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See You in August!

Weather permitting, we look forward to a bumper crop in 2004. Balaton harvest is typically around the first of August.

Fruit Growth Stage Reference -- Tart Cherry
Dormant	No swelling visible
Bud Swell	Swollen buds become noticeable and no green tissue is visible.
Side Green	Green Tissue is visible on the sides of the bud.
Bud Burst	Also called "Green Tip" or "Tight Cluster",  the top of the bud has opened and the individual flower buds are visible. Cherry fruit buds have multiple flowers.
Early White Bud	The flower buds continue to open and the white petals are visible.
White Bud	Also called "Popcorn". This is the stage just before bloom.
First Bloom	When the first flowers open.
Full Bloom	All or most of the flowers on the tree are open.
Petal Fall	When the petals are falling off the tree.
In the Shuck	When all the petals have fallen and the sepals hide the fruit.
Shuck Split	When the growth of the fruit splits the shuck.
6 mm Fruit	Refers to fruit diameter.
8 mm Fruit
10 mm Fruit
12 mm Fruit
14 mm Fruit	Refers to diameter
16 mm Fruit
Pit Hardening	Not really a visible stage. It is when the pit of the fruit becomes hard. This is tested by trying to cut the fruit in half.
Straw-colored Fruit	The fruit color changes from green to yellow.
Coloring Fruit	The fruit color changes from yellow to red.
Harvest	The fruit is ripe and ready to harvest!

This chart and information is from the Michigan State University Extension Page.