CORVALLIS, Ore. — Knowing when to harvest apples and pears makes the difference between crisp, flavorful fruit and disappointing texture or taste.
According to Steve Castagnoli, retired horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, pears do not ripen to eating quality on the tree, which makes harvest timing trickier.
“A mature pear will snap briskly and cleanly when tilted 90 degrees,” Castagnoli said. “With common varieties such as ‘Comice,’ ‘Bosc’ and ‘D’Anjou,’ the fruit usually changes from green to a slightly paler color. When cut, the flesh lightens and shows a little juice on the surface.”
Gardeners can also use maturity dates listed in the OSU Extension publication Picking and storing apples and pears. Dates vary depending on when bloom began in spring. In general, earlier bloom leads to earlier harvest.
“It’s better to pick pears a little early than too late,” Castagnoli said.
Cold storage helps pears ripen
Pears ripen after harvest during cold storage, which typically lasts about a month, depending on the variety.
“Ideally, pears should be stored below 40°F,” Castagnoli said. “A refrigerator works well, but a freezer is too cold and an unheated garage is usually too warm.”
Apples offer clearer harvest signals
Determining ripeness in apples is easier because apples do not require cold storage and give clearer visual cues.
Yellow varieties are mature when green tones shift almost completely to yellow. In apples with red stripes or blush, the background color beneath the red usually changes from green to yellowish.
Fruit drop is another signal.
“When a few sound apples fall to the ground, the ones on the tree are nearly mature,” Castagnoli said.
When harvesting, avoid pulling fruit downward. Instead, twist the apple upward with a rotating motion. Ripe apples detach easily.
“The best way to test an apple for ripeness,” Castagnoli added, “is to cut it open and taste it.”
