Predicted 2014 apple harvest dates

The 2014 predicted apple harvest dates are roughly one week behind normal and last year. Bloom dates during spring were also behind normal.

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Phil Schwallier, and Amy Irish-Brown, Michigan State University Extension

The predicted apple harvest dates are now available at all locations on the Michigan State University Enviro-weather website. In general, 2014 predicted harvest dates are roughly a week behind normal and a week behind last year. Bloom dates this spring were also behind normal across the state.

As always, the weather seems to be unusual each year and 2014 was no different. It began after an extremely long, cold winter with a late, cool spring that eventually became somewhat normal in May and June. Little to no frost events occurred. This unusual spring was also characterized by considerable and seemingly unending record precipitation in most state locations. Most apple growers were successful in thinning the crop with most growers under-thinning slightly. This moderate to heavy crop will mature close to the predicted dates. Blocks with light crop loads will mature three or four days sooner.

The normal harvest dates for other varieties are listed in Table 3 for the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. This year’s 2014 predicted dates and adjusted 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 (DBH). Use Table 3’s 2014 predicted harvest dates to time ReTain applications and adjust for varieties and locations.                               

Table 1. 2014 predicted peak harvest dates                                     

Table 2. 2014 predicted peak harvest dates compared to normal and last year

Table 3. Normal and 2014 peak harvest dates for varieties for the Grand Rapids, Michigan area

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.cnchemicals.com/. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://www.cnchemicals.com/, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).