In cooperation with the Henderson County Master Pomology Program, we initiated an effort to monitor apple fruit maturity in commercial orchards in Henderson County, NC. The goal of this program is to provide timely updates regarding fruit maturity of several apple cultivars in the region. Data will be presented weekly to commercial apple growers via web-based updates to partly aid in harvest management decisions. Please note that the data presented is limited to the specific orchard block that we used for sampling. Do not assume that fruit at your location are at the same stage of maturity. To be clear, there is no substitute for regular monitoring of fruit quality parameters at your own operation.
2026 Apple Maturity Program [10.13.26]
Weekly Update (10.13.2026)
An upcoming cold front has the attention of many southeastern apple growers, as temperatures near the freezing point are in the forecast over the weekend. Apples at/near harvest can withstand temperatures down to 28 °F for ~4 hours until serious damage is observed. While widespread damage from this system is unlikely, here is some guidance regarding handling frozen apples from Dr. Jim Schupp (Professor Emeritus, Penn State University).
Also, hard freezes/frosts during harvest (mid- to low 20s) can also induce preharvest drop. If this occurs, applying 10 ppm NAA within 2 days of the freeze can minimize preharvest drop induced by the hard frost/freeze. Personally, I would wait to see what happens here before making any moves.
Cripps Pink (Maslin) firmness came in at 18.6 lb, soluble solids at 12.2% and average starch pattern index at 3 (Table 1, Figure 1). Some pink hues are starting to emerge with marketable blush coming in at 3% this week. The cool nights and sunny days in the forecast will likely help a lot with improved fruit color. These apples are nearing the threshold for harvest for long term storage.
Cripps Pink (Maslin)
| Table 1. 2026 Cripps Pink (Maslin) fruit quality parameters in Edneyville, NC. | ||||||
| Date | Fruit Firmness (lb) | Soluble Solids (%) | Starch pattern (1 to 8 scale) | Fruit Weight (g) | Fruit Diameter (inches) | Marketable Blush (%) |
| Oct 13 | 18.6 | 12.2 | 3 | 186 | 3.02 | 3 |
| Oct 06 | 19.1 | 12.0 | 2.6 | 181 | 2.92 | 0 |
| Sep 29 | 19.7 | 12.0 | 3.6 | 162 | 2.78 | 1 |
| Sep 22 | 19.9 | 11.6 | 2.2 | 164 | 2.88 | 0 |
| Sep 15 | 19.8 | 10.6 | 1.6 | 180 | 3.00 | 0 |
Figure 1. Cripps Pink (Maslin) superficial appearance at the stem-end (top), shoulder (middle), and starch pattern (bottom) on 10.13.2026 in Edneyville, NC.
If of interest, please see our previous posts for more detailed information on how to manage fruit maturity. Specifically:
- Using PGRs to Manage Apple Preharvest Drop, Fruit Maturity, and Harvest Timing
- Apple Harvest Management Considerations: Special Focus on Gala
When should I harvest?
Optimal harvest timing is dictated by multiple factors, especially the intended market. While one size does not fit all, please see this resource from Michigan State University for some general guidelines.
Acknowledgements
We are very grateful for the cooperation of Pat Lancaster and the team at Grandad's Apples for hosting this project. Thank you for your generous access to your farm and fruit! We sincerely appreciate the great work of the Henderson County Master Pomology Program. This dedicated team of volunteers inspired the initiation of this pilot program and is assisting with data collection. I will share more information about this group in the near future.
