Predicted 2022 apple harvest dates

Questions about this information? Contact us. June 17, 2022

Updated from an original article written by Anna Wallis and Amy Irish-Brown, Michigan State University Extension.

Harvest dates for the 2022 season for apples across Michigan are expected to be close to or slightly ahead of average.

The information below includes predicted dates for peak harvest. Actual harvest dates may begin before and extend after these dates, and it is likely to vary based on specific location and conditions. This information is intended to be used by commercial growers to start planning harvest management. Interpretation is necessary for marketing purposes and fruit may be available in retail locations at different times.

The predicted harvest dates for all Michigan State University Enviroweather stations are now available online. This season, cool conditions prolonged dormancy and early spring. Several hot periods moved phenological development along considerably, particularly during bloom. At the end of the chemical thinning period, the season is near average, or slightly ahead. This is opposite of the previous season, during which phenology was approximately one to two weeks earlier than the 30-year average. Overall, 2022 predicted harvest dates for most of the state are near average, or slightly earlier than average. This is considerably later than last year, which was nearly a week earlier than averages.

Spring weather conditions. This spring, conditions included a rollercoaster of cool conditions interspersed with hot weather. During early spring, heat accumulation and phenology was a week to ten days behind average. After early bud break, hot conditions accelerated phenological stages rapidly, advancing from green tip through tight cluster in just a few days from April 23-25. Cool weather afterward delayed phenological development. Conditions were very hot during bloom on April 12-16, with most varieties in full bloom in Sparta, Michigan, on April 14. In other regions of the state, full bloom was recorded just a day or two before or afterward. Moderate conditions after bloom led to a prolonged bloom and petal fall period. Cool weather made thinning during the traditional thinning window (petal fall through 8-10mm fruitlet diameter) somewhat challenging.

Predicted harvest dates for specific locations can be determined using the Apple Maturity Model on the Enviroweather website. These models for McIntosh, Jonathan and Red Delicious calculate predict harvest dates based on full bloom date and the temperatures in the 30 days after bloom. The model predicted dates for most varieties appear to be near average or a little earlier than average harvest dates. Predicted harvest dates could be off a few days, especially due to the extended bloom and the cold weather at bloom time. Harvest dates may need to be adjusted as we get closer to harvest.

Crop load is very good in most locations. In general, return bloom was very high in most varieties and most locations. Gala crop load is moderate to heavy across the region. Honeycrisp crop load is somewhat variable across the state. In most locations, it appears to have set well, while in other locations the set is light despite a heavy bloom. This is likely due to the very hot weather during bloom, which accelerated bloom considerably. Most other varieties have a very good crop load light. Blocks with light crop loads will mature three or four days sooner than the predicted harvest dates while heavy crop loads will mature seven days later than the predicted dates.

Conditions during August and September will also affect harvest dates. If hot, stressful weather occurs in August or September, apple maturity will be advanced, especially in early to mid-ripening cultivars.

Stop-drop materials. ReTain application should be applied 30 DBH (days before harvest). Harvista can be applied three to seven DBH. Use Table 3, 2022 Predicted Harvest Dates for Other Varieties, to time ReTain applications and adjust for varieties and locations.

The tables below list the normal and predicted harvest dates for varieties across the state. Table 1 lists the predicted harvest dates for locations across the state of Michigan for 2022. Table 2 lists this year’s predictions compared to normal and last year. Table 3 lists the normal harvest dates for other varieties for the Grand Rapids area. This year's predicted dates for other non-modeled varieties are a rough estimate based on the McIntosh, Jonathan and Red Delicious predicted dates and historical experience in the Grand Rapids area. Other areas of the state should adjust non-predicted varieties based on their own history.

Table 1. 2022 predicted peak harvest dates.
Full bloom date 2022				Predicted harvest date 2022
Station	McIntosh	Jons	Reds	McIntosh	Jons	Reds	Observer
SWMREC	10-May	11-May	12-May	8-Sep	21-Sep	29-Sep	Shane
Deerfield*	9-May	10-May	10-May	7-Sep	23-Sep	29-Sep	NA
Romeo*	14-May	15-May	15-May	13-Sep	27-Sep	4-Oct	NA
Sparta	12-May	13-May	13-May	12-Sep	27-Sep	3-Oct	Wallis
Hart	12-May	13-May	13-May	13-Sep	29-Sep	5-Oct	Lavely
NWMHRS	15-May	15-May	15-May	17-Sep	3-Oct	9-Oct	Rothwell

Table 2. 2022 predicted peak harvest dates compared to normal and last year.
Days -/+ normal				Days -/+ last year
Station	McIntosh	Jons	Reds	McIntosh	Jons	Reds
SWMREC	-5	0	-3	5	8	5
Deerfield*	-3	2	-9	7	3	3
Romeo*	0	2	1	9	0	1
Sparta	-4	1	-4	4	-4	-4
Hart	-3	-4	-5	4	-1	2
NWMHRS	-5	-3	-8	-3	-7	-1

Table 3. Normal and 2022 peak harvest dates for varieties for the Grand Rapids area.
Variety	Normal	Predicted
Paulared	24-Aug	21-Aug
Gingergold	26-Aug	23-Aug
Gala	10-Sep	7-Sep
McIntosh	15-Sep	12-Sep
Honeycrisp	18-Sep	15-Sep
Empire	24-Sep	25-Sep
Jonathan	26-Sep	27-Sep
Jonagold	26-Sep	27-Sep
Golden Delicious	2-Oct	3-Oct
Red Delicious	5-Oct	1-Oct
Idared	10-Oct	6-Oct
Rome	15-Oct	11-Oct
Fuji	25-Oct	21-Oct
Braeburn	25-Oct	21-Oct
Goldrush	1-Nov	28-Oct

*Dates in this table were determined from average observations by industry members in the region.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).