"semi-ambivalent" wrote in message
...
For the first time since we planted it eight years ago our apricot
tree is fruiting. Here in Denver there are often late storms that
freeze out any blossoms, but not this year. We have fruit almost as
large as a tennis balls. When is it ready to pick? I've read that
commercial apricots are picked quite green and ripened off the tree
and this is why they are dry and mealy. Indeed, this is why I stopped
buying apricots decades ago. Ours are very juicy but still a bit hard.
The ones that fall on the ground are wonderful but mushy from
bruising.

Should I wait to let them get soft on the tree or pick the soft-ish
ones now and ripen them in a bag at room temperature? I don't know
what to do; we're going to have bushels and bushels...

sa

I like to take mine when they turn a particular deep orangish red. They
will not all be ripe at the same time, so daily, you will want to just pick
the ripest ones. I test them by sticking my thumb in the cleft next to
where the stem attaches. If it is nice and easy to split the fruit, then it
is ready. It also depends on what you want to do with them, as to how
firm/soft you want them. You can take them, and let them ripen in the
fridge for a few days if you're afraid of the squirrels or birds getting
them. A squirrel will strip a whole tree in a day, throwing away the meat
and keeping only the seed. ;-(

Steve

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