Hello all.
My apple (Braeburn) tree is in its second year since planting. It has a good crop of around 30 apples on it. However, they seem still to be solidly attached to the tree. I tried one last week, but it was a bit sour. Given that we are heading for the cold spells and it is unlikely that they are going to ripen further should I just pick them and use them for cooking or is there any chance that I can ripen them further for eating?
As always, I look forward to your replies.
Regards
Bluecar
I don't know about Braeburn, but the ones we have just picked, Ashmeads Kernel and Court Pendu Plat will both ripen up slowly in storage. Greensleeves definitely ripens up, very rapidly. once picked. It goes within a week or so from being hard and green and crisp to yellow and soft.
Thanks Palustris.
Is that storing them at room temperature?
Regards
Bluecar
We find that the best way to store them is to wrap each apple in a piece of slightly scrumpled newspaper, and put them in layers in a well-ventilated tray. Keep them in a cool place if you can. Inspect them from time to time and discard any that have started to rot. The newspaper will stop the rot spreading.
I also have a Braeburn & am led to believe that you don't pick them till mid November, the odd one or two have come away in my hand so far this year & are ok but the vast majority are still firmly attached.
Wrapping the apples is ok if you just have a few, but we store far too many to wrap, would need a huge number of newspapers to do it!). Ours are stored in the polystyrene inserts used by the Supermarkets for their fruit. These keep the apples apart so rot does not spread. They are stored cool and dark.
If the apples will not come off the tree with a gentle lift then they should be left as Poppy Mole suggests.
Braeburns will need further ripening in storage to bring out their sweetness.
You don't need to wrap them individually...it is quite time consuming but if your fruit is sound and not suffered with bruises from dropping into ground, just 'bundle' them into plastic bags (maybe 3x10 or what ever size bags you have) and pierce the bags couple of times for ventilation.
Bag will keep the moisture level even..holes to allow excess to escape and if you keep the apple in cool place (shed?) they will slowly mature without drying before their time.
Give them about 4-6 weeks and then have a try if they are getting ready yet. Braeburns are slow to mature and can keep well into new year.
I leave them on the tree till they're almost ready to drop off. It does mean losing some windfalls though.
Thank you all for your advice.
Bluecar
We have golden delicious which we leave until the first frost is forecast. Are apples ok if they are left on the tree during a frost?
We were still able to pick Catshead apples from the tree in good condition in the middle of December last year. I think it has to get pretty cold before it damages the apples, but not positive. We have only ever left the Catshead on the tree over winter.