Picking apples in the Crossnore Heritage Orchard can be rather difficult when you don’t know which of these trees are truly ripening and ready for harvest. Picking unripe apples can be a waste of apples, be misleading you about the flavor of the apple, and likely be a bitter experience for you! (-:
Here is a Ripening Calendar for you to use. Only pick apples from the trees listed below, during the week you are on site at the Orchard and designated as likely to be ripe and ready to pick! Note: It often takes 3 weeks for all the apples on a tree to ripen after they begin ripening!
“How to tell if an individual apple on a tree is ripe for picking”. Place your fingers on the apple and gently lift the apple 90 degrees to the right or left. If it’s truly ripe it will come loose from the branch. If it does not come loose, it’s not fully ripe! Consider leaving it for another day.
Picking up recently dropped apples off the ground is fine. It is one way to know they have ripened. However, do wash them well before eating! Deer are regular guests now at the Crossnore Heritage Orchard. So don’t keep apples you find chewed on either. (-:
This calendar lists clearly which apple trees should have ripe apples on them, during the specific week you are visiting.
July
1st week Probably nothing is ripe! Maybe next week
2nd week #12 Yellow Transparent
3rd week #12 Yellow Transparent, and #3 & #23 & #28 Early Harvest
4th week #13 & #35 Carolina Red June and #12 Yellow Transparent and #3 & #23 & #28 Early Harvest
August
1st week #12 Yellow Transparent and #13 # Carolina Red June and #3 & #23 & #28 Early Harvest and #6 & #14 Fall Premium and #13 & #35 Carolina Red June and #15 Golden Sweet and #21 Summer Rambo and #16 & #25 Bevins Favorite
2nd week #3 & 23 & 28 Early Harvest and #6 & #14 Fall Premium and #16 & #25 Bevins Favorite and #13 & #35 Carolina Red June and #1 & #37 McIntosh and #15 Golden Sweet and #21 Summer Rambo
3rd week #26 Rambo and #16 & #25 Bevins Favorite and #3 & #23 & #28 Early Harvest and #6 & #14 Fall Premium and #13 & #35 Carolina Red June and #1 & #37 McIntosh and #15 Golden Sweet and #21 Summer Rambo
4th week #26 Rambo and #16 & # 25 Bevins Favorite and #1 & #37 McIntosh and #21 Summer Rambo and #6 & #14 Fall Premium
September
1st week #26 Rambo and #41 Mother and #4 Gala and #29 Avery Rusty Coat and #1 & #37 McIntosh
2nd week #4 Gala and #29 Avery Rusty Coat and #10 Hawkeye and #22 Fallawater and #41 Mother and #26 Rambo and #24 Dula Beauty
3rd week #2 & 32 Wolf River and #9 Ray and #22 Fallawater and #41 Mother and #10 Hawkeye and #4 Gala and #29 Avery Rusty Coat and #8 & 31 Grimes Golden and #26 Rambo and #24 Dula Beauty
4th week #18 & #19 Virginia Beauty and #2 & #32 Wolf River and #9 Ray apple and #20 Sheepnose and #11 Summer Banana and #9 Ray and #29 Avery Rusty Coat and #22 Fallawater and #41 Mother and #10 Hawkeye and #43 Old Seedling Apple and #11 Summer Banana and #5 Stump and #8 & 31 Grimes Golden and #24 Dula Beauty
October
1st week #18  Virginia Beauty and #9 Ray apple and #20 Sheepnose and #33 and #34 Am. Golden Russet and #30 Gragg and #11 Summer Banana and #5 Stump and #2 & 32 Wolf River and #8 & 31 Grimes Golden and #27 Northern Spy and #29 Avery Rusty Coat and #22 Fallawater and #41 Mother and #10 Hawkeye and #43 Old Seedling apple.
2nd week #18 & #19 Virginia Beauty and #9 Ray apple and #20 Sheepnose and #40 Winesap and #36 & #39 Blacktwig and #33 & #24 Golden Russet and #29 Avery Rusty Coat and #5 Stump and #2 & 32 Wolf River and #30 Gragg and #11 Summer Banana and #27 Northern Spy and #9 Ray and #8 & #31 Grimes Golden
3rd week #40 Winesap and #36 & #39 Blacktwig and #33 & #24 and Golden Russet and #18 & #19 Virginia Beauty and #30 Gragg and #27 Northern Spy and #9 Ray and #5 Stump and #11 Hawkeye and #8 & #31 Grimes Golden.
4th week #36 and #39 Blacktwig and #40 Winesap and #33 & #34 Golden Russet and #30 Gragg and #8 & #31 Grimes Golden
November
1st week #7 & 17 & 38 Newtown Pippin
2nd week #7 & 17 & 38 Newtown Pippin
3rd week #7 & 17 & 38 Newtown Pippin
