UVM Apple Orchard

The UVM Apple Program:

Extension and Research for the commercial tree fruit grower in Vermont and beyond...

Criteria for Determining Bud Stages:

[Note:  The source of the following pictures is:   'Growth Stages in Fruit Trees', New York Food and Life Sciences Bulletin, No. 58, February 1976, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY]

Dormant                             Silver Tip

Green Tip                          Half Inch Green 

      Tight Cluster

Criteria:   When 50% of non-spur McIntosh buds appear as the above pictures.  Please note that Green Tip should be viewed from the side -- in other words, do not look straight down into  the bud to see if you can see green tissue.

          Pink                                        Full Bloom

Criteria:    Pink -- when 60-70% of Blossoms are as shown on non-spur McIntosh

                Full Bloom --   when 60-80% of fruit buds are in bloom on non-spur McIntosh

                         Petal Fall                                    

Criteria:  Petal Fall -- two stages are important as 'biofixes' -- 95% Petal Fall (when 5% of fruit buds still have their blossoms) and 100% Petal Fall (when, for all purposes, petal fall is complete, i.e., can have a few petals left on tree)