Predicated 2019 east Michigan apple harvest dates
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EmailThe predicted peak fresh market apple harvest dates for east Michigan are about three days behind normal.
The predicted harvest dates are now available at all locations on the Michigan State University Enviroweather website. Once again, we have experienced a cool to cold late winter climate that delayed the development of spring buds. Most of the state experienced a late bloom except the very southeast part of Michigan. In general, the 2019 predicted harvest dates are roughly a week later than normal. East Michigan is only a few days behind normal.
As always, the weather seems to be unusual each year and 2019 was no different. It began with another very late spring. Most areas bloomed quite late except southeast Michigan areas. Cool to cold weather persisted well into June. In general, apple blocks have a mix of crop load, some light and some heavy areas, but mostly moderate crop loads. Blocks with light crop loads will mature three or four days sooner than the predicted harvest dates. Heavy crop loads will mature seven days later than the predicted dates. If hot, stressful weather occurs in August or September, apple maturity will be advanced.
The 2019 predicted harvest dates for the entire state for three varieties (McIntosh, Jonathan and Red Delicious) are listed in Table 1. This year, across the state we are about a week behind normal and for east Michigan about three days behind normal, depending on the variety. Table 2 lists this year’s predictions compared to normal and last year.
The normal east Michigan harvest dates for other varieties are listed in Table 3. I also added Zestar for the first time. Other varieties that I added to this table that are not on other author’s tables include Early Fuji, Cortland, CandyCrisp, Northern Spy, Crispin, Autumn Gala, EverCrisp and Winesap. Table 3 lists only one date for the entire east Michigan region, which is hard to do. You can adjust these predicted harvest dates based on your actual bloom dates or on the typical harvest dates at your farm. This year's predicted dates for other non-modeled varieties are a rough estimate based on the McIntosh, Jonathan and Red Delicious predicted dates.
ReTain application should be applied starting 30 days before harvest. Harvista can be applied three to seven days before harvest. Use Table 3 to time ReTain applications and adjust for varieties and locations.
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Table 1. 2019 predicted peak harvest dates. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Full bloom date 2019 |
Predicted harvest date 2019 |
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|
Station |
McIntosh |
Jons |
Reds |
McIntosh |
Jons |
Reds |
Observer |
|
|
SWMREC |
May 11 |
May 13 |
May 14 |
Sept. 16 |
Sept. 30 |
Oct. 7 |
Bill Shane |
|
|
Deerfield |
May 8 |
May 9 |
May 10 |
Sept. 9 |
Sept. 25 |
Oct. 5 |
Bob Tritten |
|
|
Romeo |
May 13 |
May 14 |
May 15 |
Sept. 16 |
Oct. 1 |
Oct. 7 |
Bob Tritten |
|
|
Peach Ridge |
May 16 |
May 17 |
May 17 |
Sept. 20 |
Oct. 6 |
Oct. 11 |
Amy Irish-Brown |
|
|
Hart |
May 21 |
May 22 |
May 23 |
Sept. 26 |
Oct. 10 |
Oct. 17 |
Amy Irish-Brown |
|
|
NWMHRS |
May 22 |
May 23 |
May 23 |
Sept. 30 |
Oct. 11 |
Oct. 21 |
Nikki Rothwell |
|
|
Table 2. 2019 predicted peak harvest dates compared to normal and last year. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Days behind normal |
Days behind of last year |
|||||
|
Station |
McIntosh |
Jons |
Reds |
McIntosh |
Jons |
Reds |
|
9 |
7 |
9 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
|
|
3 |
6 |
4 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
|
|
5 |
11 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
8 |
7 |
3 |
7 |
11 |
10 |
|
|
8 |
4 |
4 |
10 |
9 |
12 |
|
Table 3. Normal and 2019 peak harvest dates for apple varieties for East Michigan |
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|---|---|---|
|
Variety |
Normal date |
2019 predicted date |
|
Paula Red |
Aug. 22 |
Aug. 25 |
|
Zestar |
Aug. 22 |
Aug. 22 |
|
Gingergold |
Aug. 23 |
Sept. 26 |
|
Gala |
Sept. 8 |
Sept. 11 |
|
McIntosh |
Sept. 13 |
Sept. 16 |
|
Early Fiji |
Sept. 14 |
Sept. 17 |
|
Honeycrisp |
Sept. 16 |
Sept. 20 |
|
Empire |
Sept. 20 |
Sept. 24 |
|
Jonathan |
Sept. 23 |
Sept. 27 |
|
Jonagold |
Sept. 23 |
Sept. 27 |
|
Cortland |
Sept. 25 |
Sept. 29 |
|
Golden Delicious |
Sept. 29 |
Oct. 3 |
|
Red Delicious |
Oct. 1 |
Oct. 5 |
|
CandyCrisp |
Oct. 5 |
Oct. 10 |
|
Idared |
Oct. 6 |
Oct. 11 |
|
Northern Spy |
Oct. 8 |
Oct. 12 |
|
Crispin (Mutsu) |
Oct. 9 |
Oct. 13 |
|
Rome |
Oct. 11 |
Oct. 15 |
|
Autumn Gala |
Oct. 17 |
Oct. 21 |
|
EverCrisp |
Oct. 19 |
Oct. 23 |
|
Fuji |
Oct. 22 |
Oct. 26 |
|
Braeburn |
Oct. 23 |
Oct. 28 |
|
Winesap |
Oct. 26 |
Oct. 30 |
|
Goldrush |
Oct. 31 |
Nov. 4 |