How to Tell if Apples on Your Tree Are Ripe
Take the growing location into account., Consider the color of the apples., Wait for a couple of apples to fall from the tree., Look for dark brown seeds inside the apple.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Take the growing location into account.
Apples are ready for picking earlier in warmer areas than the fruits in colder climates because the heat helps them ripen.
Likewise, south facing fruits will get more sunlight and be ready for picking earlier than apples on the north side of the tree.
In cooler climates, harvest time is generally September through October.
In warmer climates, harvest time could be anywhere from late summer through early spring. -
Step 2: Consider the color of the apples.
The most obvious sign to watch for is color.
Golden delicious apples will change from green to yellow when they are ready to be harvested and red delicious will turn entirely red.
If the tree produces apples with stripes or a red blush, the green part of the apple will turn yellow when it is ready to pick.Unfortunately, some of the newer apple tree cultivars are not so obvious.
The skin on these apples may turn entirely red before they are ready for harvest or the green part of the skin may not turn yellow until the apples are stored for a few months.
To overcome this obstacle, heck the flesh of the apple before harvesting all of them to determine if they are ready.
When these apples are ready to harvest the flesh will have changed from pale green to white.
The color of the indentation near the steam is another way to tell on certain varieties.
The shade of this area generally lightens as the apples ripen. , Apple trees naturally drop their apples when they are ripe in order to self-seed and reproduce.
Watch for an apple or two to drop from the tree to determine if they are ready to pick.
When your apples are ripe, they should be fairly easy to pick from the tree with a simple upward twist of the apple.
Try to avoid picking an apple by pulling the fruit straight down and tugging.
If otherwise healthy fruits begin to fall off the tree, they are probably beginning to get a little too ripe and should probably be harvested as soon as possible. , Apples that are nearing maturity will generally have dark brown seeds rather than white ones.
However, keep in mind that this may not be the case for varieties that ripen early.
Their seeds may still be light colored when they are ripe and some types have seeds that turn brown weeks before the optimal picking time.
This is where researching the variety in your yard can also prove helpful. -
Step 3: Wait for a couple of apples to fall from the tree.
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Step 4: Look for dark brown seeds inside the apple.
Detailed Guide
Apples are ready for picking earlier in warmer areas than the fruits in colder climates because the heat helps them ripen.
Likewise, south facing fruits will get more sunlight and be ready for picking earlier than apples on the north side of the tree.
In cooler climates, harvest time is generally September through October.
In warmer climates, harvest time could be anywhere from late summer through early spring.
The most obvious sign to watch for is color.
Golden delicious apples will change from green to yellow when they are ready to be harvested and red delicious will turn entirely red.
If the tree produces apples with stripes or a red blush, the green part of the apple will turn yellow when it is ready to pick.Unfortunately, some of the newer apple tree cultivars are not so obvious.
The skin on these apples may turn entirely red before they are ready for harvest or the green part of the skin may not turn yellow until the apples are stored for a few months.
To overcome this obstacle, heck the flesh of the apple before harvesting all of them to determine if they are ready.
When these apples are ready to harvest the flesh will have changed from pale green to white.
The color of the indentation near the steam is another way to tell on certain varieties.
The shade of this area generally lightens as the apples ripen. , Apple trees naturally drop their apples when they are ripe in order to self-seed and reproduce.
Watch for an apple or two to drop from the tree to determine if they are ready to pick.
When your apples are ripe, they should be fairly easy to pick from the tree with a simple upward twist of the apple.
Try to avoid picking an apple by pulling the fruit straight down and tugging.
If otherwise healthy fruits begin to fall off the tree, they are probably beginning to get a little too ripe and should probably be harvested as soon as possible. , Apples that are nearing maturity will generally have dark brown seeds rather than white ones.
However, keep in mind that this may not be the case for varieties that ripen early.
Their seeds may still be light colored when they are ripe and some types have seeds that turn brown weeks before the optimal picking time.
This is where researching the variety in your yard can also prove helpful.
About the Author
Deborah Hart
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in creative arts and beyond.
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