Determining when apples are ready to be harvested can be tricky. You need to know the variety of the apple and its approximate harvest date. These dates vary each year with fluctuations in blooming rates, degree days and rainfall. If you’re growing your own apples, perhaps the best way to tell if they are ripe is to taste a couple. If they taste great, go for it. Another great way to judge if an apple variety is ready is to check seed color. Seeds will go from white to brown as the fruit ripens. When picking, simply lift the apple up. It should just snap off into your hand.

By Anne Krantz, NH Big Tree Team,

Several species of insects bore into NH apple trees, including roundheaded apple tree borer, flatheaded apple tree borer, dogwood borer, leopard moth and the broad-necked root borer.

What rootstock should the home gardener choose? Here are a few notes on some of the common rootstocks available.

Guide for growing dwarf apple trees at home.

Proper training and pruning is essential for development of structurally strong, productive apple and pear trees that will bear high quality fruits annually for many years.