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Garden Gate:  How do you know when apples are ripe?  |
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lovelady
True Blue Farmgirl
533 Posts
Toni
Indiana
USA
533 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 16 2008 : 08:42:37 AM
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| This is our first year in this house and there are three old apple trees in the yard that are loaded with fruit. This may be dumb, but how do I know when they are ready? They are turning reddish now, but still have some green on them. I just picked one and cut into it, and it is still very hard, but doesn't necessarily taste sour/tart, but not really sweet either. I know there are hundreds of varieties of apples that ripen over several months, I just don't want to wait too long and lose them all to bugs and rot. Any suggestions? |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2008 : 09:20:17 AM
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Apples ripen through from late Aug to early Nov. depending on type. To see if they are ready to be harvested, take an apple in your hand and twist lightly. If the apple is ripe the stalk will come clean and freely away from the fruiting spur (the part of the twig where the fruit grows). If not then the apple is not ripe.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
Edited by - Alee on Aug 16 2008 09:21:22 AM |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 03:51:27 AM
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you can also cut one open and look at the seeds. If they are dark,they are ripe.
'
Michele
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lovelady
True Blue Farmgirl
533 Posts
Toni
Indiana
USA
533 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 04:23:03 AM
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| Thanks for the tips! My son and I picked up several crates full yesterday of ones that fell off in a storm that we had last week. I wish we had some chickens to give them to! But they went into the compost pile instead. I picked a dark red one while we were working and ate it. I didn't notice how easily it came from the tree, I just yanked it off. But, the seeds were dark and it had really pretty white flesh with dark pink flecks. Hopefully they will make some tasty applesauce in the next few weeks. |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 08:50:41 AM
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I am so glad you asked this Toni - we have some underloved apple trees in our yard and next year, after I prune them, I was wondering how in the heck I was going to figure out when to pick:)
Alee - thanks for the very well-put answer, even I can follow it
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 5:06:26 PM
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Don't compost the ones that fall to the ground. Instead make applesauce. Well, ok if they are wormy you may not want to, but waste not, want not. I just bought two apple trees today. they were half price!! I'm so exciting. It will be a few years, but I can't wait for my first apples.
Best Growing |
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Garden Gate: How do you know when apples are ripe? |
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How do you know when apples are ripe?
