When to pick Cox’s Orange Pippin & Elstar

QuestionsHow to growFruitApplesWhen to pick Cox’s Orange Pippin & Elstar
julia o mahony asked 16 years ago

Dear Gerry,i planted both Malus ‘Cox’s orange Pippin’ and ‘Elstar’ May ’06. aThey have now produced fruit. They are both approx 2 metres tall 500mm wide. Fruit is about 1.5 inches diameter. Some apples have fallen (I need to support trees better also – weight dragging them sideways). Can you please tell me when the fruits can be picked to eat. I gather they are edible apples.Novice but persistent gardener. Thanks with Best Regards Julia

1 Answers

Gerry Daly Staff answered 6 years ago
It is normal for apple trees to lose some fruit in July … the trees sheds some of its load to better ripen the remainder, and sometimes it is necessary to thin by hand to reduce the crop further. This increases size and flavour.

‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ and ‘Elstar’ ripen in early to mid-October. The trees probably need to have some pruning in winter to reduce their top-heavy shape.

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