2014 Apple Maturity Report
All observations from Belchertown, MA unless otherwise noted
Questions, comments: Jon Clements 413-478-7219
| date | Cultivar | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | DA Index | starch index | comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/24/2014 | Thome Empire | none | 3.1 | 95 | 17.5 | 12 | 1.26 | 3.5 | great look, but needs 5-7 more days to develop maturity | |
| 9/23/2014 | Rubinstar Jonagold | nil | 3.5 | 70 | 16 | 13 | 1.11 | 5 | signs of sunburn/radial watercore; otherwise nice, could start harvest over next week |  |
| 9/23/2014 | Royal Court Cortland | none | 3.6 | 92 | 15.4 | 13.7 | 1.32 | 3 | nice, good sugar |  |
| 9/23/2014 | Snappymac McIntosh | some | 3.1 | 92 | 15.5 | 12.5 | 1.38 | 4.8 | nearing the end of window for CA harvest. although cool temps have preserved maturity and limited drop |  |
| 9/23/2014 | Honeycrisp | some | 3.45 | 60 | 13.6 | 11.6 | 0.54 | 6.4 | wish sugars were a little higher, but in the Honeycrisp sweet spot; harvest immediately assuming red color |  |
| 9/23/2014 | Macoun | nil | 3.1 | 70 | 18.1 | 11.3 | 1.76 | 3.4 | really needs another week to develop varietaly flaovr and quality |  |
| 9/23/2014 | Buckeye Gala | nil | 2.9 | 98 | 19.4 | 12.6 | 0.46 | 5 | on it s last legs |  |
| date | Cultivar | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | DA Index | starch index | comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/8/2014 | Rogers McIntosh | none | 3.2 | 60 | 16.3 | 11.5 | 1.65 | 3.75 | wait for better red color |  |
| 9/8/2014 | Lindamac | nil | 2.95 | 80 | 15.8 | 10.9 | 1.75 | 3.55 | start harvest (barely) |  |
| 9/8/2014 | Honeycrisp | few | 3.25 | 70 | 15.8 | 12.6 | 0.53 | 6.6 | ready to go, 1st pick on red color | |
| 9/9/2014 |
Rubymac (Deerfield) |
few | 2.95 | 95 | 17.6 | 12.2 | 1.58 | 4 (3-5.5) | nice, ready for pick |  |
| 9/9/2014 | Lindamac (Deerfield) |
few | 3.0 | 85 | 17.4 | 12.5 | 1.46 | 4.1 | nice, ready for pick |  |
| 9/9/2014 |
Honeycrisp (Deerfield) |
few | 3.05 | 65 | 19.3 | 13.2 | 0.46 | 5.4 | 1st-pick ready for sure |  |
| 9/9/2014 |
Brookfield Gala (Deerfield) |
none | 2.75 | 90 | 20.8 | 12.2 | 0.16 | 3.9 | good background color, ready for 1st-pick for sure |  |
| 9/9/2014 | Gale(?) Gala | none | 2.9 | 92 | 21.5 | 10.6 | 1.01 | 2.6 | these are still pretty green, wait another 5-7 days |  |
| 9/9/2014 | Buckeye Gala | nil | 2.9 | 95 | 20.2 | 10.8 | 0.49 | 3.8 | background color developing, would like to see higher sugar, worthy of 1st pick | |
| 9/9/2014 | Blondee | nil | 3.0 | NA | 20 | 11.6 | 0.31 | 3.7 (2-7) | start pick any time, very nice quality |  |
| date | Cultivar | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | starch index | DA Index | comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/1/2014 | Silken | none | 2.9 | 0 | 18.6 | 12.3 | 2-3 | 0.24 | needs another week |  |
| 9/2/2014 | Rubymac | none | 3.0 | 95 | 18.2 | 11.2 | 3 | 1.67 | look nice, color is way there but still tart-green, could use another week |  |
| 9/2/2014 | Lindamac | nil | 2.95 | 80 stripey | 16.4 | 10.7 | 3.5 | 1.82 | green as grass, need another week |  |
| 9/3/2014 | Honeycrisp | none | 3.3 | 55 | 16.6 | 11.1 | 3 (1.5-4.5) | 0.91 | needs another week at least |  |
| 9/3/2014 | Buckeye Gala | none | 2.85 | 85 | 20.2 | 9.5 | 2.5 (1.5-3.5) | 0.91 | still green, needs another week at least |  |
| date | Cultivar | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | starch index | comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/25 | Akane | nil | 2.85 | 75 | 18.5 | 11.9 | 3.9 | needs another week; significant stem and calyx russet |  |
| 8/25 | Minneiska | nil | 2.95 | 65 | 17.3 | 12.8 | 3 | a tart SweetTango right now, needs another week; some russet |  |
| 8/25 | Dandeered | significant | 3.25 | 95 | 14.6 | 12.1 | 4 | touch of watercore; kind of touchy in terms of drop/maturity, probably should have been already picked |  |
| 8/25 | Ginger Gold | none | 3.25 | 0, hint red blush | 19.6 | 12.4 | 2.9 (does not test well) | beginning peak Ginger Gold harvest; some signs of sun over-exposure; observed AMF on fruit while picking |  |
| date | Cultivar | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | starch index | comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/21 | Zestar! | few | 3.2 | 50 | 15.2 | 13.9 | 3.5 (barely) | ready for first pick |  |
| 8/21 | Sansa | nil | 2.95 | 65 hint stripe | 16.4 | 12.5 | 3.5 (2-4) | crew picking, not much background green; heavy crop affects eating quality |  |
| 8/21 | Ginger Gold | none | 3.25 | 0-10 hint pink | 20.5 | 12.4 | 2 (1-3) | not quite ready to pick |  |
| 8/21 | Paulared | few | 3.3 | 50 | 15.4 | 11.2 | 3 solid | some watercore; tart apple |  |
| 8/22 | Paulared (Harvard, MA) |
some | 3.4 | 50 | 13.8 | 10.8 | 4 (3-6) | fairly sweet juice; 6/10 significant watercore |