North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[david.maxwell@dal.ca]

I am having a real problem this year trying to determine when to harvest my 
apples, and 
would appreciate any advice anybody has.  We have had an unusually warm and 
early spring 
this year, and the commercial growers talk about the harvest season being 
advanced by "10 
to 14 days".  OK, what happens if we knock 10-14 days off last year's harvest 
time?  Works 
fine for William's Pride, (harvested Aug. 24; last year was Sept 7). Brown's 
Apple likewise 
(Sept.12/Sept. 25).  But King (which normally ripens mid-October) is falling 
off the trees, 
tastes ripe, comes away cleanly, and has brown pips now, Sept. 13.  Indeed, 
most of the 
cultivars in my orchard are starting to fall.  Is this an indication of 
ripeness?  Can I use this as 
signal that I need to pick? (And if I don't, will I have any fruit left to 
pick??)