Mealy apples

[keat63]

I've a pink lady which always gives a bumper crop of the nicest apples.
However, in the space of a weak they can go from being the best, sweetest, juciest, apples ever, to turning mealy and only fit for compost.
This year I'd like to try and store some rather than composting or giving them all away.

I've a week long window of opportunity to decide when to harvest.

How is the best to store for longevity.

[nickdub]

Are you looking to preserve them in some way ? eg bottling

[keat63]

Not really bothered about preserving, just having them stay fresh long enough to be able to enjoy them for longer than a week.
I end up giving bags away to family members.
I've considered maybe picking some a little early, like now, and putting them in the fridge to slow them down.
These will be ready one week and ruined a week later.

[devonuk]

Are you sure about the variety? Pink Lady is a trade mark for Cripps Pink which is said to ripen very, very late and to require so much sun that it is ungrowable in the UK. When do your apples ripen?

[nickdub]

Not really bothered about preserving, just having them stay fresh long enough to be able to enjoy them for longer than a week.
I end up giving bags away to family members.
I've considered maybe picking some a little early, like now, and putting them in the fridge to slow them down.
These will be ready one week and ruined a week later.

OK, got ya - pick some as soon as they come ripe - put about 8 or so in a plastic bag and seal it with the least amount of air left in possible - put the bags somewhere cold but above freezing eg bottom drawer of the fridge - how long they last OK depends on the variety.

[Lardman]

Are you sure about the variety?

I was thinking much the same.

[keat63]

I've no idea of the actual variety, I bought the tree many years ago.
However, people who've eaten them have said that they are Pink lady.

Maybe a different variety but very similar.

[devonuk]

What time of year do they ripen? I believe the correlation is pretty much absolute that the earlier ripening, the less good the keeping qualities. If they are ripening now they are very early, and probably just not keepers. You can either juice them and freeze the juice, or just eat as fast as you can.

Edit: Sorry, I see from your first post they are ripening now, so very early. Might be Katy if it looks like Pink Lady, but whatever it is, it is not going to want to keep.

[keat63]

They are just starting to ripen now.
Last week they were sour and rock hard, this week softer, but still a bit tart.
Next week I reckon they will be ready, and probably going the other way by 13th.

[nickdub]

From your descriptions sounds a bit like Beauty of Bath - if you care to post some photos both of a whole apple and one cut in half, it might be possible to make a positive id.

[devonuk]

Beauty of Bath sounds very likely and is notorious for not keeping.

[Lardman]

As already said anything ripening now just wont have the genetics to keep.

My gladstones go from very nice to no thanks I'd rather not within a week. If they're ripening now and assuming its a recently bought commercial tree there's a very limited choice of varieties it could be.

It may help us to know where in the country you are, how it bears the fruit (tip or spur) and their general shape and size - but photo's paint 1000 words

[keat63]

I'm just south of Leeds if it helps.
Generally, the flesh will turn pink, as of yet this hasn't happened.

The one I cut open last night was like my next door neigbours daughter.

A little tart

[nickdub]

Not absolutely sure - might be Discovery, you can sometimes buy these in the shop if you want to get one for a taste comparison (probably unlike the young lady mentioned)

[Lardman]

My money would be with Nicks on Discovery fruitID | Apple Identification | Apple Varieties | Apple Cultivars

The bad news being you're not going to be able to store it for long at all.