When Are Apples Ready To Pick?

Some gardeners would like to harvest apples early.  Though nearly mature apples can ripen off the tree, there must be a certain level of maturity for this to happen. Here are some guides to help you decide when to pick your apples.

Color change:  As apples mature, the skin color in areas of the stem and the calyx basin at the bottom of the apple turns from an immature green to alight-yellow color. Some apples will develop a red skin color before they are ripe, so this is not a reliable indication of maturity.

Flavor:  This is a good guide if you are familiar with the apples you have and know how can still sample slices of a few apples and decide if they have a sweet flavor. If they are not ready to harvest, they will taste starchy or immature. If apples have already fallen and taste a bit starchy, store them for a period to see if they become sweeter.

Flesh color:  As apples mature and starches change to sugars, the flesh changes from very light green to white. When you cut a thin slice and hold it up to the light you can see the difference.  

Days from bloom: The number of days from bloom is a reliable guide for general maturity time, but weather conditions will have some influence. Some kinds of apples and approximate days from bloom to maturity are Jonathan, 135, Delicious, 145, Golden Delicious, 145, and Winesap, 155 days. This process may be slower than usual due to the cooler weather this year.

Seed color:  The seeds of most apples change from light green to brown as the fruit ripens. This indicator should be combined with other changes since it is not absolute. The flavor of the apples, the change in color of the stem and calyx basins and flesh color are important in deciding if apples are ready to harvest. (Ward Upham). Submitted by Fairie Gardener.