Stop in for a cup of coffee

Frodee said

Hey guys my apple tree is loaded this year and was wondering if now is a good time to harvest them after we had our first frost or wait just a bit longer. It's a honey crisp apple tree.

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You live further north so yours will need picked a little earlier. You don't want them to freeze.

AI Overview


You should pick apples when they are fully ripe, which varies by variety and local climate but typically occurs from late summer to late fall. To tell if an apple is ripe, it should have a deep color for its variety, its seeds should be brown, and it should detach easily from the tree with a gentle lift or twist. You can also use a local ripening chart for your specific apple variety.

Signs of Ripeness

• Color: Look for the deep, full color of the variety. Some apples will show a yellow or creamy background color instead of green as they ripen.
  
  
• Ease of Removal: A ripe apple will come off the tree easily with a gentle lift or twist, without needing to be pulled or forced.
  
  
• • Seed Color: Cut the apple in half; ripe apples will have brown seeds.
    
  • Taste: The fruit should be sweet and crisp, not hard or starchy.
    
  • Falling Fruit: Apples that have started to fall from the tree are often a sign that the rest of the fruit is also ripe.
    

Factors Influencing Ripeness

• • Variety:
    Different apple varieties ripen at different times; there are early, mid, and late-season apples.
    
  • Local Climate:
    Weather conditions, including the amount of spring rain and the heat during the summer, can affect when apples ripen each year.
    
  • Sunlight:
    Apples on the sunny side of the tree tend to ripen faster than those in the shade.
    

What to Avoid

• • Don't force it:
    If the apple doesn't come off the tree easily, it's not ready and needs more time on the branch.
    
  • Don't wait for all of them to ripen at once:
    Apples on a single tree ripen at different rates, so you should pick them as they are ready, not all at the same time.