Apples still on the tree

[Samurailord]

Hi

I have had two dwarf apple trees in pots in the front garden for three years that bore fruit for the first time this year.

Each tree has two apples.

I was waiting for them to start to drop before picking the others, but they are still tightly attached. I have probably left them too long to pick now as we have had several nightrs of sub-zero temperatures already.

My question is - should I harvest them now, or is it better for the tree to leave them and remove them after winter?

Thanks

Andy

[rustylady]

I can't see that leaving them on will do the tree any good. I would remove them (carefully) now. What variety are they?

[FB.]

What to do depends on the variety.

Some fall off naturally, while some stay on all winter.

Summer apples tend to fall off at the slightest excuse - many of those (and early-autumn windfalls) often have a maggot inside as the tree will tend to drop maggot-damaged fruits first, so take care with apples which fell off the tree.

Some types of apple will quite happily hang on through gales and frosts until the new year - and still be in perfect condition for eating as far out as Easter!

I suspect that these late-hanging apples inspired Christmas tree bauble decorations.

[orangepippin]

I too think it is better to remove them.

Do you know what varieties they are?

[fruitylou]

I would like to know which varieties they are aswell, there are lots of trees around where I live with huge crops of apples still clinging on to the otherwise bare branches and they look very pretty.

[Nicos]

Same here- all the leaves in the apple orchards have dropped- but still lots of apples on some of the trees!

[yummersetter]

I bet they're Cornish Aromatics

[Samurailord]

My green apples came down in the winds at weekend, but the reds are hanging on in there still - I keep meaning to look at the label so I can let you all know what variety they are, but I keep forgetting until it is too dark!

Just ate one of the green ones - very juicy and sweet, but not much bigger than a plum in size.

The label has come off the green apple tree so I can't give you a variety, but both trees are on M27 rootstocks and are planted in containers.

I can't remember the name for the form of the trees, but they are of the type that have a single trunk with minimal side branches and fruit is borne next to the trunk.

Andy

[DuncanM]

I believe they are called Ballerina's

[Alison]

If they've been frosted can you make ice wine from them

[Dusty Rhodes]

Take your pruners and cut them off at the stem. Now that it's cold I wouldn't pull them off because you might accidently take some branch bark with it.

[Samurailord]

I believe they are called Ballerina's

Yes, that does seem to ring a bell deep in the dusty vaults of my memory.

In my defence, I did buy them three or four years ago when I wasn't too bothered about forms or varieties.

Andy

[Samurailord]

Take your pruners and cut them off at the stem. Now that it's cold I wouldn't pull them off because you might accidently take some branch bark with it.

I think I will leave them on until after Winter, at the moment they are showing no signs of wanting to drop naturally.

Andy

[Samurailord]

If they've been frosted can you make ice wine from them

I might just about get half a small glass from them - there are only two fruit, and they are about the size of small plums

Andy

[yummersetter]

They'll make a nice snack for a hungry blackbird, I bet. Could they be crab apples?