Jon: I noticed your Honeycrisp are not as firm as the two McIntoshs and they have less starch. I also noticed the same with our Honey crisp. I usually pick our apples at about 16 lbs firmness, mid range starch index 4-5 (on a 1 to 9 scale), and about 12 to 14% brix. I start picking if the firmness is below 15lb regardless of the starch and sugar values because fruits don't get firmer in storage. I wait for higher brix if the firmness is above 16 lbs and the starch index is in mid range (4 to 5), but I pick them if they have low starch (6 or higher) even if they are very firm. I don't recommend storing fruits for long if they have low starch, regardless of their firmness and brix. Our Red Delicious maturity is different from previous years. They are soft and have low brix but they still have plenty of starch. We ended up picking them because, as I mentioned earlier, fruits don't get firmer is storage. Mosbah Kushad, University of Illinois
-----Original Message----- From: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jon Clements Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 7:49 PM To: Apple-Crop Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: Apple Maturity Testing in Michigan Mark et al, here in Massachusetts our observation is that stressed trees are indeed advanced in maturity, particularly as indicated by the starch iodine test. Apparently hot, dry weather prior to harvest -- which we had in August -- will result in the starch iodine test not being as good an indicator of maturity as we would like. McIntosh are almost 5's on the SI scale, whereas stressed Macs are more like 6's. I ran the Blanpied-Silsby model a while back and predicted we would be at SI of 5-6 by the 20th of September (and the end of picking for CA storage) and for trees in good condition we are right on track for that. I find the model somewhat useful, although realistically it rarely differs by more than a few days from year-to- year. Otherwise, the MA apple crop looks very nice right now although hail has been troublesome in a few MA orchards and probably too many New England orchards. We are coming off what has been a real good stone fruit year -- global warming anyone? (Ask me again after the upcoming winter!) Your (and Bill's!) apple maturity reports are real nice. Mine are a little more shotgun, but if anyone is interested, they are all here: http://www.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/clements/articles/2007apple/index.html Also, I may have upgraded the shotgun for a loose cannon when I do my blog, but check it out: http://jmcextman.blogspot.com Hope everyone is having a good harvest. Jon Jon Clements Extension Tree Fruit Specialist UMass Cold Spring Orchard 393 Sabin Street Belchertown, MA 01007 VOICE 413.478.7219 FAX 413.323.0382 IM mrhoneycrisp Skype Name mrhoneycrisp On Sep 14, 2007, at 3:54 PM, Mark Longstroth wrote: > In Michigan, We use the bloom date and temperatures following bloom > model to predict apple harvest. > We also test apples for soluble solids and starch conversion to > predict storability and help with marketing. > You can access this information at > http://web1.msue.msu.edu/fruit/ripeapple.htm > > Our season is about 10 days to two weeks early but some varieties are > harvesting out of the normal order. > During our weekly conference call we were wondering why, and if the > warm summer affected some varieties more than others. > > Note New Address and Phone Number! > ----------------------------------------- > Mark Longstroth > SW Michigan District Fruit Educator > Van Buren County MSU Extension > 219 Paw Paw Street, Suite 201 > Paw Paw, MI 49079 > Bus (269) 657-8213 x3 > Fax (269) 657-6678 > Email - [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Check Out My Webpages > http://web1.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/disthort.htm > ----------------------------------------- > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard > <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon > Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. > > Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not > represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no > responsibility for the content. > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
