Fruity FAQ

Some Frequently Asked Questions about fruit growing

Email Orchard49@otags.org.uk or tweet to @Orchard49 with your questions.

When are English Apples in season?
English apples are ripe for picking from August-October but with careful storage they can be enjoyed right through until May or June. 

What do 'Early' 'Mid' or 'Late season' mean?
This refers to the time within the apple picking season that different varieties are ready for  picking.  Some apples are picked and need to sit a while to ripen before you eat them, improving their taste/flavour.

How do I know when my apples are ready for picking?
If you know what variety you have check whether its an early, mid or late season apple.  There are lots of online information sources that will give you information about your apple.

If you don't know the variety the best way is to taste it!  Some people enjoy apples when they are almost ripe, when they taste a little sharp.  Also, if you cut an apple open, see if the pips are brown.  If they are not then generally its not ready for use.  If the pips are brown but it doesn't taste nice it could be a cooker or an apple that needs to be stored before use. For example Egremont Russets benefit from ripening off the tree.

The other way to test whether fruit are ripe is to cup the fruit gently in your hand and move your hand up. If the apple comes away in your hand it is ready for harvesting.
BUT - see the question below about pears dropping fruit... 

My apples are falling but they don't taste ready - why?
Apples can fall off a tree early for a number of reasons.  Diseased apples will fall early. If your tree has a codling moth problem then apples that have been hosting codling moth larvae will fall early.

My pear tree drops all its fruit but the fruit is rock hard - why?
Pears generally ripen from the inside out.  If you start losing lots of pears like this, take them home and leave them to ripen. Check them regularly; when they give slightly when pressed gently they are ripe.  It can take  a week for a pear to ripen and if you don't catch it, you'll have a over ripe pear, so keep checking them!

What is grafting?
This is one way that new trees are created. It is a process of joining 'rootstock' which controls how big the tree will become, and the 'scion' which is a cutting from an existing tree. The two pieces of plant material are joined (grafted) together and if it is successful will fuse together and develop into a tree which will have the same characteristics as the plant that the scion came from.  Grafting takes place in March, when the sap is rising. Another technique, called budding can be done during the summer. At Orchard49 we have tried budding, but with very limited success.

Find out more about grafting here. You can also find lots of Youtube videos demonstrating how its done - just search for grafting.