September 26, 2007

 

TO:                  Apple Growers in Southeast Michigan 

                        MSU Extension Fruit Educators and Specialists

 

FROM:             Bob Tritten

                        District Extension Fruit Educator

 

SUBJECT:       Apple Harvest Update Report #5 – Southeast Michigan 

 

APPLE HARVEST SUMMARY

 

Apple harvest is mixed bag across the eastern part of Michigan this season.  Many apple varieties have not ripened in their normal sequence this year, and other varieties are slow to mature.  We have not had many cool nights over the last week to help improve fruit color, so color is generally about the same as it was last week in most varieties.  Just about all farms report that apple varieties continue to pick out short of grower expectations.  For some people who have begun Red Delicious harvest, particularly in the south, it appears to be picking more in the normal to above expected range this season.  Most growers are reporting picking out between 1/3 and 2/3 of what they normally do, and that number seems to be getting less everyday.  Fruit drop has not been a serious issue over the last week, with the exception of Red Delicious, that are picking very easy and are beginning to drop a bit more.

 

Growers are spot picking Empire across the region, and are searching for varieties that are mature and waiting on others.  Cortland have ripened slowly, and Jonagold and many blocks of Golden Delicious are now ready for harvest.  Growers in the south have been picking Red Delicious on a consistent basis, and growers to the north have been spot picking to find blocks that are mature, and waiting on other strains of Red Delicious.  Some blocks of Northern Spy are ready for harvest, and are being spot picked at this time.  Idared, Fuji, Law Rome and Braeburn were all sampled this week, and none are ready for harvest at this time.

 

Most growers in southeast Michigan have been experiencing dry soils over the last few weeks, with many reporting very dusty orchard conditions.  Several growers reported that they are applying calcium chloride to drive rows to help reduce the dust.  Last night’s storms did bring some temporary relief to once again dry soils; however we will see what the rest of the week brings.  Our season has continued to accumulate a good number of degree days over the last two weeks with warm temperatures, both in the daytime highs and morning lows.

 

Variety

Color (Range)

Firmness (Range)

Starch (Range)

Brix

Empire

81% (75-86%)

15.5 lbs (15.3-15.7)

3.6 (2.0-6.0)

12.5%

Cortland

82% (60-95%)

14.9 lbs (12.0-18.2)

2.8 (2.0-5.0)

13.3%

Jonagold

72% (49-86%)

16.5 lbs (15.3-18.6)

5.5 (2.7-7.1)

14.8%

Golden Delicious

13% (2-26%)

19.6 lbs (15.7-21.7)

3.3 (1.9-5.2)

14.2%

Crispin

7% (2-13%)

18.9 lbs (18.6-20.2)

2.2 (1.4-3.4)

13.9%

Red Delicious

91% (88-95%)

17.1 lbs (16.0-18.1)

2.8 (1.9-3.5)

12.3%

Idared

67% (30-79%)

16.0 lbs (13.6-17.7)

1.9 (1.2-2.5)

12.7%

Northern Spy

29% (10-44%)

19.6 lbs (18.7-20.1)

3.0 (1.5-5.0)

13.2%

Fuji

48% (44-55%)

18.1 lbs (16.5-19.5)

2.3 (2.0-2.6)

13.4%

Law Rome

96% (90-100%)

21.5 lbs (18.7-25.5)

3.1 (3.0-4.0)

12.3%

Braeburn

57% (50-80%)

23.0 lbs (16.0-25.0)

1.0 (1.0-1.0)

12.3%

 

INDIVIDUAL VARIETY RESULTS

 

Empire were sampled for the fourth week of the season, this variety has continued to mature very slowly at several farms across the region.  Growers have been searching for Empire blocks with mature fruit, and have been waiting on most of their blocks to mature a bit more.  40% of the fruit is now showing greater than 0.2 parts per million (ppm) of internal ethylene.  Color is about the same at 81%.  Pressure has dropped ˝ lb over this last week to 15.5 lbs.  The starch removal has moved a bit, from 3.4 last week to 3.6 this week.  The brix has improved from 11.8% last week to 12.5% this week.  I think that by the end of this week most blocks will be mature, and a week from now most of these blocks will have been harvested.

 

Cortland were sampled for the fourth time of the season, with a limited number of samples this week.  Again this week, Redcort was sampled.  The color is about the same at 82%, with a ˝ lb pressure drop from 15.4 lbs last week to 14.9 lbs this week.  The starch removal has moved a bit higher, but there is still a fair amount of Cortland that are not mature yet.

 

Jonagold were sampled for the fourth week of the season, with the number of samples doubled over last week.  The number of fruit with greater than 0.2 ppm of internal ethylene has doubled in Jonagold over the last week, to 65%.  Color has also improved from 57% last week to 62% this week.  The pressure has remained about the same on Jonagolds, at 16.5 lbs.  The starch removal has jumped dramatically from 3.6 last week, to 5.5 this week, with a brix increase to 14.8%.  Jonagold are eating very well and are ready for harvest at this time.  This will most likely be the last week that we are sampling Jonagold.

 

Golden Delicious were sampled for the third time this season, with a more extensive sample being taken this week than last.  Close to 60% of the fruit are showing greater than 0.2 ppm internal ethylene, up from 13% last week.  The color has improved dramatically with many fruit having a nice red cheek at this time.  My data shows that the pressure has increased this week, but I think that is because I needed to sample different blocks at many farms as early maturing blocks have been harvested.  The starch removal has moved from 2.7 last week to 3.3 this week.  The brix is about the same at 14.3%.  Golden Delicious have been harvested at many farms across the region, again on a block by block basis depending on the flavor and color.

 

Crispin were sampled for the third week of the season.  The internal ethylene levels have more than doubled to 42% of the fruit showing greater than 0.2 pmm internal ethylene.  The color is a bit better on Crispin, but the fruit remains on the green side at 7%.  The pressure is about the same as last week, at 15.9 lbs.  The starch removal has moved a bit from 1.7 last week to 2.2 this week.  The brix has jumped dramatically to 13.9%.  Crispin are not ready for harvest at this time, but I feel that they will be late this week or over the weekend in a few blocks, and will generally will be ready for harvest next week at this time.  I will sample this variety again next week.

 

Red Delicious were sampled very extensively this week, and for the third time of the season.  The internal ethylene levels have jumped dramatically, with 57% showing greater than 0.2 ppm levels of internal ethylene, in last week’s sample I only had 15% greater than 0.2 ppm.  The fruit color has continued to improve to 91%, although it was good last week.  The pressure has remained virtually unchanged at 17.1 lbs.  The starch removal has moved from 2.1 last week to 2.8 this week.  The brix has improved to 12.3%.  Red Delicious fruit were picking very easy this week, and drop was much greater than last week.  Some blocks of Red Delicious are eating ok at this time, while others appear to be a bit on the green side.  So growers have been looking for Red Delicious blocks or strains to harvest, and have been able to find those blocks that have matured over the last week.  I am seeing very little water core in Red Delicious this season.

 

Idared were sampled for the second week of the season, with five blocks tested.  Internal ethylene levels have jumped from 17% greater than 0.2 ppm last week to 60% this week.  The color remains fairly good at 67%, and pressure also remains fairly good at 16.0 lbs.  The starch removal has moved from 1.3 last week to 1.9 this week, with a brix of 12.7%.  Idared are not ready for harvest at this time, but are very close at a few farms.  I expect Idared harvest to begin late this week or over the weekend at many farms, and we will be into Idared harvest more extensively at this time next week.

 

Northern Spy were sampled for the second week of the season, again with a more extensive sample than last week.  90% of Spy’s are showing greater than 0.2 ppm of internal ethylene this week, up from 50% last week.  Color has improved a bit to 35%, compared to 29% last week.  Pressure remains firm at 19.6 lbs, and the starch index has moved from 2.1 last week to 3.0 this week.  The brix has improved dramatically from 11.2% last week to 13.2% this week.  So, a few growers have started to spot pick Spy’s on more mature sites, while other growers are still waiting for their fruit to mature a bit longer.

 

Fuji were sampled for the second week of the season, with a more extensive sample than last week.  37% of Fuji are now showing greater than 0.2 ppm levels of internal ethylene, up from 0% last week.  The color is about the same as last week, as is pressure.  The starch removal has moved slightly from 2.1 last week to 2.3 this week.  The brix have improved dramatically from 11.2% last week to 13.4% this week.  Fuji are not ready for harvest at this time, but I feel that a week to ten days from now they will be mature.  Many of the Fuji blocks were picking very easy this week, however I am not seeing any drop as of yet.

 

Law Romes were sampled for the first time this season, and just one sample to give me a limited early look at the variety.  10% are showing greater than 0.2 ppm internal ethylene, while Law Rome had excellent color at 96%.  Pressure is still very firm at 21.5 lbs with starch removal surprisingly 3.1.  Brix is 12.3%.  While Law Rome are not ready for harvest at this time, I will take another sample next week to see where we are at with this variety.  While these numbers are preliminary, they do give me a glimpse of where they are at with Fuji.

 

Braeburn were sampled for the first time this season as well, with 20% showing greater than 0.2 ppm levels of internal ethylene.  The color is fairly good at 57%.  The pressure is very firm at 23.0 lbs, and a starch index of 1.0.  The brix is currently 12.3%.  Braeburn are definitely not ready for harvest at this time, however will be sampled more extensively next week.

 

Table 1. 2007 predicted peak harvest dates.

Full bloom date

Predicted harvest date

 

Station

McIntosh

Jons

Reds

McIntosh

Jons

Reds

Observer

SWMREC

4-30

5-2

5-2

8-27

9-15

9-21

Shane

Deerfield

5-5

5-6

5-8

9-1

9-15

9-22

Tritten

Flint

5-5

5-5

5-7

9-3

9-12

9-19

Tritten

Peach Ridge

5-5

5-7

5-8

9-1

9-19

9-26

Schwallier

Ludington

5-9

5-11

5-10

9-14

9-21

9-27

Danilovich

NWMHRS

5-11

5-11

5-11

9-9

9-18

9-24

Rothwell

If you have any questions regarding this Apple Maturity Harvest Update, don’t hesitate to email me (tritten@msu.edu) or call (810-732-2177).  If you would like this information sent to you via email instead of fax, please let me know and that can be accomplished very quickly.  This same harvest information is also available on the SE Michigan Fruit Pest Management Code-A-Phone (810-732-1005).

 

Project Researchers – Dr. Randy Beaudry MSU Horticulture Department,  and Bob Tritten

This report and project is made possible by the support of our sponsors which include Gerber Products Company, Michigan Apple Shippers Association,Valent USA, MSU Project GREEEN, Michigan Apple Research Committee, Michigan State Horticultural Society, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, and Michigan State University Extension.  The growers cooperating by supplying apples on a weekly basis in Southeast Michigan include AlMar Orchards in Flushing, Erwin Orchards in South Lyon, Hy’s Cider Mill in Romeo,  Spicer Orchards in Hartland, Westview Orchards in Romeo, and several others.