Copyright dailyrecord
Pears, plums, and damsons reach peak ripeness in September, alongside apples. Abundant crops of these sweet and crunchy fruits are ready for harvesting and storing away. With chillier months approaching rapidly, nothing beats a selection of pies, cakes, muffins, sauces, and crumbles to carry us through. But how exactly do you harvest your apples properly? Alongside dishing out advice on planting bulbs , taking cuttings, and aerating lawns, cherished gardening expert Monty Don has now provided essential guidance on making the most of apple season, reports the Express . After all, determining precisely when to pick apples can be tricky, not to mention working out which ones are ready, plus the major challenge of collecting them without harming your tree. Monty stresses that the one essential task gardeners must complete with their apple trees this September is to "start to pick over any apples at least once a week". Before beginning to gather your fruit, however, ensure you have several essential tools ready. A large soft bag or bucket will serve perfectly to collect apples without bruising them. A reliable ladder might prove useful for safely reaching higher branches. When handling the apples and testing whether any are ready, Monty cautions: "Do not force it, as when it is ready, they always pick very easily." Instead, he recommends "holding them in the palm of your hand and gently lifting to see if the stalk comes away easily." Storing your apples correctly can ensure they last well into the winter months and beyond . Monty suggests storing them in a "carefully placed in a cool, dark, fairly moist place". However, it's important to check for any bruises or blemishes, as well as any windfall apples, which "will not keep and should be eaten fresh or cooked and then frozen". Monty also offers a clever solution for dealing with an abundance of windfall apples. If you have more apples "than you can possibly eat or process, consider hiring an apple press to make juice which can then bottled and stored." Gardeners should be aware that they can inadvertently damage their apple trees' ability to produce further fruit. Alongside Monty's advice on careful picking, other gardening experts have also shared crucial tips. While tasting your apples to check for ripeness is an option, paying attention to the "background colour" and even the seed colour can be beneficial. A two-toned apple should appear much yellower and almost creamy at the back, rather than very green. For solid colour varieties like Granny Smiths, cutting them open can be helpful. If the apple isn't quite ripe, the seeds will still be tan or pale in colour. Wrapping each apple individually in newspaper or tissue paper can prevent them from touching each other and rotting, thus prolonging their shelf life. Regular checks for signs of spoilage are also recommended. A dehydrator could also be an enjoyable method to create nutritious, long-lasting snacks from a substantial windfall.
