Predicted 2016 apple harvest dates

The 2016 predicted apple harvest dates are a few days ahead of normal, and a few days ahead of last year.

Paula Red apples. Photo: Mark Longstroth, MSU Extension.
Paula Red apples. Photo: Mark Longstroth, MSU Extension.

The predicted apple harvest dates are now available at all locations on the Michigan State University Enviro-weather website. In general, 2016 predicted harvest dates are roughly a few days ahead of normal except in the north, which might be normal to behind normal. Predicted dates are a few days ahead of last year. Bloom dates this spring were early in Michigan. May was a cold month and a long, drawn out bloom period. We do expect mixed maturity at harvest time due to the long bloom.

As always, the weather seems to be unusual each year and 2016 was no different. It began with what appeared to be another very early spring, however late winter and early spring cold conditions set in and growth was pushed back to near normal. Most areas bloomed early. The cold May was followed by a hot June, which gave us normal to early predicted harvest dates. A heavy crop load developed with king fruitlets all healthy and setting.

Most apple growers were successful in thinning the crop down to a nice crop load. Some blocks were over-thinned due to the hot conditions during the thinning window. Michigan’s crop load is approximately normal. 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.

The normal harvest dates for other varieties are listed in Table 3 for the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area. This year's 2016 predicted dates are a rough estimate based on the McIntosh, Jonathan and Red Delicious predicted dates. Michigan State University Extension recommends other areas of the state adjust non-predicted varieties based on their own history. ReTain application should be applied 30 days before harvest. Use Table 3, 2016 Predicted Harvest Dates for Other Varieties, to time ReTain applications and adjust for varieties and locations.

Table 1. 2016 predicted peak harvest dates.

Full bloom date

Predicted harvest date

Station

McIntosh

Jonathans

Red Delicious

McIntosh

Jonathans

Red Delicious

Observer

SWMREC

24-Apr

25-Apr

25-Apr

30-Aug

16-Sep

22-Sep

Bill Shane

Deerfield

26-Apr

28-Apr

30-Apr

1-Sep

17-Sep

25-Sep

Bob Tritten

Romeo

9-May

11-May

12-May

7-Sep

26-Sep

5-Oct

Bob Tritten

Peach Ridge

7-May

9-May

10-May

7-Sep

29-Sep

5-Oct

Amy Irish-Brown

Hart

13-May

16-May

17-May

13-Sep

2-Oct

8-Oct

Amy Irish-Brown

NWMHRS

21-May

22-May

23-May

20-Sep

30-Sep

7-Oct

Nikki Rothwell

 

Table 2. 2016 predicted peak harvest dates compared to normal and last year.

Days ahead of normal

Days ahead of last year

Station

McIntosh

Jonathans

Red Delicious

McIntosh

Jonathans

Red Delicious

SWMREC

10

11

11

10

12

12

Deerfield

9

9

8

6

7

8

Romeo

0

1

1

2

1

-2

Peach Ridge

5

5

4

4

0

0

Hart

3

3

2

6

2

5

NWMHRS

-1

-1

-1

0

7

7

 


Table 3. Normal and 2016 peak harvest dates for varieties for the Grand Rapids area.

Variety

Normal date

2016 predicted date

Paulared

8/24/16

8/19/16

Gingergold

8/26/16

8/21/16

Gala

9/10/16

9/5/16

McIntosh

9/15/16

9/7/16

Honeycrisp

9/18/16

9/10/16

Empire

9/22/16

9/14/16

Jonathan

9/28/16

9/29/16

Jonagold

9/28/16

9/29/16

Golden Delicious

10/2/16

10/3/16

Red Delicious

10/5/16

10/5/16

Idared

10/10/16

10/10/16

Rome

10/15/16

10/15/16

Fuji

10/25/16

10/25/16

Braeburn

10/25/16

10/25/16

Goldrush

11/1/16

11/1/16

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