2024 Apple Maturity Report

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 PIC
10/10 MAIA1 (Evercrisp) none 3.4 50+ but rather dull still 17 12.9 0.86 3-4-5 could use another week but getting close: seeing some watercore start to develop evercrisp101024
10/10 MAIA11 (Rosalee) nil 3.3 80 11 12 0.54 8 ASAP, bruises easily but it is a great tasting apple and very attractive (but complex) rosalee101024
10/10 MAIA-L (Ludacrisp) none 3.2 85 13 14.4 0.48 5-6-7 top-worked trees, very attractive, nice crop load ludacrisp101024
10/10 Suncrisp nil 3.3 NA 15 13.2 1.00 3-4-5 maturity (and quality) very sensitive to crop load; mostly need another week or two suncrisp101024
10/10 Cripps Pink (Barnsby) none 3.2 85, nice 15 13.9 0.56 4-5-6 ready to harvest ASAP crippspinkbarnsby101024
10/10 Mutsu/Crispin nil, but seem kind of loose 3.6 NA 15 12.4 0.79 4-6+ what's there to say? mutsu101024
10/10 Fuji (Supreme?) none 3.1 65+ but still rather dull 11 11.7 1.56 4'ish need another week fujisupreme101024
10/10 Golden Russet nil 3.0 yellow 27! 17.7 0.51 4'ish hard little rocks but win on brix; core watercore goldenrusset101024
date Cultivar pre-harvest drop fruit diameter inches color % red firmness lbs soluble solids DA Index starch index comments PIC
10/1 Hudson Golden Gem yes 3.4 NA 21 15.8 0.53 4'ish

dropping, some very loose, variable maturity, should be spot picked at the very least

 hudsongoldengem100124
9/30 Cortland some 3.8 huge 80 13 13.4 NA 4 to 5.5? big, ugly, but has white flesh :-) cortland093024
9/30 Macoun nil, push-off 3.2 90 15 11.7 NA 4-6+ harvested already, taste good macoun093024
9/30 Empire none 3.3 95 14 12.1 NA 4-6+ nice, very large for Empire, need harvest ASAP empire093024
9/30 Honeycrisp few 3.6 50-90 10 11.9 0.36 7+ had ReTain, hint of watercore, need harvest ASAP honeycrisp093024
9/30 Jonagold nil 3.6 85 12 12.1 0.57 7-8 need harvest ASAP jonagold093024
9/30 Ambrosia nil 3.5 65 13 12.7 0.45 6-7 scab; needs harvest ASAP ambrosia093024
9/30 Golden Delicious none 3.6 yellow 13.5 14 0.62 6 very nice look goldendelicious093024
9/30 Spencer nil 3.5 75 10 12 0.70 7-8 on the soft side, harvest ASAP spencer093024
9/30 Crimson Topaz none 3.5 80 18 15.8 0.18 4-5-6? marssonina, fire blight; acidic apple, good for cider crimsontopaz093024
9/30 Ludacrisp none 3.3 conical 50 15 14.4 0.82 4-6 getting there but variety flavor not there, wait a week ludacrisp093024
9/30 Rosalee none 3.2 55 dull 13.5 11.7 0.77 7+ need another week despite SI, over-cropped?, necrotic leaf blotch? rosalee093024
9/30 MAIA AM few 3.6 globose yellow 14 14.8 0.10 7.5-8 tropical fruit bomb flavor, some watercore maiaam093024
9/30 Delicious nil 3.2 99 13 12.1 NA 3.5 to 5.5 watercore, being PYO'd delicious093024
9/30 Cripps Pink 'Maslin' none 32 70 16 12.7 0.44 4-6? some scab on apples, Barnsby (below) has a nice look (but on younger trees) crippspinkmaslin093024
9/30 Cripps Pink 'Barnsby' none 3.2 75 16 12.8 0.61 3-4 nice look, will be ready for harvest in a week crippspinkbarnsby093024
9/30 Caville Blanc few? 3.6 irregular yellow 18 11.5 1.27 green 2-3 needs another week at least, good for tarts :-) cavilleblanc093024
date Cultivar pre-harvest drop fruit diameter inches color % red firmness lbs soluble solids DA Index starch index comments PIC
9/24 Pioneer McIntosh some 3.2 85 12 12.2 NA 6 nice, should harvest ASAP pioneermac092424
9/23 McIntosh (Rubymac) nil 3.4 95+ 11.5 12.1 NA 6+ starting to go south...done rubymac092324
9/24 McIntosh (Pioneer?) some 3.25 75 13 12.9 NA 4.5 to 6 some scab pioneermac092424
9/23 Cortland (Redcort) nil 3.5 95 14 10.9 NA 2+ being harvested, can go another week, likely had ReTain cortland092324
9/23 Macoun push-off 3.2 85 13 11.5 NA 3.5 to 5.5 hint of watercore, likely had ReTain, economically ripene macoun092324
9/23 Honeycrisp some 3.4 65 12 12.6 0.46 5.5 to 7 likely had ReTain; should harvest (and pre-condition) this week on color, but probably good for another week honeycrisp092324
9/23 Jonagold nil 3.6 65 13.5 13 0.68 4.5 to 8 uneven maturity, getting there, likely had ReTain jonagold092324
9/23 Golden Delicious (Gibson) none 3.4 yellow 15 13.3 1.11 4-5-6 need another week goldendelicious092324
9/23 Crimson Gold none 3.4 55 18 14.1 0.39 4'ish could stand another week on trees, an excellent apple crimsongold092324
9/23 Crimson Crisp none 3.5 99 19.5 14.4 0.33 6-7+ need to be harvested ASAP. light crop = early maturity crimsoncrisp092324
9/23 Ambrosia nil 3.4 75 15 13.5 0.23 4 to 6.5 juice tastes like fruit cocktaik, first pick needs to happen soon and finish within a week ambrosia092324
9/23 Empire none 3.4 90 15 12.7 NA 3.5 to 6 looking good, start harvest but no rush either empire092324
9/23 Liberty none 3.0 95+ 18 13.1 NA 3.5 to 6 needs to be harvested liberty092324
9/23 Baker's Delight nil 3.1 65 12.5 11.9 0.41 7 interesting apple, unique flavor bakersdelight092324
9/23 Haralson none 3.2 80 14 13.5 0.79 5 to 8 some watercore, good for baking haralson092324
date Cultivar pre-harvest drop fruit diameter inches color % red firmness lbs soluble solids DA Index starch index comments PIC
9/16 McIntosh (Rogers Red) few 3.2 90 11.5 12 NA 5 already harvested rogersmac091624
9/16 McIntosh (Rubymac) nil 3.4 95+ 10.5 13 NA 4-6 seem kind of soft? some scab; ReTain? harvest ASAP rubymac091624
9/16 McIntosh (Pioneer?) some 3.25 75 13 12.9 NA 4.5 to 6 some scab pioneermac091624
9/16 Cortland (Redcort?) none 3.6 85 14.5 11.1 NA 2-3-4 some fly speck showing up, barely ready for start of harvest cortland091624
9/16 Macoun push-off 3.4 45 13 11.8 NA 3-4+ hint of watercore, need another week macoun091624
9/16 Honeycrisp (NC-140) few 3.6 65 13 12.5 0.53 6.5 to 8 very large apples, lightish crop, bitter pit, rots honeycrisp091624
9/16 Honeycrisp (A3) few 3.6 45 12 11.8 0.67 4-7 ReTain? bitter pit/rot honeycrispa3091624
9/16 Morning Mist Fuji none 3.4 70 12 NA 1.10 6-7+ sweet, DA not a good measure?; ready to harvest 2 picks over next week mmfuji091624
9/16 Crimson Crisp none 3.2 95+ firm 13.7 0.44 5 to 6.5 hnot of watercore, lightish crop in young trees, a week or so early? crimsoncrisp091624
9/16 Ambrosia none 3.4 50 16 12.7 0.41 4's? scab; rots; would be early for start or harvest, wait a week but watch closely ambrosia091624
9/16 MAIA AM loose, a few 3.4 yellow-green 17 NA 0.41 6-8 Has not changed much since last week, ready for harvest maiaamon091624
9/17 Empire none 3.2 80 15.5 11.7 NA 2.5 to 3.5 wait a week empire091724
9/17 Liberty none 3.1 85 19 12.4 NA 3 wait a week but watch liberty091724
date Cultivar pre-harvest drop fruit diameter inches color % red firmness lbs soluble solids DA Index starch index comments PIC
9/9 McIntosh (Rogers Red) yes 3.4 85 nice 14.5 12.7 NA Mostly 4'ish plus nice look, harvest soon rrmcintosh090924
9/9 McIntosh (Rubymac) few 3.2 95+ 13 11 NA 3.5 to 6 bottoms of trees already harvested (stripped); heavy crop rubymac090924
9/9 Cortland (Redcort?) nil 3.6 75 16 10.5 NA 1.5 if that need another week, still green; maybe had ReTain? cortland090924
9/9 Gala (Buckeye) none 3.0 95+ 18 14.6 0.15 3.5 to 7.5 getting greasy, needs to be harvested ASAP buckeyegala090924
9/9 Blondee none 3.2 10% blush 17 11.6 0.42 3 to 7 nice look, meh flavor? blondee090924
9/9 Honeycrisp (Royal Red) some, yes 3.4 65 11? 11.3 0.75 7 seems to be a bit even, final pick, ripe apples dropping rrhoneycrisp090924
9/9 Honeycrisp few 3.6 45 13 11.7 0.61 5 to 7 could first pick on red color honeycrisp090924
9/9 Sweet MAIA nil 3.1 95+ 16 11.7 0.33 8 getting old, water core sweetmaia090924
9/9 MAIA AM loose 3.2 yellow 16 13.5 0.45 4.5 to 7.5 fruity flavor, very good eat, fruit surface has some blemishes maia-am091024
9/9 Morning Mist Fuji none 3.3 80 14.5 13.8 0.91 4 to 6? could be spot-picked on red color but will be better in a week mmfuji091024
date Cultivar pre-harvest drop fruit diameter inches color % red firmness lbs soluble solids DA Index starch index comments Image
9/3 McIntosh (Rogers Red) some 3.2 65 14 11.3 NA 3.5 to 4.5 touch of scab, wait a week rogersmcintosh090324
9/3 McIntosh (Rubymac) nil, but getting loose 3.4 95+ 12 10.5 NA 4-7 lightish crop on these trees; touch of bitter pit; other than red-color, sub-par McInotsh rubymac090324
9/3 Gala (Cherry?) nil 3.2 80 some stripe 14 10.4 0.49 3.5 to 6.5 from Brandt, Cherry Gala?; bunched up, heavy crop, getting slightly greasy, very sweet, no acid cherrygala090324
9/3 Gala (Buckeye) none 3.0 95 18 13.2 0.20 3-8 quite ripe, clustered apples but some very nice ones too buckeyegala090324
9/3 Honeycrisp (Royal Red) nil 3.2 75 13.5 11.4 0.63 5.5 to 6.5 touch of bitter pit; start harvest on red color but variety flavor not there yet royalredhoneycrisp090324
9/3 Honeycrisp nil 3.6 55 12 13.5 0.65 5.5-7 getting there, wait a week; the usual bitter pit and bitter rot honeycrispbitterpit090324
9/3 Minneiska none 3.1 65 14 12.5 0.25 3-6.5 touch of watercore; up to a week ahead of schedule? comes off plant patent 11/2026? minneiska090324
9/3 Blondee none 3.2 yellow 16.5 11.6 0.53 2-5 could use another week, under-planted IMHO blondee090324
9/3 Silken ? 3.2 yellow 13.5 11.3 0.22 4 harvest date? already picked silken0903424
9/3 Sweet MAIA none 3.2 90 16.5 11.7 0.51 6.5 to 8 need to be harvested ASAP sweetmaia090324
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 sweetmaia082624
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?) monalisa082624
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! summerset082624
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 royalredhoneycrisp082624
8/26 Akane none 3.2 95 15 13 0.59 6 seeing some bitter rot, could be picked over next week akane082624
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 premierhoneycrisp082624
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 mn1914082624
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 gingergold082624
8/26 Zestar! nil 3.3 35 12 13.1 0.77 4-7 being harvested, meh zestar082624
8/26 Rubymac McIntosh none 3.2 90 13 10.3 NA 3.5-4.5 wait another week minimum rubymac082624
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

 akane081524
8/15 Sansa nil 3.4 50 11 13 0.36 4-5 first pick already sansa081524
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 premierhoneycrisp081524
8/15 Paulared few 3.25 80 9 (6-14) 11.6 NA 5 (4-8)

some apples getting very soft; fire blight

 paulared081524
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 maia-sm081524
8/15 Zestar! nil 3.3 40 12 12.1 0.65 4-5 approaching first harvest within the week? zestar081524