" title="Embarassed" /> How do i know when when apples are ready???
I think they are ready I picked up a hole bunch from the ground mostly infected with worm/moth holes, and tried a couple from the tree they came off easily and the seeds were brown.
In the orchard there are courtland , spy, mac and one pathetic golden russet.
THere aren't alot of apples I think thats part of the reason it's hard to tell?
There are scientific methods and everyday methods. I watch for dropping apples, like my Kings are doing. Then taste one off the south side of the tree (more heat, earlier ripening). If it's good enough to finish I'll look at the seeds to see if they're brown (the Kings are). Then scramble to do something with them...
So I'd suggest the taste test. Golden / Yellow Delicious (to me) have such a wide window of 'eatability’ they're difficult to peg. I like them early & crisp, but they'll hang on for months becoming deeper colored and sweeter. So some apples you have to pick at your favorite point!
Now (European) pears are the tricky ones for me 
You should pick them in advance of ripeness. Or, like Bartlett’s, they'll soon be mush. I've learned to enjoy pears 'crunchy' too... and some, like Bosc, seem to stay that way!
I just found the following advice on apple ripeness and picking time @: http://www.midfex.org/yale/intro.html
"You may wonder how Gene knows when to pick his apples. Gene offers the following hints: "You lift the apple up sideways and give it a quarter of a turn. If it releases from the tree, the apple is ripe. If you are not sure, pick one apple and cut it open. If the seeds are not fully brown, but more brown and white, leave the rest of the fruit on the tree for another week or two."
"If you want to store the apples, you pick them when they're full size but not perfectly ripe. You might have to twist the apple and then hold onto the branch so you don't break the fruiting spur."
Thanks for the link, wow what a fantastic yard Gene has...
I got the feel of ripeness when the time came to picking, we only got a 1/2 bushel off all the 16 trees!!! ...pretty scary but i understand if they have been left without prunning for some time this could be the reason.
I have befriended a lady that has an organic orchard of 700 trees on about 2.5 acres 10 km from my place ...she has an apple press too, so she is willing to take me under her wing next spring as an apprentise ... and in turn check out my property and give me some advise on whether my property is well suited for more trees or not. I am looking forward to the opportunity.
Right now we are strugling to prepare for winter, and at present have no water .... so i have put on my plumbing hat and changed careers from orchardist to plumber untill i've figured out the water situation
cheers,
Lisa
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
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