How to Harvest an Apple Tree

Let's face it. We're not all dedicated farmers or garden enthusiasts. Many of us just happen to have an apple tree on the property. We don't 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, and suddenly we want to maximize this delicious natural resource. Here's how to overcome that first obstacle: getting your hands on the apples.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Even before your apples ripen, you'll find them on the ground, thanks to wind and rain, animal predation or gravity. Apples rotting on the ground soon get messy and smelly, but they can also attract moths, aphids and other pests that will go after the apples still on the tree. Remove the fallen apples frequently.
2. Whatever variety of apple your tree produces, recognize how that apple looks, feels, smells and especially tastes when ripe. That's how you'll know when to begin harvesting and what to pick first.
3. Harvest on sunny days. Watching sunlight hit your apple or light up the surrounding leaves is a great way to gauge how ripe it is.
4. Not every apple on your tree may ripen at the same time. Pick only the best, and give the others about a week before trying again. And always pick any apples that are stunted (they'll never mature), withered (they're already overripe) or grievously damaged.
5. At some point, you'll have to climb the tree. Even if it's a small tree, be safe. Make sure that ladders are firmly placed and branches can take your weight. If you haven't pruned your tree, watch out for densely clustered branches and small, sharp projections. Don't let your feet slip. Always be aware of your center of gravity.
6. 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.
7. Shake the tree only as a last resort. Too many perfect apples sustain damage when they strike a branch or hit the ground. (If you plan to make a huge batch of applesauce that same day, maybe it won't matter.)

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.