October is National Apple Month. Apples grow on trees and a group of apple trees growing together is called an apple orchard. An apple tree grows to at least 20 feet tall. On Red Barn Farm, we prefer to grow dwarf apple trees. The dwarf trees grow to about 10 feet tall and produce fruit earlier than standard-size trees. It is also easier to pick the apples from short trees. Imagine trying to pick apples from tall trees, you would definitely need a ladder!
Apple trees need direct sunlight for proper growth and good quality apples. Early morning sun is essential because it dries the morning dew off of the leaves. Damp leaves can lead to disease.
In the spring, when the apple flowers bloom, honey bees and other insects pollinate the flowers. Where the flower blooms, an apple will grow. If there weren’t any bees or other insects, then there would be no apples, or any other fruits or vegetables to eat.
Apples ripen on the outside branches first. Because apples can bruise, picking them has to be done with care. There is a proper method for picking apples. It’s done by twisting the stem until it breaks. Pulling straight down only harms the tree. There is no need to shake the tree branches either. Once picked, the apples are gently placed into a special apple picking basket. The apple basket has no bottom. It is held closed by a buckle that when released will cause the apples to roll out the bottom and into a bushel basket or crate. A good rule of thumb about handling apples is to handle them as if they were eggs.
Apples are measured by pecks and bushels. It takes 4 pecks to make a bushel. A peck weighs about 10-14 pounds and a bushel of apples weighs about 42-48 pounds. Eight medium sized apples weigh just over 2 pounds and will make one 9-inch apple pie or three cups of applesauce.
Did you know? The largest apple picked weighed three pounds!
Apples ripen 6-10 times faster at room temperature than if they are refrigerated. Kept cool, fresh-picked apples will keep for weeks. The variety does, however, make a difference. Red and Yellow Delicious don’t keep. Freezing an apple will rupture all of its cells and cause it to turn into one large bruise overnight.
Did you know? Apples come in all shades of reds, greens, yellows.
Can you name some items made with apples? Apple juice, apple sauce, apple butter, apple dumpling, apple pie, apple cider, caramel apples are just a few examples of what people can make with apples.
