Values for standard McIntosh strains ranged from 1.3 to 1.9, and those from Marshall McIntosh ranged from 1.6 to 3.0. In Belchertown, however, standard strains were about 3.5 and Marshalls were 3.6. Similar values were seen in the Pittsfield area. This week, standard McIntosh in Belchertown are about 4.5, suggesting that harvest should be well underway. Galas have shown a similar variation in ripening, with the eastern part of the state ranging from 1.2 to 2.0 last week, and Belchertown averaging about 4.5.
Drought stress seems also to be having varying effects depending upon cultivar.
In Belchertown, some of the new cultivars are as much as two weeks ahead of normal, and others are not nearly as affected. Retain seems to be holding back ripening well. Most data for McIntosh and Gala suggest that Retain treatments are delaying maturation by about a week. It is imperative this year to keep a careful eye on maturation. Do not expect that the order of ripening will be normal, and be prepared to harvest some varieties early.