semi-ambivalent wrote:
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 allow them to ripen on the tree to give the best flavour. If you have
never had tree-ripened stone fruit of a good cultivar they will knock your
socks off. You will need to check them every day or two and harvest
progressively as they will not all ripen on the same day. Once they start
to colour and soften slightly (which I take it has happened) your task will
be to take the best fruit off the tree each morning and bite into it. It's
tough but somebody has to do it. You will learn to tell if they are ripe by
touch and smell fairly quickly.

David