Autumn is here. And if your fruit trees are still loaded down with fruit, you may be counting down to harvest day. Or… you may be wondering how long you should wait before you pluck nature’s candy from the limbs of your trees.
Don’t wonder any longer. We’re here to help! This article will walk you through how to determine if your fruit is at optimal ripeness and provide you with some techniques to make harvest time a fall festivity rather than a chore.
Is It Harvest Time? When to Pick Your Fall Fruits
Knowing when to harvest your fruit ensures you receive the most delicious fruits that will last the longest after picking.
However, with changes in weather from year to year, harvest day isn’t one that can be marked on your calendar at the beginning of the year. You have to monitor your fruit and know what you’re looking for in size, color, and texture.
Additionally, you want to check the weather before ready-ing your baskets. Be sure you don’t end up picking your fruit in the rain. Nor do you want your fruit harvest to be exposed to wet conditions that can promote premature spoilage and mold.
Optimal Apple Picking
Your apples will tell you they’re ready through their flavor and texture. Ripe apples should be firm--but not hard--and crisp. You should be able to apply pressure and push a small dent into the exterior. They should also be filled with juice and taste sweet.
If your apples are not ready yet, they will be difficult to bite into and bitter. If you’ve waited too long, your apples will be mealy, mushy, and lack the brightness of flavor.
Other signs that your apples are ready for picking, including that a handful has already fallen on their own. Your apples should also give way from using a firm twist.
Plump and Impeccable Peaches
It’s important to pick your peaches when they’re ready. Picking your peaches too early will result in flavorless fruit. So, be sure you harvest them once all green has turned to yellow, gold, pink, or red.
You also want to check ripeness with the squeeze test. The area around the stem and the pointed bottom should compress under your finger.
Like apples, ripe peaches will let go of their grip on the tree after a quick twist of the stem.
Perfectly Pick-able Pears
Pears can be one of the more tricky fruits when it comes to determining when they’re ready for picking. Pears disguise their ripeness by ripening from the inside out.
So, you do not want to wait for your pears to feel soft to the touch. Instead, deciding when to harvest your pears is all about size and shape.
Pears will lighten from green to light yellow when it’s time to gather them up. They should also have an elongated top and plump bottom (depending on the variety). Your pears should also come loose from the branch easily when twisted.
Persimmons in Their Prime
When do you have permission to pluck your persimmons? Well, it depends on the variety you have. Some persimmons are astringent while others are considered non-astringent. And each has different signs that they’re ready for harvest.
Astringent persimmons will soften on the tree if allowed. However, if your area has hungry wildlife, you may find your baskets empty and your local animals’ bellies full if you allow them to ripen on the tree.
So, it’s best to wait until the fruit has a full, rich color yet is still a bit hard to the touch. You will want to wait for them to soften up before eating, of course.
For non-astringent persimmons, expect a bit crisper texture even when ripe. So, prepare to pluck your persimmons when they’re deeply colored.
Pomegranate Perfection
Pomegranates become ready for harvest throughout autumn. The easiest way to know when your pomegranates are ready is to note when the tree flowered then pay attention about 6 to 7 months after.
For this lovely fruit, it’s often all about color and sound. Your fruit should be deep red. Additionally, it should almost have a metallic “ting” when you tap the exterior. Unlike other fall fruits, pomegranates may not give way to a twist. So, you will want to cut their stems.
Harvesting Your Fall Fruit
When it comes to collecting your fall bounty, you want to stay safe from the risk of falls and maximize your yield. So, the first thing to note is that pulling the fruit from the tree results in the risk of other fruit falling, bruising, and going to waste.
Using a twist method for most fruit within reach results in more fruit in your baskets and less on the ground.
Fruit Pickers
Instead of climbing a ladder and teetering to reach your fruit, a fruit picker will make quick work of safely gathering perfect fruits. You can wait until the basket is full of fruit before emptying it, for a more efficient harvest.
Pruning (with Extenders)
For pomegranates and thin branches heavy with fruit, pruners turn fruits out of reach into an easy-to-harvest treat. Remember to not open the handle--your pruners will hold onto the branch so you can lower it down carefully.
Storing Your Fruit
Apples store easily and for long periods of time. However, it’s vital to cull any apples that have bad spots or insect marks. You can just trim these areas and use these apples right away. Smaller apples will keep longer.
Peaches need to be used within a few weeks of picking. You may want to consider turning them into preserves or freezing them.
Wrap your pears in paper and do not stack them. Persimmons also do not enjoy being stacked. And monitor them for ripeness for use.
Pomegranates like to keep it cool… Well, they prefer to be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
Keep your quince in a cool, dry location. They will keep for about 3 months, but monitor them for ripeness by checking their color. If they turn even yellow, it’s time to eat them.
When it comes to storing multiple varieties, it’s always best to give each bunch ventilation and plenty of space between the fruit types.
As we dive deeper into autumn, we hope you and your family enjoy a fun and festive time harvesting your fruit. Prepare your jars, pie tins, and tastebuds for juicy fruit with plenty of flavor.
Happy planting!
