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How to Harvest an Apple Tree
How to Harvest an Apple Tree. We're not all dedicated farmers or garden enthusiasts, but many of us happen to have an apple tree on our property. We may not go out of our way to prune or water, and we don't know much about pest control, yet every year or two, the branches are heavy with wonderful, edible fruit. Suddenly we want to maximize this...
We're not all dedicated farmers or garden enthusiasts, but many of us happen to have an apple tree on our property. We may not go out of our way to prune or water, and we don't know much about pest control, yet every year or two, the branches are heavy with wonderful, edible fruit. Suddenly we want to maximize this delicious natural resource.
Clean up under the tree before the apples ripen. Wind and rain, animal predation and gravity cause apples to fall to the ground where they soon get messy and attract moths, aphids and other pests that will go after the apples on the tree. Remove the fallen apples frequently.
Recognize how the fruit of your apple tree should look, feel, smell and taste when ripe. That's how you'll know when to begin harvesting and what to pick first.
Harvest on sunny days. Watching sunlight hit the apple or light up the surrounding leaves is a great way to gauge how ripe it is.
Not every apple on the tree ripens at the same time. Pick only the best and give the others about a week before trying again. Remove any apples that are stunted, withered or grievously damaged.
Climb the tree. Even if it's a small tree, be safe. Make sure the ladder is firmly placed and branches can take your weight. If you haven't pruned the tree, watch out for densely clustered branches and small, sharp projections. Don't let your feet slip and be aware of your center of gravity.
Get help. Harvesting apples is a fun group project for adults and children. By handing apples down to someone else, you'll treat them much better than dropping or throwing them, and you'll remain safer as well.
Shake the tree only as a last resort. Too many perfect apples sustain damage when they strike a branch or hit the ground.
Tips & Warnings
Be patient and methodical in the branches of your tree. There will be apples wherever you turn, and you won't be able to get them all at once. Move slowly and enjoy the experience.
