2007 Predicted Apple Harvest Dates in Michigan
Source: P. Schwallir, A. Irish-Brown: Predicted peak 2007 apple harvest dates.
MSU CAT Alert, Vol. 22, No. 14, July 24, 2007
Apple maturity for 2007 is expected to be a week to 12 days ahead of
normal for most of the state, which experienced an early end of winter. As a result, bud
growth developed across the state with an early bloom in all areas. This year however, the
south part of the state was damaged by a severe freeze in early April. Bloom was extended
and fruits did not set well on older wood. Many areas have an apple crop born of one year
old wood, which bloom later than our recorded bloom dates. Predicted dates in the southern
part of the state are less accurate than most years for this reason. There was an extended
bloom which contributes to a less accurate prediction. Also, there is quite a variation in
crop load. Trees with light crop loads will mature earlier than these predicted dates.
Heavy cropped trees will mature after these predicted dates.
The early bloom and weather following bloom, give us predicted harvest dates (Table 1) as
much as 14 days ahead of normal. These predicted harvest dates are for the center or peak
harvest of these varieties for CA storage. This year the 2007 predicted harvest dates are
compared to the rough normal harvest dates and last year's predicted harvest dates. This
year the state will harvest apples roughly five to seven days ahead of last year (Table
2).
Hot temperatures during July and August will hasten the maturity of some varieties. Gala
is notorious for ripening early when late summer temperatures are above normal. Other
varieties are less prone to hot temperatures advancing fall maturity. Still other
varieties ripen when cold temperatures occur at near harvest time.
The normal harvest dates for other varieties are listed in Table 3 for the Grand Rapids
area. This year's 2007 predicted dates are a rough estimate based on the McIntosh,
Jonathan and Red Delicious predicted dates. Other areas of the state should adjust
non-predicted varieties based on their own history.
Table 1. 2007 Predicted Peak Harvest Dates |
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Full bloom date |
Predicted harvest date |
|
|||||
Station |
McIntosh |
Jons |
Reds |
Mc Intosh |
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 |
507 |
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 |
This year the state will harvest apples roughly a week or more ahead of a normal year (Table 2).
Table 2. 2007 predicted peak harvest dates compared to normal and last year. |
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Deviation from normal |
Deviation from last year |
|||||
Station |
McIntosh |
Jons |
Reds |
Mc Intosh |
Jons |
Reds |
SWMREC |
13 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
5 |
8 |
Deerfield |
7 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
Flint |
7 |
13 |
13 |
0 |
11 |
10 |
Peach Ridge |
11 |
9 |
10 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Ludington |
2 |
12 |
15 |
1 |
11 |
13 |
NWMHRS |
11 |
9 |
9 |
1 |
14 |
14 |
Hot temperatures during July and August will hasten the maturity of some varieties. Gala is notorious for ripening early when late summer temperatures are above normal. Other varieties are less prone to hot temperatures advancing fall maturity. Still other varieties ripen when cold temperatures occur at near harvest time.
The normal harvest dates for other varieties are listed in Table 3 for the Grand Rapids area. This year's 2007 predicted dates are a rough estimate based on the McIntosh, Jonathan and Red Delicious predicted dates. Other areas of the state should adjust non-predicted varieties based on their own history.
Table 3. Normal Peak Harvest Dates for Varieties for Grand Rapids Area |
||
Variety |
Normal date |
2007 Predicted Date |
Paulared |
8-24 |
8-14 |
Gingergold |
8-26 |
8-14 |
Gala |
9-10 |
8-28 |
Mc Intosh |
9-15 |
9-1 |
Honeycrisp |
9-18 |
9-4 |
Empire |
9-22 |
9-8 |
Jonathan |
9-28 |
9-19 |
Jonagold |
9-28 |
9-19 |
Golden delicious |
10-2 |
9-21 |
Red delicious |
10-5 |
9-26 |
Idared |
10-10 |
10-2 |
Rome |
10-15 |
10-7 |
Fuji |
10-25 |
10-18 |
Breaburn |
10-25 |
10-18 |
Goldrush |
11-1 |
10-22 |
