Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi

Do I have to pick all my apples before the frosts, or can they survive them?
they are Fiesta and Egremont Russet

much thanks

from
Sarah

I wouldn't let them endure anything more than a very mild frost. Picking soon would be a good idea - assuming they're ready.

My apples (Braeburn and Bramleys) look ready, the Braeburn are lovely and red, but I've done the 'cupping in the hand and lifting and tugging gently' thing (I think that's how you test, it's my first year) and they still seem firmly attached.

Mind you, I'm still picking runner, borlotti and french beans so everything seems late.

Is it worth me just picking the apples anyway, or should I leave it until the last minute and risk them being ruined?

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Nell

cheers FB, I will leave them on for now unless i know there is a bad frost coming.
U have been a great help as I have not found any other info on this anywhere.

love
Saraheliz

We've picked all the apples off our Worcester Permain trees, thought we'd better before the wasps have all the good ones.

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Bren

Hi

I have never heard of those apples. I only have 8 on two trees as they are young so at least I can keep an eye on them.

from
Saraheliz

Sharaheliz we've had the trees about 15 years they're grown against a wall and we usually get a fair bit of fruit off. Here's a link clicky click only downfall is that they don't seem to keep too well.

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Bren

Worcester Pearmain are best eaten straight from the tree when fully ripe, although after picking, they can keep for a week or two at room temperature - and a little longer in the fridge.

Worcester Pearmain is a good variety for resisting disease in dry areas, but easily succumbs to the diseases prevalent in wet areas - especially canker.
Worcester is the parent of Discovery. Discovery is a few weeks earlier, is better tasting (in my opinion) and is more disease resistant.
However, Discovery can be reluctant to produce fruit in it's young years - although fruit bud formation can be encouraged by cutting some of the new growth back to just two or three new leaves (two or three new buds) from it's point of origin in early-mid August.

thank you FB and Bren, thats interesting, cheers for the link and info