To: <akkabhomestead AT yahoo.com>, <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [Homestead] apple harvest
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 10:08:08 -0800
Arkansas Black start arriving from local orchards around here in September.
We're supposed to be Zone 7. No one around here grows the Spokana Beauty.
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Akka Homestead" <akkabhomestead AT yahoo.com>
I have a Spokane Beauty and an Arkansas Black that are bearing heavily for
the first time this year. I read that the AB is harvested in late October,
but mine are already half red. Do they really need 7 more weeks? If anyone
else is growing these, what do your apples look like right now? I am in zone
7. I read that SB is harvested in early October, but that site is for zone 5
in Washington, wouldn't mine be ready before that since I have a longer
season and an earlier last frost date? I also have an old fashioned red
delicious. All of the apples still have a bit of green on them, but that AB
is looking fine with almost maroon red apples. If I wait too long, the deer
will take them in one night. I would rather have an apple that is a few days
under ripe than lose them. I know that the local apple festival (in the next
county) is held during the two weeks in mid October. Maybe I should pick
them all circa Oct 1?