2026 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/31 | Summerset | some | 3.7 | 40 | 12 | 11.5 | 0.79 | 5-7 | light crop, bird pecks, harvest | 
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| 8/31 | Sweet MAIA | none | 3.0 | 90 | 15 | 11.7 | 0.54 | 7.5 | heavy crop, harvest over next week | 
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| 8/31 | Honeycrisp | few | 3.1 | 50 barely | 11 | 11.1 | 0.63 | 5-7 | wait a week | 
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| 8/31 | Akane | none | 3.1 | 90 | 12 | 12.2 | 0.18 | 7 | nice, harvest this week | 
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| 8/31 | Minnieska | none | 3.2 | 75 | 11 | 12.5 | 0.27 | 4-6 | need another week | 
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| 8/31 | Rubymac | none | 3.1 | 90 | 11.5 | 10.9 | NA | 4 | wait a week at least | 
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| 8/31 | Silken | none | 2.9 | NA | 13 | 11.1 | 0.20 | 4-6 | ready for harvest | 
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| 8/31 | Buckeye Gala | none | 2.8 | 95 | 20 | 12.1 | 0.65 | 2-3 | wait a week at least | 
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| 8/31 | Ginger Gold | none | 3.2 | NA | 17 | 12.7 | 0.37 | 3-5 | ready for harvest | 
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| date | Cultivar | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | DA Index | starch index | comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Zestar! | few | 2.9 | 55 | 13 | 14.7 | 0.40 | 4-6 | heavy crop; bird pecks; harvest on color | 
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| 8/24 | Paulared | nil | 3.3 | 80 | 12 | 12.2 | NA | 3-6 | heavy crop; overall nice look, harvest | 
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| 8/24 | Premier Honeycrisp | some | 3.2 | 50 striped | 8.5 | 10.7 | 0.43 | 6.5-7+ | needs to be harvested ASAP on color | 
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| 8/24 | Akane | none | 3.0 | 85 | 14 | 12.1 | 0.45 | wait a week for better variety flavor | 
| |
| 8/24 | Sansa | some | 3.0 | 0.23 | 11 | 12.4 | 0.23 | 7 | light crop here, one with watercore | 
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| 8/24 | Sweet MAIA | none | 3 | 95+ | 17 | 12.1 | 0.64 | 3.5-6.5 | touch of watercore; wait a week for variety flavor | 
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| 8/24 | Gingergold | none | 3.2 | NA | 17 | 11.2 | 0.83 | 2-3 | does not starch test well; wait a week | 
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| date | Cultivar | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | DA Index | starch index | comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/20 | Premier Honeycrisp | some | 3.3 | 45 weak | 9 | 10.6 | 0.63 | 6.5-7 | ReTain | 
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| 8/20 | Premier Honeycrisp | some | 3.2 | 35 very weak | 7.5 | 10.9 | 0.49 | 7-7.5 | NO ReTain | 
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| date | Cultivar | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | DA Index | starch index | comments | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/17 | MN 55 (Rave) | significant | 3.4 | 90+ | 11 | 13.5 | 0.37 | 4-8 | variable maturity, needs ReTain | 
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