Joe McElvenney wrote:

: I have just the one conference pear tree that usually produces
: a good crop. In the past I've left picking them until the first
: week in October but this year they seem to be falling off earlier
: than usual and at this rate I won't have any left to pick.

I've noticed that my apples and pears seem a bit earlier this year.
However, any damaged fruit (bugs mould etc) will be the first to be shed
by the tree. My Bramley had a lot of insect pests this year and has
dropped bucket loads of fruit early.

: So to
: my question; is the middle of September too early to pick them?
: And, is there any simple way to tell the correct time to do this
: as the method of gently lifting the fruit while twisting slightly
: never seems to work for me.

The big problem is, it's time consuming and you need to do a walk round
everyday or you miss some.

If you have enough fruit - pick the ripest looking undamaged whole
fruit and try it. It is really is raw then wait. If it's ripe then pick
the rest. For cooking apples of course it might not matter.
Under ripe bramleys probably keep better than fully ripe ones.

: Also, in general, are the apples/pears on a tree ready about
: the same time or should they be picked over a period.

They can vary. It's been just over 2 weeks between picking my first
ripe Victoria plum to me clearing the tree this weekend.

The big thing to remember is that different varieties ripen at different
times. So while my discovery and Worcester pearmains and Rev wilkes
are all picked now, my suntan and ashmead kernel will not be picked till
mid/late oct (or even later). with other viarieties coming in between.