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Cornell University : Cornell Cooperative Extension
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Harvesting and Storing Apples |
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October 17, 2001 An ancient fruit, apples, have been enjoyed by an immeasurable amount of people over the years. Apple trees enjoy our northern climate and need the cold weather to send the tree into dormancy allowing the tree to produce important sugars to continue their annual cycle. An apple tree can provide your landscape with year round beauty. Starting with it's fragrant blossoms in the spring, the tree's distinctive shape and foliage during the summer and winter months and most important the fruit it bears. Keeping the whole story of the apple in mind, the harvesting and storing of the apple will be the topic of discussion for this article. One reasonably accurate procedure for the homeowner to follow in order to predict the best time to harvest apples is to use the days from full bloom. Full bloom is the time that 90 percent or more of the apple blossoms have opened. For McIntosh it is 130 days, Cortland is 135 days, Red Delicious is 145 days, Spies is 150 days, Golden Delicious is 155 days, Idared is 160 days and Rome is 165 days. The approximate harvest date for some of our common apple varieties are as follows: Jerseymac is August 20; Paulared is September 1; Jonamac is September 16; Mc Intosh is September 20; Twenty-ounce is September 23; Cortland is September 27; Empire is October 3; Golden Delicious is October 5; Macoun is October 5; Red Delicious is October 8; Jonagold is October 10; Crispin (Mutsu) is October 15; Northern Spy is October 15; Idared is October 18, and Rome is October 22. The approximate harvest date may vary from year to year as much as a week or possibly two. Other guides to determine fruit maturity with varying success are change in fruit color and ease of separation of the fruit from the tree. Keep in mind if picked too early, apples will not be of best quality, even if put into storage. On the other hand, if you wait too long the fruit becomes over-matured, and will not store well. The most scientific approach might be to taste the apple. Apples will last longer and retain more flavor if kept in a fruit cellar or refrigerator in plastic bags that are perforated to allow air circulation. Although the storage duration depends on the apple variety, in general the late maturing varieties will store the best. The importance in picking and handling the fruit to avoid bruises and cuts cannot be over emphasized. Once the apples are harvested they should be cooled as quickly as possible. Harvesting in the early morning or late evening is suggested. The ideal storage temperature is 30 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit with a 90% relative humidity that is difficult for home orchardists to obtain except in the refrigerator where only a small volume may be stored. Higher storage temperatures reduce the storage life, as apples ripen twice as fast at 40 degrees Fahrenheit as at 32 degrees. Even at temperatures of 40 to 45 degrees one is still able to store apples for 1 to 3 months depending on variety. Because it is difficult to obtain ideal conditions at home, it is most important to start with perfect fruit. Experiment with different locations in your home to find the optimum cool temperature and conditions for storage. Each year will probably provide different conditions. Some years will be better then others. Keep a close eye on your harvested fruit and if anytime during your storage you feel the fruit is starting to deteriorate, this may be a good time to process the remaining apples into pie filling or applesauce and keep right on enjoying the fruit of your labor. The Master Gardeners of Yates County Cooperative Extension can help you with home orchard questions call for more information at 315.536.5123. Cornell
Cooperative Extension Yates Association |
