The right time to pick apples

When are apples, pears or vegetables ripe and ready to pick? Size and color are not always reliable in determining picking time for apples and pears. They develop to the highest quality when picked “mature,” a stage of development prior to “ripe.” Ripe means ready for eating. The “lift and turn” method is a good way to tell if apples or pears are ready to be picked. A mature apple or pear will fall off the tree when held in the palm of the hand, gently lifted, and turned. If you have to pull, tug or yank the fruit, it’s not ready to be picked.