Long Term Apple Storage

This report details storage results on Spray-N-Grow treated apples coming out of CA storage in the Yakima, Washington area 1990-1991. These results confirm previous studies. Spray-N-Grow treated apples have excellent storage characteristics – even those that were treated only one time at ninety (90) days from full bloom.

THREE MONTHS STORAGE: Moxee Valley Apples
Red Chief, Silver Spur, Rose Red
13 – 13.5% sugar
18 – 21 pressure
Outstanding color & quality
No bitter pit
No scald

Firm Gold
15% Sugar
19 – 21 pressure
Outstanding quality
No bitter pit
No scald

The firm golds were treated with Spray-N-Grow Micronutrients three times: 30 days before bloom, shortly after petal-fall, and again 30 days later. The red varieties were treated with Spray-N-Grow Micronutrients three times: shortly after petal-fall, 30 days later, and 30 days after the second application.

SIX MONTHS STORAGE: Moxee Valley Apples
Red Chief, Silver Spur, Rose Red
13% sugar
18 – 20 pressure
Outstanding color & quality; 98% WA extra fancy
No bitter pit
No scald

These apples were treated with Spray-N-Grow Micronutrients three times: shortly after petal-fall, 30 days later, and again 30 days after the second application.

NINE MONTHS STORAGE: Naches Apples
Bisbee & Rose Red
No sugar readings reported
17 – 18 pressure
Outstanding color & quality
No bitter pit
No scald

This is a shared CA storage room for several Co-op growers. All apples except those treated with Spray-N-Grow Micronutrients had significant scald.

NOTE: These Spray-N-Grow Micronutrients apples were treated only one time at ninety (90) days from full bloom. This CA room is scheduled to be opened August 12. These results were from samples taken from the room after about nine (9) months of storage.

ELEVEN MONTHS STORAGE:
No change from nine months storage data.