Weather influence on postbloom apple thinning

Background Information for this page
Return to radar list for Middletown RI
Chart version of thinner sensitivity ratings
Weather data for Middletown RI.  Forecast values begin August 3, 2008
     Other factors may outweigh the summary statements made below! 
    
Other influences include: fruit diameter, fruit exposure to temperatures >=75 F, pollination, this year's cropload, last year's cropload, warm February-early April temperatures, frost and prolonged cool and cloudy weather during bloom, previous fall weather, foliage condition last summer)
     Ratings below are for the influence of weather on fruit sensitivity to chemical thinning agents.  Ratings assume fruit are less than 13mm diameter.  Dates in bottom rows are beyond 18mm diameter for most cultivars, and are intended only for late cultivars.  Look at your fruit!
Rough guess McIntosh King fruit diameter dates: 
12mm - May 31, Saturday         15mm - June 2, Monday          18mm - June 6, Friday
Date after which fruit have exposure to 2 days of daily high temperature of at least 75 F:  Monday,  June 2
Very warm night temperatures (> 69F) can lead to "EXCESSIVE THINNING RISK",
especially if combined with cloudy weather or if NAA is used as thinning agent.

Warm nights + Cloudy days  -----> 
Increased sensitivity, maximum thinning.
Warm nights + Sunny days   -----> 
Intermediate senstivity, moderate thinning.
Cool nights + Cloudy days    -----> 
Reduced sensitivity
Cool nights + Sunny days     -----> 
Reduced sensitivity, minimum thinning. 
Postbloom thinner
Application date
Calculations assume morning application.
If thinner applied after noon, use rating for next day.
% CLOUD SHADING
  Arbitrary categories:
40% or more = "cloudy"
20% or less = "sunny" 

High shading on 3 days after application increases thinning response.
AVERAGE NIGHT TEMPERATURE
relative to 50 F threshold
for following 7pm--7am.
Example: Avg. 52F night temp = 2.
Values rounded for display,
and range from 0 to 20+.

High temperature
for 3 nights after application increases thinning response.
SUMMARY
of weather influence
on sensitivity of fruit
to thinning agents
applied on morning
of listed date


Ratings assume fruit
are within susceptible diameter range for thinning.
McIntosh
95% Petal Fall
Sat, May 17
sunny  18% 6
Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity

100% Petal Fall
Sun, May 18
sunny  13% 2
Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity

 
Mon, May 19
28% 1
Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity

 
Tue, May 20
sunny  21% 0
Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity

 
Wed, May 21
sunny  14% 2
Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity

 
Thu, May 22
cloudy  55% 0
Reduced sensitivity

 
Fri, May 23
sunny  7% 6
Reduced sensitivity

Fruit Set
Sat, May 24
24% 3
Reduced sensitivity

 
Sun, May 25
sunny  0% 6
Intermediate

 
Mon, May 26
sunny  0% 8
Reduced sensitivity

 
Tue, May 27
33% 7
Reduced sensitivity

 
Wed, May 28
sunny  0% 1
Reduced sensitivity

 
Thu, May 29
sunny  0% 8
Intermediate

 
Fri, May 30
sunny  0% 9
Increased sensitivity

 
Sat, May 31
cloudy  55% 10
Increased sensitivity
-- sensitivity may be less if fruit diameter is >12mm
 
Sun, June 1
25% 12
Intermediate
-- sensitivity may be less if fruit diameter is >12mm
 
Mon, June 2
sunny  4% 10
Intermediate
-- sensitivity probably less if fruit diameter is >15mm
 
Tue, June 3
sunny  0% 11
Increased sensitivity
-- fruit >15mm may have minimal sensitivity due to size and exposure to 2 or more days with high temperatures >= 75F
 
Wed, June 4
cloudy  65% 9
Increased sensitivity
-- fruit >15mm may have minimal sensitivity due to size and exposure to 2 or more days with high temperatures >= 75F
 
Thu, June 5
cloudy  65% 7
Increased sensitivity
-- fruit >15mm may have minimal sensitivity due to size and exposure to 2 or more days with high temperatures >= 75F
 
Fri, June 6
cloudy  68% 6
Stronger influence for Increased sensitivity
-- fruit > 18mm are probably beyond predictable chemical thinning due to size and exposure to 2 or more days with high temperatures >= 75F
 
Sat, June 7
sunny  18% 21
Stronger influence for Increased sensitivity
-- fruit > 18mm are probably beyond predictable chemical thinning due to size and exposure to 2 or more days with high temperatures >= 75F
 
Sun, June 8
sunny  1% 23
Stronger influence for Increased sensitivity
-- fruit > 18mm are probably beyond predictable chemical thinning due to size and exposure to 2 or more days with high temperatures >= 75F
 
Mon, June 9
sunny  2% 25
Stronger influence for Increased sensitivity
-- fruit > 18mm are probably beyond predictable chemical thinning due to size and exposure to 2 or more days with high temperatures >= 75F
  sunny  0% 23  
  sunny  0% 19