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Farm Kitchen:  Apple Question  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 29 2009 : 8:43:09 PM
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So I have always heard that you are supposed to wait until the first frost to harvest the apples to set the sugars or something like that. But our apples are falling of the tree and they taste FANTASTIC. Should I go ahead and start harvesting? Or can I harvest and "Shock" them in the freezer for 15 minutes or whatever to set the sugars or whatever it is that waiting till frost does? What should I do? I am going to make apple butter and such from the windfalls, but if I don't hurry, they will all be wind falls!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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AuntieM
True Blue Farmgirl
151 Posts
Marjorie
Holly Springs
NC
USA
151 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2009 : 9:06:35 PM
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| I actually had never heard of that, Alee. I know different apples ripen at different times during the fall. We always went apple picking in September and early October - sometimes we'd have had frost by then, but just as often not. What does everyone else think? |
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aunt boby
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
toby
polo
illinois
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2009 : 05:49:29 AM
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I have not heard of that either. We go to our neighbors and pick all of their apples as they do not do anything with them. We just pick them when they look good and ready.
POOR IS THE MAN WHO CANNOT ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE- anonymous |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2009 : 06:35:01 AM
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I'd think THIS was the best time to pick them, but what do I know, lol. I have never heard about that either Alee. IF they taste and look good I'd say HARVEST!!
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2009 : 07:32:45 AM
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Alee I think this is one of those "old-timer" tales. If they taste good, pick-em. You dont want them to get mushy.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2009 : 07:35:41 AM
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Alee, never heard that either. I just usually get the ones off the ground before chickens do and use them. I figure they are ripe when they fall. But most apples are ready to harvest before frosts. I have an early June apple that needs no sugar at all when I make apple sauce from them. Way too sweet. Right now my Yates apples are ripening. We have eaten several so far. But I like to wait til they turn red.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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laurzgot
True Blue Farmgirl
1678 Posts
Laurie
Alvin
Texas
USA
1678 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2009 : 11:38:01 AM
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Love baked apples that way. If there good go and haveset that's what I say too.
Laurie
suburban countrygirl at heart |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2009 : 12:54:28 PM
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I always go by the color of the seeds. Cut one in half (don't forget to show Nora the "star"!) and if the seeds are brown they are ripe...if they are white...well you know... :)
Di
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Singing Tree Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Cari
Chase
Michigan
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 09:01:13 AM
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That is just for a certain type of apple tree, as far as I know it is an old fashioned tree and most likely to be in fence rows and such from long ago. It is rock hard right now and not ready until after frost and good for cider not sauce. You should go ahead and get the apples that are ready-completely different type. 
All of creation sings Your praise! |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 12:32:49 PM
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It really depends on your apple trees. My friend has his early variety ready now and has been bringing them to the market for several weeks. Others are still weeks away.
Best Growing |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13628 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13628 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 5:35:29 PM
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Alee,
My dad was one of the best orchardmen God ever put on this earth . . . he never waited until frost. He raised many varieties and the were harvested when they were ripe and ready . . .and he knew just when that was. The different varieties do ripen at different times and there are early apples . . his were called "summer apples" . . .they are greenish yellow but when ripe are yummy not too sweet, not too tart!!
I have picked thousands of applies, "hung" from many apples trees and been up and down orchard ladders a ba-zillion times, not to mention all the other work of grading, sorting and boxing.
I LOVE THE SMELL OF APPLES . . . going in the apple barn was so-o-o-o pleasant.
Go for it!!
CJ
...from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado |
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Lanna
True Blue Farmgirl
330 Posts
Lanna
A little town in Idaho
330 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 6:39:25 PM
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If they're falling off the tree and taste sweet, they're [most likely] ripe and ready. Different varieties ripen at different times. Here, Fuji or Gala are the earliest ones, and my goofy tart ones in our yard aren't ready until after a frost or three.
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Lanna, mama to three little monkeys and growing a new little sprout |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 8:24:12 PM
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Well I took some of the apples down to the horse barn today and Tala obliged by biting one clean in half. Sure enough- the seeds are brown. Good! :D I did pick some straight off the tree to keep them from getting bruised. It's amazing how many hide under leaves and such. I thought the tree was starting to look bare, but Nope! There is still loads of fruit on!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Farm Kitchen: Apple Question |
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Apple Question
