Tree Fruit Newsletter — September 3, 2026
In this newsletter:
- Maturity Report
- Soil Moisture Readings
- First Announcement for the New England Veg and Fruit Conference (NEVFC) in Manchester, New Hampshire in December 2026
Maturity Report
Peaches
This week, we are picking this week:
- Coralstar
Varieties in our collection that should be picked this week are Blushingstar, PF17, PF23 and Veteran. Coralstar peaches in the higher elevation orchard were slower to ripen than in the main orchard and should be ready soon.
Apples
Honeycrisp maturity is behind where it was in the last two years at this time. This is typical for trees with a heavy crop load. Red color development is also poor. Hopefully with cooler temperatures, it will improve.
Gala maturity is variable among apples on the same tree. Fruit at Highmoor Farm tasted ready for spot picking by color and ok for pick-your-own. Because orchards vary in how fast fruit ripens, do your own taste tests and check ground color for signs of change from green to cream color if picking for storage.
McIntosh (spur-type) starch is consistent with starch breakdown in years past. Ground color indicates that they are too unripe for harvesting for storage. Flavor was ok for an early harvest for farmstands and pick-your-own. I did not test the regular strain today, but it usually ripens later than the spur-type strains.
Starch index is based on iodine staining of starch in apples cut in half. Starch breakdown begins in the core and progresses outward to the peel as apples ripen. Each progressive stage of breakdown is assigned a number from 1 to 8 with 1 indicating none and 8 indicating complete breakdown.
| Variety | Starch Index 9/3/25 | Delta Absorbance* (IAD) 9/3/25 |
|---|---|---|
| Gala | 2.6 | 0.95 |
| Honeycrisp | 1.0 | 1.42 |
| McIntosh | 3.0 | 1.95 |
* IAD is a measure of chlorophyll breakdown in the peel which parallels ripening. Numbers decrease as fruits ripen, Gala and Honeycrisp readings between 0.8 and 0.3 indicate sufficient maturity for storage. McIntosh IAD is much higher than in other varieties and drops below 1.80 at the start of harvest.
The following is a rough guide to what the starch index numbers mean for apple ripening:
1 – 2: indicates lack of starch breakdown and generally unripe.
3: partially ripe, but prone to disorders in long-term storage.
4: typically ready to pick for long-term storage.
5 – 6: indicates good flavor and ready for general harvest or harvest for short-term storage.
7 – 8: indicates fully ripe, too ripe for long-term storage.
Soil Moisture Readings
As of this afternoon and following 0.3” of rain, soil moisture readings from 4 tensiometers at Highmoor Farm indicate variable conditions. Soil moisture tension in an orchard block that was irrigated last week ranged from -33 cbars in good soil to -72 cbars in more sandy soil. In the unirrigated block, soil moisture tension was -62 and -77 cbars, depending on location. Readings that are more negative than -70 indicate very dry soil. Readings below -40 indicate sufficient moisture for apple and peach trees.
New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference (NEVFC)
December 15, 16 & 17, 2026
Manchester, NH
The three-day event features 31 educational sessions covering tree fruit, berries, vegetables, cut flowers, farm business management, technology, and more, along with 13 Farmer-to-Farmer discussion sessions, a trade show with more than 120 exhibitors, and research posters.
Pre-registration is $130 per person ($100 for additional attendees registering together; $60 for students) through November 30. After November 30, registration fees increase.
For the full program, registration information, and accommodations, visit the New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference website.
For those of you going to the New England Veg. and Fruit Conference and would like a room onsite I highly encourage you to book your room(s) now. Rooms go fast!
If you require a handicap accessible room, or participation in the conference is contingent upon staying at the conference hotel, please contact Olivia.Saunders@unh.edu or 603-447-3834 to make arrangements prior to November 23, 2026. A set of rooms have been set aside but will be released if not booked by November 23, 2026.
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.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity institution and provider committed to nondiscrimination. For more information, visit extension.umaine.edu/nondiscrimination.