Apples are deciduous, fruit-bearing trees, primarily grown in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 8. The most accurate way to determine whether apples are harvest-ready is to calculate number of days since pollination. Depending on cultivar, intended use and weather conditions, this varies between 135 and 180 days on average. However, assuming you don’t know this information, there are many other indications that apples are ready to be picked.
Time of Year – Apples ripen during the fall anywhere from early August to mid-November. Keep in mind that rainy conditions tend to delay maturation, while warm days with cool nights will speed maturation up.
Indicators - As apples mature, they grow rapidly in size and begin to produce a pleasant aroma. The base skin color of the fruit will transition from bright green to yellow. Ripe apples easily separate from the tree when lifted to a 90 degree angle and slightly twisted. Mature apples feel firm but not hard to the touch. The flesh of ripe apples is usually a creamy yellow and the seeds are black. Because apples mature on the tree they can be consumed immediately. Of course, if you are still in doubt concerning ripeness, you can always just take a bite. The flesh should taste juicy and delicious.
Postharvest –When properly stored, most apples, not including summer apples, will keep well for extended periods. Apples that ripen before Labor Day, also known as summer apples, store poorly and should be eaten within two weeks of picking. On the other hand, apples that ripen after Labor Day, called fall or winter apples, may be refrigerated for several months. Keeping fruit in plastic bags with holes helps avoid dehydration.
References:
Cornell University; Homegrown Apples in New York; Ian Merwin; October 2010
About Apple Trees: What Is an Apple Tree
University of Wisconsin Extension; Growing Apples in Wisconsin; Teryl R. Roper, et al.; 2006
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Apples
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