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Chart version of thinner sensitivity ratings
Weather data for Greenville RI.  Forecast values begin May 22, 2012
Estimated Apple Sensitivity to Chemical Thinners
     Other factors may outweigh the weather effects use for these estimates.  Other influences include: fruit diameter, fruit exposure to temperatures >=75 F, pollination, this year's cropload, last year's cropload, warm February-early April temperatures, frost and prolonged cool and cloudy weather during bloom, previous fall weather, foliage condition last summer)
     Ratings below are for the influence of weather on fruit sensitivity to chemical thinning agents.  Ratings assume fruit are less than 13mm diameter.  Dates in bottom rows are beyond 18mm diameter for most cultivars, and are intended only for late cultivars.
  Look at your fruit!  
Rough guess McIntosh King fruit diameter dates: 
12mm - May 15, Tuesday         15mm - May 18, Friday          18mm - May 21, Monday
Date after which fruit have exposure to 2 days of daily high temperature of at least 75 F:  Sunday,  May 13
     Very warm night temperatures (average > 69F = 19 heat units in table) can lead to "EXCESSIVE THINNING RISK", especially if combined with cloudy weather, or if combined with use of NAA.

Warm nights + Cloudy days  ----->  Increased sensitivity, maximum thinning.
Warm nights + Sunny days   -----> 
Intermediate senstivity, moderate thinning.
Cool nights + Cloudy days    ----->  Reduced sensitivity
Cool nights + Sunny days     -----> 
Reduced sensitivity, minimum thinning. 
THINNER APPLICATION DATE
Estimates assume morning application.
For afternoon application use rating for next day.
Average
% CLOUD SHADING
on application day and the next two days.


< 20% = "sunny blue sky" 
> 40% = "cloudy"
Cloudy weather on 3 days after application increases thinning.
Average
NIGHT HEAT UNITS

= degrees above 50 F for 7pm--7am
for 3 nights after application. 
Example:  If average night time temperature is 55F, then value
= 5. 
   
Values above 10 for three nights after application increases sensitivity to thinning.
SUMMARY
I
nfluence of weather on sensitivity of fruit to thinning agents for 3 days following a morning application

Ratings assume that fruit
are within diameter range
of susceptibility for thinning.
McIntosh
95% Petal Fall
Thu, April 26   
23% 2 Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity
100% Petal Fall Fri, April 27    sunny  19% 0 Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity
 Sat, April 28    sunny  2% 0 Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity
 Sun, April 29    sunny  1% 0 Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity
 Mon, April 30    sunny  3% 0 Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity
 Tue, May 1      66% 0 Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity
 Wed, May 2      67% 0 Reduced sensitivity
 Thu, May 3      69% 0 Reduced sensitivity
 Fri, May 4      62% 3 Reduced sensitivity
Fruit Set Sat, May 5      62% 1 Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity
 Sun, May 6    34% 1 Reduced sensitivity
 Mon, May 7    sunny  6% 3 Intermediate
 Tue, May 8      59% 6 Intermediate
 Wed, May 9      66% 7 Reduced sensitivity
 Thu, May 10      50% 1 Reduced sensitivity
 Fri, May 11    27% 2 Reduced sensitivity
 Sat, May 12    sunny  0% 9 Intermediate
 Sun, May 13    sunny  8% 11 Increased sensitivity
 Mon, May 14    34% 10 Increased sensitivity-- sensitivity may be less because of fruit exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Tue, May 15      43% 11 Intermediate -- fruit >12mm probably less sensitive to thinning due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Wed, May 16      59% 8 Reduced sensitivity -- fruit >12mm probably less sensitive to thinning due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Thu, May 17    sunny  2% 2 Stronger influence for reduced sensitivity -- fruit >12mm probably less sensitive to thinning due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Fri, May 18    sunny  4% 2 Reduced sensitivity -- fruit >15mm may have minimal sensitivity due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Sat, May 19    sunny  1% 5 Intermediate -- fruit >15mm may have minimal sensitivity due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Sun, May 20    sunny  3% 6 Intermediate -- fruit >15mm may have minimal sensitivity due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Mon, May 21      64% 10 Increased sensitivity -- fruit > 18mm are probably beyond predictable chemical thinning due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Tue, May 22      73% 7 Increased sensitivity -- fruit > 18mm are probably beyond predictable chemical thinning due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Wed, May 23      45% 11 Stronger influence for Increased sensitivity -- fruit > 18mm are probably beyond predictable chemical thinning due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Thu, May 24    32% 15 Stronger influence for Increased sensitivity -- fruit > 18mm are probably beyond predictable chemical thinning due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Fri, May 25    40% 18 EXCESSIVE THINNING RISK -- fruit > 18mm are probably beyond predictable chemical thinning due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F
 Sat, May 26    34% 20 EXCESSIVE THINNING RISK -- fruit > 18mm are probably beyond predictable chemical thinning due to size and exposure to 2+ days with high temps. > 75F