Advice
RHS Help & Advice
Harvesting fruit
Ripening of apples and pears heralds the coming of autumn, but actual harvesting time varies from year to year, so check regularly to ensure you pick at the right stage of ripeness.
Picking technique
When it is ready, hold each fruit lightly in the palm of the hand and gently lift, twist and pull away. Generally, apples should be harvested while slightly under-ripe and allowed to develop in store. However, there are a few exceptions. Apples that ripen in early September, such as ‘James Grieve’, can be harvested and eaten as soon as they are ready on the tree. Very late apples, including ‘Winston’, should be left until hard frosts or strong winds are forecast, usually in late October. These will then ripen in store.
Harvesting pears
Picking pears at the right time is critical to ensure you get to eat good-quality fruit. Harvest early-season pears while still under-ripe (usually early August) and mid-season pears in late August when they are immature. They will ripen indoors. Many pears are late-season types and should be picked in mid- to late September when the first windfalls appear. These will ripen while in storage.
Leigh Hunt