North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Alan Haigh <alandhaigh@gmail.com>]

David, how do the dropped apples taste?  It they are ripe, picking could be
done earlier but most varieties require multiple pickings.  A few dropped
fruit could be an indicator that it's time to start picking.  Some
varieties drop fruit when ripe, or when under stress.  Other varieties hold
onto apples well beyond desired ripeness and into winter.

Obscure varieties are often obscure for a reason- many have problems that
make them difficult to grow and heirlooms in general tend to be more site
specific as far as good performance.  Newer releases tend to by highly
adaptable, although Honeycrip is one that hates too much heat when it
approaches ripeness and will drop bland apples in this type of weather, in
my experience.

Macintosh and other varieties like Williams Pride will drop apples at ideal
ripeness and that is one reason for the use of Alar by commercial growers.
Helps apples stick.