The harvest is really strung out here over 2 months, but the first ones are as you described them. However if I remember correctly when our real heat hits they turn dark purple, and are not ripe until that last little bit of green on the stem end is purple. It is our most highly-colored apple in the warm summer nights, and is always reliable despite our 250 chill hours. Sometimes it blossoms in 105 degree heat with no detriment.

Not ready yet, but I sampled one today, not too bad. It will still be probably 3 weeks at least. They're quite a bit behind last year, when we had a record warm spring. This year, a cold wet spring, and peak bloom was about 3 and a half weeks behind last year, around May 18-20 this year, versus April 25-27th in 2010.

You are all making me so jealous! My WPs probably won't set until next spring at the earliest, maybe even not until spring '13.

You're making me jealous! My tree, planted in 2005, was loaded, as it was last year. Raccoons attacked last week and stripped it, pulling off a lot of spurs. Next year I'm going to ring it with electric fence, as I am doing with the peaches.

I have one I grafted onto a dwarf root stock two years ago, that has two apples. I bagged them and am watching the color daily, hoping to pick when they are just right, within the next week I think. Al

I just picked my first one yesterday. It was half red, half green. It wasn't ready yet. Seeds were still white, and it had a chalky taste to it. The kids didn't mind though, and I guess I didn't either. I'll try again in another 10 days or so. -Glenn

Is it not true that the apple is ready to pick when it separates very easily from the tree? Some of mine have exchanged their light green for a more yellow tone, and when lifted they separate easily. I also found one on the ground this morning with no evidence of foul play. I am afraid to leave them too long lest they all fall and some critter makes off with them. I am presently having problems with squirrels stealing unripe Sweet 16 fruits. Any suggestions for that one?
Ted

I have 2 apples on 5 trees planted in 2008. I hope to get to try one for the first time this year. I don't think I dare let them fully ripen on the tree, the deer get apples on the first hop when they drop. It's a good thing I like deer meat.

Ted - what reasons do you have for wanting to leave them longer when the signs say they are ripe?

Yes, I guess it sounded like I was leaving my apples in jeopardy.

They have since been safely harvested, securely placed in the hydrator drawer, regularly savored by my family.

Thanks for the interest in this post. Ted

I have a 15-year old Williams Pride that's very much gone standard, so we can't control fruit set or thin it effectively. It solves this problem by bearing every other year, which is fine with me. This tree defies picking, and instead throws its fruit on the ground starting the last week of July. The later fruits are more purplish. Most of them get made into delicious apple wine.