When are the apples ripe on the tree and how can you enjoy them for as long as possible? Important questions to which you will find an answer here.
You want to live off the harvest from your own apple tree (Malus domestica) for as long as possible. But not all apples are ripe at the same time. Some are early and ripe as early as August, others are hardly edible before December. In addition, a distinction must be made between the so-called ripeness for picking and ripeness for consumption. The harvest period for apples can therefore not be generalized. However, there are a few characteristics that can be used to tell whether an apple is ready to be picked or whether it should be left on the tree. If the apple is harvested at the right time, the conditions for optimal storage are very good, depending on the variety.
Harvest apples: When is harvest time?
The right time to harvest the apples is not the same for every variety. Early varieties can be harvested as early as the beginning of August, late ones until the end of October, and some are even only ready for consumption in December. Thus, with careful selection of varieties, the possible harvest period of different apple trees in the garden can be extended to up to three months if early and late varieties are combined in the garden. Depending on the variety, you may have to compromise on taste, but you can enjoy apples from your own garden for a long time.
Check our apple variety overview to find out which apple variety is to be harvested early or late and which taste suits you.
Harvest apples: When is the apple ripe?
With apples, a distinction is made between two states of ripeness: ripe for picking and ripe for consumption. The so-called summer apples can be eaten straight from the tree - they are "ripe to eat". Some late-ripening varieties are said to be ripe for picking when they have to be stored for a few weeks after picking in order to develop their full flavor and be ready for consumption.
The apples on a tree don't all ripen at the same time. This is a clear plus in view of the longer harvest period. Finehowever, when it comes to distinguishing ripe from unripe apples at picking, staggered ripeness can pose a problem. In general, one can be guided by the fact that the fruit on the side away from the sun usually ripens more slowly than those on the sunny south side of the tree. To see if the apple is really ripe, tilt it slightly or turn it carefully. If the apple can then be easily detached, it is ripe.
Picking by hand is particularly necessary if the apples are to be used as table fruit. A picking aid can be very practical in order to reach the apples more easily at higher altitudes and to harvest them from the tree without damaging them. On the other hand, if the apples are to be used to make applesauce, apple cider or apple juice, you can use apples that have already fallen on the one hand, and on the other hand you can harvest the apples by shaking them comfortably on the tree.
The following factors should be considered when harvesting apples:
- Is it an early, medium or late variety?
- Is the apple ready to eat or ready to pick?
- Apples are ripe when they can be easily removed from the tree by tilting them slightly and without great effort
- Selective picking of table fruit by hand
- Apples for juice or applesauce can be shaken quickly and conveniently from the tree
Storing apples: helpful tips and tricks
The entire apple harvest should not necessarily be processed immediately, let alone eaten. It is therefore practical if the apples can be stored well. The selection of an apple variety that can be stored well is an essential criterion for a long storage period and the associated extension of the enjoyment period. However, there are a few things to consider to ensure that the apples are stored optimally and therefore successfully.
Storing apples: keeping apples fresh for longer
Optimal storage begins with the harvest: make sure that the apples do not get any bruises. The fabric quickly becomes muddy at pressure points and begins to rot much earlier. Therefore, fallen fruit is not suitable for storage. Similarly, apples with a worm bite should not find their way into storage. The unwelcome critters cause premature death and also wander from one apple to another.
To store, place the apples in aCrate, best lined with newspaper and only in one layer. You should avoid stacking the apples, as this can also cause unwanted pressure points. If you do not wash off or polish, the natural wax layer will be preserved. It improves the shelf life of the apple, because it reduces the apple's gas exchange and thus its respiration. This results in reduced production of gases such as ethylene, which promote fruit ripening faster.
Put the apple crates in a cool and dark place. The apples must be protected from temperature fluctuations and sub-zero temperatures. Check the stored apples regularly and remove bad specimens. Varieties that are particularly suitable for storage are, for example, 'Cox Orange', 'Jonagold' or 'Roter Boskoop'. However, early varieties such as 'Alkmene' and 'Gravensteiner' do not store well.
How to store apples summarized:
- Cool and dark place
- Protected against sub-zero temperatures and temperature fluctuations
- Control of the stored apples: Never store apples with rotten spots, wormholes or dents
- Check stored apples regularly
Process apples and extend shelf life
Don't just throw away the apples that aren't suitable for storage. Damaged, worm-infested or undersized specimens can be processed into juice, jelly or mush, for example. Even fallen fruit can still be used, as long as it is not rotten, despite the bruises. The apples can also be used directly, for example in the form of a delicious apple pie.
Tip: you can hand in your apples at many cider shops and exchange them directly for juice. Especially in years with a less plentiful harvest, apples are in high demand in cider factories.
Tip: If you want to optimally supply your apple tree with nutrients and thus ensure a rich harvest, you can use our Plantura organic soil activator. This ensures active soil life and makes it easier for the apple tree to absorb nutrients.