When is the right time to harvest?
Picking too early or too late can result in underdeveloped or overly ripe fruit. Check out the information below to help you determine when your fruit is ready to be picked.
Signs of Ripeness
Colour
- Apples, pears, nectarines – full colour has developed for the variety.
- Peaches, plums, apricots – deep, vibrant colour.
- Feijoas – skin colour is no longer green.
Firmness
- Apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots – firm to touch but not rock-hard. Give the fruit a gentle squeeze and it should give a little under the pressure. Shouldn’t feel squishy – if it does, it’s over-ripe.
- Pears - ripen from the inside out, so don’t rely on external softness. Gently press near the stem, if it’s slightly soft, it’s ready to be picked.
- Feijoa – slightly soft to touch. Cut open, if ripe the jellied section should be clear with a tangy sweet flavour. Under-ripe fruit will have a half white/ half clear jellied section, and over-ripe fruit will have a greyish or brown centre.
Ease of Harvest
- Apples, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, nectarines, – gently give it a twist, if it’s ready to harvest it should come off the tree easily. If you need to pull hard, it’s not ready.
- Feijoa – when ready fruit will fall from the tree and picked up off the ground it will last for about 3 days. If pulled from the tree easily it will last for about a week.
Taste / Smell Test
- Apples, plums - pick one and taste it, is it pleasant? Yes - it’s likely to be ready to harvest. If still a little sour leave for a bit longer then retest.
- Peaches, apricots, nectarines, feijoas - will have a strong, sweet, fragrant smell.
- Pears - picked when still firm the flavour is not likely to have fully developed. Leave inside for a few days before eating.
TIPS
Apples - often ripen from the bottom of the tree upwards, so it is likely that fruit on the lower branches will be ready first. Only pick the ripe ones, leave the rest and come back another day.
Peaches, apricots, nectarines - ripen quickly once picked so if unsure harvest a little early and leave to finish ripening inside.
Pears - best picked before they are fully ripe as this avoids them becoming too soft and mushy.
Plums – are ready to pick when they have a smooth skin and are free of wrinkles or hardness.
Feijoas - ripen off the tree so pick just before they start to soften significantly.
Remember,
Test Often – fruit can ripen gradually and quickly, and just one day can make all the difference. As fruit is coming on, check a sample of the fruit each day, and only pick what is ripe.
Don’t Over Pick – over picking can stress the tree and reduce the harvest the following year. Only pick what is ready, and what you can use or eat, leave the rest of the fruit to pick another day.
Handle With Care – fruit can bruise easily so be gentle when harvesting, transporting and transferring fruit to prevent damage.
Happy harvesting!
Melissa Thompson
CHS Orchards in Schools Coordinator