What's Inside

60-90 percent dappled red over yellow in cool climates.

May not color as well in warmer climates. Other factors critical for high color are good sun exposure and avoiding excess nitrogen.

Well-balanced: sweet-tart

May be mild in warmer climates if harvested early or if trees are heavily cropped.

Begins approximately 1 week after McIntosh.

Approximately September 20 to October 5 in Minnesota.

New York data indicates 2 week optimum harvest window based on spot picking best colored fruit at each harvest. Spot picking may help ripen remaining fruit. Heavy application of calcium (14 lbs/season) may advance maturity.

Outstanding. Seven months in common storage at 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Ten or more months in CA storage. Storage can be affected by several disorders.

Bitter pit may occur, especially on trees in early bearing years. In the eastern U.S., multiple calcium sprays (8-12 lbs/acre/season) have been effective in reducing bitter pit incidence. Bitter pit is usually less common on fruit from older trees.

Soft scald may also occur. The causes of this disorder are not fully understood and the severity can vary greatly among orchards or between different years from the same orchard. Research has indicated that soft scald can be reduced if fruit are held at warmer temperatures (50F) for 5 to 7 days after harvest before placing them in cold storage at 34-38F. Honeycrisp fruit should not be stored at 32F or lower.