How To Harvest 和 Store Apples

The sun is shining, the air is crisp 和 cool, 和 our apple trees are loaded with fruit. It’s a great time of the year!

Fall apple picking is a great time of year!

Many cultivars are ready to be picked now. 如果你不确定, an apple is ready for picking when its background skin color turns from green to yellow. The fruit comes off easily when harvested.

The background color of the apple skin will turn from green to yellow when the
时机已经成熟.

Use an upward 和 twisting motion when harvesting fruit. Do not yank down on branches. This can tear off the knobby, branch spurs (shown near the fruit stem in middle photo), where next year’s fruits will come.

Apples on trees can tolerate temps approaching 26°F before frost damage occurs. If they freeze on the tree, wait for the fruits to thaw before harvesting. Frozen fruits should be used promptly.

Store fruits in a cool (34–40°F), humid (90% RH), dark place. A refrigerator is best, but a root cellar or unheated garage is acceptable.

Store apples in a cool, humid 和 dark place.

A complete list of recommended apple cultivars for North Dakota 是可用的.

Written by Tom Kalb, 扩展 Horticulturist, North Dakota State University. 图片由 camknows, Michael E. 和 U.S. 农业部.