The Reward of a Homegrown Apple Harvest
Few things in the garden are as satisfying as harvesting your own apples. Whether you have a large orchard, a couple of trees in the back garden, or a compact patio apple in a pot, the moment of picking a perfectly ripe apple you've grown yourself is genuinely special. But getting the timing right — and knowing how to store your harvest — makes the difference between enjoying apples for weeks or months and watching them turn to mush within days.
This guide covers everything you need to know about harvesting, storing, and making the most of your apple crop.
When Are Apples Ready to Pick?
This is the question most apple growers get wrong. Picking too early means hard, starchy, flavourless fruit; too late and apples become mealy and overripe. The key is knowing your variety — different apples ripen at very different times, from late July through to November in the UK.
Apple Ripening Seasons in the UK
- Early varieties (July–August): Discovery, Beauty of Bath, George Cave. These ripen quickly and don't store well — eat within 1–2 weeks of picking
- Mid-season varieties (September–October): Cox's Orange Pippin, Egremont Russet, James Grieve, Spartan. The most popular eating apples; store for 4–8 weeks
- Late varieties (October–November): Bramley's Seedling, Blenheim Orange, Newton Wonder. These are the best keepers — some store until March or April
How to Tell if an Apple is Ready
Don't rely on colour alone — many varieties change colour weeks before they're ripe. Use these tests instead:
- The lift and twist test: cup the apple in your hand and gently lift and twist. A ripe apple will come away from the branch cleanly with its stalk intact. If it resists, leave it another week
- Check the pips: cut an apple open and look at the pips. Ripe apples have brown or dark pips; unripe apples have white or pale pips
- Look for windfalls: a few apples falling naturally is a sign the tree is approaching ripeness — though windfalls themselves are often bruised and should be used immediately
- Taste test: the most reliable method — pick one apple and taste it. You'll know
How to Pick Apples Correctly
Careful picking protects both the fruit and the tree:
- Always use the lift and twist method — never pull straight down, which can damage the fruiting spur and reduce next year's crop
- Handle gently — apples bruise easily; a bruised apple will rot quickly in store. Treat each apple as if it were an egg
- Pick in dry conditions — wet apples are more prone to rot in storage; pick on a dry day if possible and allow to dry before storing
- Use a picking bag or bucket — don't drop apples into a container; lower them gently to avoid bruising
- Pick in stages — on a large tree, apples at the top and outside of the canopy ripen first; check every few days and pick as they become ready rather than all at once
Using an Apple Picker for High Branches
For apples out of reach, a long-handled apple picker is invaluable — and far safer than climbing a ladder with both hands occupied. Apple pickers typically have a wire or plastic basket at the end of an extendable pole, with prongs or a rim that catches the apple as you push up and twist. Look for:
- An extendable pole of at least 2–3 metres for standard trees
- A padded or soft-lined basket to prevent bruising
- A lightweight design — you'll be holding it above your head for extended periods
Sorting Your Harvest
Before storing, sort your apples carefully:
- Perfect apples — unblemished, undamaged, with stalk intact; these are your keepers
- Minor blemishes — small marks or slight damage; use within a few weeks
- Windfalls and damaged apples — use immediately for cooking, juicing, or making into chutney; never store damaged fruit as one rotten apple really does spoil the barrel
How to Store Apples
Proper storage can extend your apple harvest by weeks or months. The ideal storage conditions are:
- Cool: 2–5°C is ideal; a garage, shed, cellar, or unheated spare room works well
- Dark: light accelerates ripening and deterioration
- Humid but with good airflow: too dry and apples shrivel; too damp and they rot. Good ventilation prevents the build-up of ethylene gas, which accelerates ripening
Storage Methods
- Slatted wooden trays or apple racks: the traditional method; store apples in a single layer, not touching, on slatted trays. Check regularly and remove any that are starting to deteriorate
- Wrapping in newspaper: wrap each apple individually in newspaper and place in a box. The paper slows the spread of rot if one apple goes bad
- Perforated polythene bags: place 2–3kg of apples in a perforated bag and store in a cool place; the perforations allow gas exchange while maintaining humidity
Check stored apples every week or two and remove any that are softening or showing signs of rot.
What to Do with a Glut of Apples
Even with good storage, a productive tree can produce more apples than you can eat fresh. Here's how to make the most of a bumper crop:
- Apple juice and cider: a garden apple press makes light work of large quantities; even a small press can process a significant harvest in an afternoon
- Freezing: peel, core, and slice apples, then freeze in portions for use in crumbles, pies, and sauces throughout the year
- Apple sauce and purée: cook down with a little water and sugar, then freeze in portions
- Chutney and preserves: apple chutney keeps for a year or more and makes excellent gifts
- Drying: slice thinly and dry in a low oven or dehydrator for apple crisps and dried rings
- Share with neighbours and wildlife: leave windfalls for blackbirds, thrushes, and hedgehogs; share surplus with neighbours, food banks, or community orchards
After the Harvest: Caring for Your Apple Tree
Once harvesting is complete, there are a few jobs to do to set the tree up for next year:
- Clear up fallen fruit and leaves: remove all fallen fruit and rake up leaves to reduce the risk of scab and other diseases overwintering
- Winter pruning: prune apple trees between November and February while dormant to maintain shape, remove dead wood, and improve airflow
- Feed in spring: apply a balanced fertiliser around the base of the tree in March to support the coming season's growth and fruiting
Shop Apple Harvesting Equipment at Selections
Browse our range of apple pickers and fruit harvesting tools and apple storage trays and racks, to make the most of your harvest this autumn.