2024 Apple Maturity Report
All observations from UMass Orchard, Belchertown, MA and presumably no ReTain unless otherwise noted. Questions, comments: Jon Clements 413-478-7219 Note: target maturity indeces: red color, >50%; firmness, >14 lbs.; soluble solids, >12; DA, 0.60 to 0.40 for Honeycrisp, 0.65 for Gala, 1.00 for Golden Delicious, 1.15 to 1.00 for Red Delicious (higher DA = more "green"); starch index, 4-6. You can click on any apple image to get a close-up and scroll through the pictures.
| date | Cultivar | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | DA Index | starch index | comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/26 | MAIA-SM (Sweet Maia) | none | 3.2 | 95 | 18 | 12.3 | 0.82 | 3.5 to 6.5 | start harvest, no rush, holds on tree well for 2-3 weeks |  |
| 8/26 | MonaLisa | nil | 3.2 | 75 | 17 | 12.5 | 0.28 | 3.5 to 4.5 | heavy crop, attractive; scab-resistant; one with bad brown core (an anamoly?) |  |
| 8/26 | MAIA12 (Summerset) | nil | 3.8 large | 55 | 14 | 12.5 | 0.57 | 4.5 | light crop, very large apples, nice sweet-tart flavor balance if only could get it to crop! |  |
| 8/26 | Royal Red Honeycrisp | nil | 3.25 | 65 | 14 | 11.1 | 0.77 | 3.5 to 7 | some bitter pit starting to show up; need another week minimum |  |
| 8/26 | Akane | none | 3.2 | 95 | 15 | 13 | 0.59 | 6 | seeing some bitter rot, could be picked over next week |  |
| 8/26 | Premier Honeycrisp | few | 3.7 | 55 striped | 10+ | 12.3 | 0.53 | 5.5-7 | need to be harvested this week, had first pick so color lacking on remainder |  |
| 8/26 | MN 1914 (SweeTango) | none | 3.1 | 65 | 14 | 12.3 | 0.33 | 3-6.5 | heavy crop, one with watercore, will be best in one week |  |
| 8/26 | Gingergold | none | 3.5 | 10% red blush not on all | 17 | 11.3 | 0.63 | 2-4 | does not starch test well, could start harvest |  |
| 8/26 | Zestar! | nil | 3.3 | 35 | 12 | 13.1 | 0.77 | 4-7 | being harvested, meh |  |
| 8/26 | Rubymac McIntosh | none | 3.2 | 90 | 13 | 10.3 | NA | 3.5-4.5 | wait another week minimum |  |
| date | Cultivar | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | DA Index | starch index | comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/15 | Akane | nil | 2.85 | 65 | 16 | 11.1 | 1.22 | 3 (1-4) |
bitter rot; some water core; probably not worth doing DA meter; not ready to harvest based on taste |
 |
| 8/15 | Sansa | nil | 3.4 | 50 | 11 | 13 | 0.36 | 4-5 | first pick already |  |
| 8/15 | Premier Honeycrisp | nil | 3.4 | 65 | 11 (9-13) | 11.6 | 0.54 | 6 (3-7) | could do a 1st pick based on color, wrap up within a week |  |
| 8/15 | Paulared | few | 3.25 | 80 | 9 (6-14) | 11.6 | NA | 5 (4-8) |
some apples getting very soft; fire blight |
 |
| 8/15 | MAIA SM (Sweet MAIA) | none | 3.1 | 75 | 19 | 11.5 | 1.19 | 4-7 | don't even think about it yet, will get much better in two weeks |  |
| 8/15 | Zestar! | nil | 3.3 | 40 | 12 | 12.1 | 0.65 | 4-5 | approaching first harvest within the week? |  |
