Apple trees - September

Cooler temperatures mean less evaporation and transpiration, so check your soil moisture and adjust watering time/volume.

Some apple varieties are beginning to ripen. A ripe apple will have dark brown to black pips (seeds), comes off the tree easily when slightly twisted, and yields to the pressure of the end of your thumb when squeezed.

Many apple trees are starting to drop of their fruit now. Some are ripe, but many have codling moth damage. Remember, apples that have lain on the ground or in the grass for more than 24 hours may contain bacteria in and on them. Windfall apples are not safe to eat raw or to make cider.

Apples that have fallen and been on the ground for more than a day should be picked up and disposed of as they may still contain the codling moth larvae. The best way to limit future codling moth damage is to remove fallen, damaged apples a soon as possible after they fall. So, rake up those fallen apples a couple of times a week and dispose of them. I will clean up the fallen apples, then check twice daily for windfalls to use for pies.

For those of you who would like to taste different varieties of apples, you might want to plan a trip over the hill to Placerville or Sebastopol. The Sebastopol area has several orchards and roadside stands with Gravensteins (the area specialty) and several other varieties of apples. The Sebastopol crop ripens early but should still have apples now; try http://www.kozlowskifarms.com/ for more info. The town also hosts a cider maker http://www.acecider.com/.

In September and October, join the crowd (hordes on weekends) at Apple Hill near Placerville. Numerous orchards have pies, cider (fresh juice), lunches, and many varieties of apples. The larger places stand out, but try some of the smaller growers on the back roads. If you’re able to get away on a weekday, you will avoid the crowds, but Apple Hill is a worthwhile trip even on a Saturday or Sunday. Be sure to try an Arkansas Black, a Mutsu, and an Esopus Spitzenburg. For more info, go to http://www.applehill.com/.

For those readers who have lawns, fertilize in mid September to help grass promote root growth for the winter.