Weather data for Sanford ME. Forecast values begin October 17, 2008

Preliminary McIntosh Harvest Date Forecasts

CAUTION: The estimates shown below are appropriate for long-term planning only.
Harvest decisions should only be made on basis of direct orchard observations.
Accuracy of these apple maturity estimates can vary between orchards and between years in a single orchard.

Harvest date estimates are based on temperature observations from the first 30 days after Full bloom. Thus, estimates for this location are based on incomplete data until
Wednesday, June 18.

To delay the harvest period up to 7-10 days, apply ReTain 28 days prior to beginning of anticipated beginning of normal harvest of untreated fruit.
To improve fruit quality and storage potential of later picked apples (2nd, 3rd, 4th picks), apply ReTain 7 to 14 days prior to beginning of anticipated beginning of normal harvest. This timing typically will not delay the start of harvest (1st pick), but will control maturation rate of the later picks.

Date to apply ReTain to delay harvest for apples which without treatment would be ready for storage harvest on September 13 is
Saturday, August 16

Begin measuring actual McIntosh starch-iodine index no later than
Monday, August 25

The McIntosh maturity date estimate shown below is a preliminary, early-season forecast and in no way a substitute for starch index and other direct observations as harvest nears.

The Michigan formula estimate for standard (i.e. non-spur) McIntosh starch index 4.0 and beginning of optimum McIntosh harvest for CA storage is
Saturday, September 13.

Cornell Bulletin 221 provides formulas for different locations to estimate date when
non-spur McIntosh reach starch index 6.0 and the end of optimum harvest for CA storage.
Use formula most applicable to your location (presumed best choice in bold).

Using the Champlain Valley formula, the estimated end of McIntosh CA harvest for
Sanford ME is Monday, September 22

Using the Central NY formula, the estimated end of McIntosh CA harvest for
Sanford ME is Friday, September 26

Using the Hudson Valley formula, the estimated end of McIntosh CA harvest for
Sanford ME is Tuesday, September 30