Autumn Rose Fuji 10/21/2011 Belchertown none 2.95 70 16.8 12.3 7 no water core Autumn Rose Fuji
Desert Rose Fuji 10/21/2011 Belchertown none 3.0 80 15.1 11.5 7 one with water core Desert Rose Fuji
Stark Little Jewel 10/24/11 Belchertown nil 3.15 nearly 100 18.7 14.3 7 (6-8)

not ‘little’ fruit this year; pretty impressive for being relatively over-mature, seems to hang well on tree; good eating quality and flavor at this point; some water core; good for PYO or homeowner?

 Stark Little Jewel

 

Cultivar date Location pre-harvest drop fruit diameter inches color % red firmness lbs soluble solids starch index comments fruit picture
Lindamac 9/10 Belchertown some 3.1 80 15 10.2 4.2 (3-5) start of prime McIntosh harvest, some cool weather would help Lindamac
Buckeye Gala 9/11 Belchertown nil 2.9 90 17.8 9.5 7 need to harvest ASAP Buckeye Gala
Honeycrisp 9/14 Belchertown some 3.2 55 15.1 11.5 7 needs to be picked ASAP  
Crimson Crisp 9/15 Northboro nil 3.0 95 23.4 13.2 4.9 tart, thickish skin, needs another week to get good  
Honeygold 9/15 Northboro none 3.4 10, minimal 13.7 12.8 7 need to pick ASAP; bruises easily

 
Golden Supreme 9/15 Northboro some 3.2 15, variable 17.9 10.5 3.9 (2-6) uneven maturity, nice, spot-pick Golden Supreme
Elstar 9/15 Northboro nil 3.15 70 15.6 12.7 6.9 sweet, complex flavor; russet; gourmet apple Elstar
Redmax McIntosh 9/20 Belchertown some 3 75 14.3 10.8 6 mites; needs to be picked ASAP  
Redmax McIntosh 9/26 Belchertown some, loose 3 85 14 11.1 6.5 last pick, done  
Redcort Cortland 9/26 Belchertown some 3.3 80 14.5 11.1 4 (2-8) ready to pick despite low SI  
Macoun 9/28 Belchertown some 2.9 65 15.5 10.7 4 just ready to pick, not the best Macoun I have seen  
Royal Empire 9/29 Belchertown none 2.8 85 17.3 12.3 4.3 light crop, just ready to start pick Royal Empire
Rubinstar Jonagold 9/29 Belchertown few 3.2 60 14.8 10.7 (low) 6.9 best already picked Rubinstar Jonagold

 

Cultivar date Location pre-harvest drop fruit diameter inches color % red firmness lbs soluble solids starch index comments fruit picture
Daybreak Fuji 9/7/2011 Northboro none 3.1 60 14.5 10.8 (low) 4.6 (3-8) not ready to pick, wait a week Daybreak Fuji
Blondee 9/8/2011 Belchertown some 3.1 yellow 16.2 12.1 6 (5-7) perfect maturity (tree ripe); variable fruit shape; decent Blondee
Buckeye Gala 9/8/2011 Belchertown nil 3.0 nearly 100 14.2 11.3 6.5 need to harvest ASAP Buckeye Gala
Cherry Gala (Brandt) 9/8/2011 Belchertown few 3.1 95 16.1 13.6 6.5 similar, but not superior to Buckeye Gala; seems large size; not sure if commercially available to plant Cherry Gala (brandt)
Stark Ultrared Gala 9/8/2011 Belchertown nil 2.9 95 18 12.4 5.9 attractive, but not superior Gala; smaller fruit size  

 

Cultivar date Location pre-harvest drop fruit diameter inches color % red firmness lbs soluble solids starch index comments fruit picture
Paulared 8/19/2011 Belchertown some 3.1 75 15.1 11 3.5 (2-5) some water core; tart Paulared
Dandeered 8/19/2011 Belchertown few 3.25 95 14.1 10.8 3.25 a little earlier and superior to Paulared; uniform maturity and color, one pick Dandeered
Sansa 8/19/2011 Belchertown nil 2.95 50 14.8 11.4 4.5 (4-6) seems to be a bit off-flavor this year? Sansa
Zestar! 8/26/2011 Belchertown few 3.2 60 13.47 13.5 5.4 meh Zestar!
Ginger Gold 8/26/2011 Belchertown some 3.35 10 18.2 11.5 2.5 Does not starch test well, nice and yellow with red cheek, ready to pick for sure Ginger Gold
Silken 8/29/2011 Belchertown nil 3.0   16.1 11.2 3.5 bruises easily; not ready for pick for one week still Silken
Rubymac 8/29/2011 Belchertown nil 3.0 95 16.2 10.4 3 wait one week to pick Rubymac
Lindamac 8/29/2011 Belchertown few 2.95 60 16.5 10 3.5 do not pick until one more week has passed Lindamac
Honeycrisp 9/2/2011 Westfield nil 3.3 65 17 13 6(3.5-7.5) definitely ready for 1st-pick by color Honeycrisp
Honeycrisp 9/2/2011 Belchertown few 3.2 45 15 10.8 6.55 (3.5-8) not nearly as nice as the Westfield Honeycrisp picked same day; surprised at lack of starch; need to 1st pick on color for sure; one with moldy core; hail damage Honeycrisp
Lindamac 9/2/2011 Westfield few 3.1   14.7 12 3.9 not ready to pick yet despite color Lindamac
Gale Gala 9/2/2011 Westfield none 2.8 95 23 13 3.5 (3-5) small fruit size, some russet; not one of the best Gala strains, although may vary by location Gale Gala

©Jon Clements and the UMass Fruit Advisor