Updated for 2026
Thanks to Jim Wargo, Valent.
Dr. Duane Greene's specific recommendation for CORTLAND apples...
"My recommendation for the use of ReTain on Cortland resulted from a trial using ReTain on McIntosh. Cortland was used as the pollinizer in the McIntosh block. I used the cortland trees as guard the experiment. It was a multiple harvest experiment where drop was followed so I was in the orchard at least 3 days a week. The first ReTain 1-pouch application was made between Aug 21 and 23 and a second application was made in the second week of September. We noted in the first week in October that the Cortland trees that received the highest rate of ReTain had great color and very good firmness. It was soon recognized that the fruit from these trees was firm and had great taste. They were undoubtedly the best Cortland on the farm.
"It is true that more ReTain is used but the results are striking enough to make it worthwhile. It is important to apply ReTain earlier than we normally do to help slow down ripening. The higher rate of retain assures high quality Cortland well into October."
