Picking Apples, Pears & Plums Before the September Cold

Harvest-time for apples, pears, and plums can feel like a celebration—the trees are heavy, the kitchen is busy, and the air is filled with autumn’s sweet promise. But get your timing and technique right, and you’ll enjoy fruit at its flavorful peak while avoiding losses to September chills, storms, or wildlife raids. Here’s a practical, mouthwatering guide to a safe, successful harvest.

Why Timing Matters

• Flavor and Storage: Pick too early, and fruit may not ripen or keep properly; too late, and flavor or storage life suffers.
• Beat the Weather: September cold snaps and heavy rains can spoil fruit or bring sudden windfalls.
• Avoid Disease: Prompt harvest reduces bruising and mold on fruit and trees.

Signs Your Fruit is Ready for Picking

Apples

• Firm, fully colored, and just starting to loosen on the branch.
• Lift and twist gently—ripe apples come away without force.
• Seeds inside turn dark brown.

Pears

• Pick when full-size but still firm—pears ripen best off the tree for best texture and taste.
• Tilt fruit upwards—ripe pears will detach with a gentle twist.
• Slight color change and small brown dots appear.

Plums

• Full color, with a slight softness to the touch.
• A sweet aroma; some may start to drop naturally.
• Flesh yields slightly to light pressure but isn’t mushy.

The Best Way to Pick

• Harvest on a dry day, ideally in late morning or afternoon after dew dries.
• Use two hands: one to support the fruit, one to twist and lift.
• Place fruit gently in shallow boxes—don’t drop into deep baskets or bags.
• Avoid picking wet fruit for storage—it will bruise and spoil quickly.
• Use secateurs or snips for stubborn or high fruits.

Immediate Aftercare

• Sort as you go—remove damaged, bruised, or pest-hit fruit.
• Don’t wash fruits you plan to store.
• Keep apples, pears, and plums in cool, shady places as you work.

Storing Your Harvest

Apples & Pears

• Store only perfect, unblemished fruit.
• Single layers in slatted trays, crates, or wrapped in paper.
• Cool (2–5°C), dark, well-ventilated, and rodent-safe is best (shed, garage, cellar).
• Check regularly and remove any that spoil.

Plums

• Eat or process quickly (jams, chutneys, freezer).
• Refrigerate a few days, or stew and freeze for longer storage.

Troubleshooting

• Fallen fruit: Use fast, in juice, sauce, or cider, as it won’t store.
• Rot & wasp holes: Compost or destroy to prevent disease carryover.
• Moldy fruit on trees: Remove so it doesn’t spread to healthy fruit.

Final Tips

• Mark trees and record picking dates for next year.
• Share windfalls or seconds with neighbors, wildlife, or in preserves.
• After harvest, tidy around tree bases and consider autumn feeds.

Ready for Harvesting Potatoes and Storing for Winter in September?
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