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2023 Predicted Apple Harvest Dates – Grand Rapids Area

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August 9, 2023 - Bill Shane and <lavelyem@msu.edu>,

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 and 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.

Most varieties appear to be several days ahead of normal harvest dates. 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 good 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. Blocks with light croploads will mature 3 or 4 days sooner than the predicted harvest dates while heavy crop loads will mature up to a week 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 3 to 7 DBH. Use Table 3, 2023 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 2023. 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 Ridge area with focus on Sparta. 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 area.

Table 1. 2023 Full bloom dates and predicted peak harvest dates

Station

Full bloom date 2023

Predicted harvest date 2023

Observer

McIntosh

Jons

Reds

McIntosh

Jons

Reds

SWMREC

4-May

5-May

7-May

4-Sep

18-Sep

27-Sep

Shane

Deerfield*

5-May

7-May

5-May

6-Sep

26-Sep

2-Oct

N/A*

Romeo*

11-May

12-May

13-May

11-Sep

2-Oct

10-Oct

N/A*

Sparta

7-May

8-May

8-May

7-Sep

27-Sep

3-Oct

Brown

Hart

13-May

15-May

16-May

13-Sep

7-Oct

12-Oct

Lavely

NWMHRS

14-May

18-May

20-May

14-Sep

4-Oct

9-Oct

Rothwell

*Dates indicated by model, not by actual observation.

Table 2. 2023 predicted peak harvest dates compared to normal and last year.

Station

Days –/+ normal*

Days -/+ last year*

McIntosh

Jons

Reds

McIntosh

Jons

Reds

SWMREC

-6

-4

-1

-4

-3

-2

Deerfield*

-4

5

-6

-1

3

3

Romeo*

-2

7

7

-2

5

6

Sparta

-8

1

0

-5

0

0

Hart*

-3

4

2

0

8

7

NWMHRS

-8

-2

-8

-3

1

0

*Dates indicated by model, not by actual observation
* - is days earlier, + is days later than normal

Table 3. Normal and predicted 2023 peak harvest dates for varieties for the Ridge area of Grand Rapids

Variety

Normal

Predicted

Paulared

24-Aug

18-Aug

Zestar

24-Aug

18-Aug

Gingergold

26-Aug

20-Aug

Gala

10-Sep

4-Sep

McIntosh

15-Sep

7-Sep

Honeycrisp

18-Sep

12-Sep

Empire

24-Sep

19-Sep

Jonathan

26-Sep

27-Sep

Jonagold

26-Sep

23-Sep

Fuji

2-Oct

27-Sep

Golden Delicious

2-Oct

1-Oct

Red Delicious

5-Oct

3-Oct

Idared

10-Oct

9-Oct

Rome

15-Oct

14-Oct

Braeburn

25-Oct

24-Oct

Goldrush

1-Nov

31-Oct

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

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