Apple Bud Development Stages

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Apple Bud Development Stages

You will need to recognize the stages of bud development from Dormant to 15 mm fruit set. Its not hard to learn with the aid of a few pictures and it will help you assess your crop and when (or if) you need to apply sprayes for apple acab and other threats.

Apple Growth Stages

Green Tip Green leaf tissue is visible at the tip of the bud.	Half Inch Green A half inch of green tissue is visible. Leaves start to fold back from the bud. This stage is often called "Mouse Ears".	Tight Cluster The spur leaves have folded back exposing the flower cluster inside the bud.	Open Cluster The individual flower buds have separated.


Full Bloom 80% or more of the flowers on the tree or in the orchard are open.	12 mm Fruit As the fruit cluster develops size difference between the king and side blooms become more pronounced.	1.0" Fruit By the time the fruit is one inch in diameter the final fruit count as been determined. Some growers will thin by hand.	Harvest Final fruit size is a result of the number of fruit on the tree and the growing conditions that year.