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 |
|