Tree Fruit Newsletter — July 30, 2025
In this newsletter:
- Peach Maturity
- Leaf and Soil Sampling Reminder
- Peel Sap Analysis for Predicting Bitter Pit
- Soil Moisture Readings
- Dept of Agriculture’s Autumn in Maine statewide publication
Peach Maturity
In southern Maine, the early to ripen peaches have reached a stage where they can be harvested. At Highmoor Farm, our early peaches have another week, yet. Our collection does not include the earliest varieties.
To judge the maturity, check the ground color or the peel that has no blush where chlorophyll changes can be seen. Color change from green to pale yellow indicates that the peach can be harvested and will continue to ripen off the tree. At this stage, it will be too firm for immediate marketing, but still firm enough to prevent bruising. You can leave the fruit on the tree to grow larger and improve quality, but there may be greater risk of bruising and skin tearing during fruit picking if left to fully ripen on the tree. White peaches will change from green to white.
Fruit should have a firmness of 10 to 16 lbs.-force for long-distance shipping or cold storage up to three weeks. Our earliest peach variety (Manon) has reached this level (15 lbs.), but the next one to ripen (Desiree) is at 19 lbs. Firmness of 6 to 8 lbs. is appropriate for a rapid marketing window and for most of our markets in Maine. Firmness of 2 to 4 lbs. is ok for immediate sale the same day, and fruit that is nearly ready to eat. Firmness of peaches should be measured with the 5/16-inch (8mm) diameter plunger. The 7/16-inch one is apples.
ReTain® is labeled for use on peaches, nectarines and plums to delay harvest. One pouch per acre applied two weeks prior to anticipated first pick. ReTain has a 7-day PHI.
Leaf and Soil Samples
I will be delivering samples to the soil testing lab in early August and again in September in case you wish to mail your samples to Highmoor Farm.
Mid to late July is the ideal time to collect leaves for nutritional analysis, so there is still time. Visit the University of Maine Soil Testing Lab to learn about all their services or access forms.
Cost for the standard foliar analysis is $30, and this includes analysis for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc.
The standard soil test is $20. Soil test includes pH; Lime Index; Available Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Sodium, Zinc, Organic matter, Calculated Cation Exchange Capacity. Please, specify on your submission form that you want the standard test. Soil samples submitted with a leaf sample may get fewer elements tested.
Winter discount – run on any soil sample received at the lab between January 1 and March 1. Sample in late fall, set aside to air-dry until discount period. Reports will be sent out within 4 weeks.
Peel Sap Analysis
We are still collecting apples for peel sap analysis. I am measuring it twice this summer, late July and again in late August. Peel sap analysis can tell us the calcium concentration in fruit by harvest time. There is still time to include apples from your orchard, but contact me soon to arrange for sample collection. You will need 10 to 20 apples from each block, and they need to be representative of the fruit size and sun exposure of the apples that will go in storage. Analysis is being paid for by a Specialty Crop Block Grant.
Soil Moisture Readings at Highmoor Farm
Orchard blocks in good soil are reading from -40 to -70 centibars indicating that they are reaching a point of water stress for tree fruits. We have begun irrigating. In shallow, sandy soil, tensiometers are reading -80 to -90 cbars indicating that the soil is extremely dry and should have been irrigated by now.
Maine Department of Agriculture’s Autumn in Maine statewide publication
The ad space deadline is 8/15, and ads are by 8/22.
Here is a link that will provide additional information, ad sizes, pricing, etc.
Autumn in Maine 2025
It won’t be long before it is Harvest Time. With that being said, the Bangor Daily News is once again working with Anne Trenholm, with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry on a special publication titled Autumn in Maine.
This special pull-out publication is a Guide to fall celebrations in Maine. It will highlight Maine Apple Sunday, Open Winery Day, Open Creamery Day, Maine Cheese Festival, Oktoberfest, events, and more across the state!
Here is a link to the 2023 & 2024 Autumn in Maine publication:
Autumn in Maine (September 2023 issue)
Autumn in Maine (September 2024)
We will be inserting “Autumn in Maine” into the Bangor Daily News, Brunswick Times Record, Lewiston Sun Journal, Portland Press Herald, Kennebec Journal and the Waterville Sentinel on September 12. Autumn in Maine will also be available at all 7 of the Maine Tourism Association Information Centers along the I-95 corridor. The Department of Agriculture will also be sharing the publication on their social media platforms.
If you would like to promote your products, services, events, etc. in Autumn in Maine please let me (Jeff Orcutt) know before August 15 to reserve your ad space.
jorcutt@bangordailynews.com
(207) 990-8036
Renae Moran
University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Tree Fruits
PO Box 179
Monmouth, ME 04259
(207) 933-2100
Mention of a trademark, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product, nor does it imply approval or disapproval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that may also be suitable.
The University of Maine System is an equal opportunity institution committed to nondiscrimination.