Author: swright

Tree Fruit Maturity Report — September 19, 2025

Maturity Report Peaches We harvested Messina peaches this week. Fruit size was better than expected considering how dry it’s been and the fact that they were watered only twice and insufficiently. Only two varieties remain unharvested, Selena and Autumnstar. These two are among the latest to ripen in the Adams County Nursery. Pears Our green […]

Read more

Tree Fruit Maturity Report — September 17, 2025

Maturity Report Stone Fruit This week, we are harvesting Long John, a European plum, and Messina, one of our better peaches. Apples Water core is showing up in a few apples. Water core occurs when the apple cannot metabolize all the sugars that flow into it. The surplus sugars inside the apple will draw water […]

Read more

Tree Fruit Maturity Report — September 12, 2025

Maturity Report Pears Pears have reached a stage of maturity where they should be harvested for storage. Flesh firmness was in the range of 14 to 17 lbs. for all three varieties in our collection. Pears left on the tree will continue to ripen but will not last in cold storage more than several days […]

Read more

Spotted Wing Drosophila Alert — September 12, 2025

David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist; Phil Fanning, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Entomology; Christina Howard, Maine New Farmers Project Manager Spotted wing drosophila fruit fly trap counts remain fairly stable and moderate at this time. Sites that are no longer spraying because harvest is complete are seeing higher numbers […]

Read more

Tree Fruit Maturity Report — September 9, 2025

Maturity Report Peaches Peach varieties we picked this week include: PF23, Blushingstar, Veteran, Contender, Harrow Beauty and Glowingstar. We have only a few varieties left to pick: Messina, Autumnstar and Selena. Plums European plums are in the process of ripening. We picked Castleton and Rosy Gage. Long John will be ready next. Apples McIntosh harvest […]

Read more

Spotted Wing Drosophila Alert — September 5, 2025

David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist; Phil Fanning, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Entomology; Christina Howard, Maine New Farmers Project Manager Spotted wing drosophila fruit fly trap counts were little changed from last week. Sites that are no longer spraying because harvest is complete are seeing higher numbers than sites […]

Read more

Tree Fruit Maturity Report — September 2, 2025

Maturity Report Peaches Peaches we are picking this week: Coralstar, PF17 Ripening of varieties has been out of the normal sequence this summer. Check varieties ahead of schedule because some seem to be ready to pick before expected. Apples McIntosh harvest indices are listed in the table below. Consider these values as the baseline because […]

Read more