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When Is The Best Time To Pick Apricots?
The best time to pick apricots is when they are fully ripe on the tree, which is typically indicated by a deep golden-orange color, a slight softness when gently squeezed, and an easily detaching stem.
Picking apricots at this precise moment is crucial because they don’t ripen well after being harvested.
If you’ve been asking when is the best time to pick apricots from your backyard tree, the answer is tied to their color, feel, and the season.
In this post, we’ll cover exactly how to tell when it’s time for picking apricots, the visual signs of ripeness, what time of day is best for picking apricots, and helpful storage tips so your harvest stays sweet and juicy.
Let’s dig into the perfect moment for harvesting apricots.
Understanding When Is The Best Time To Pick Apricots
When is the best time to pick apricots is really a two-part question: it’s about the stage of ripeness and the time of day.
Apricots are considered a climacteric fruit, meaning they can continue to soften after being picked.
But that doesn’t mean you should pick apricots while they’re still rock-hard and green.
If you can’t answer when is the best time to pick apricots correctly, you’ll end up with fruit that’s bland, mealy, or overly sour.
The sweet spot is when apricots have reached full maturity on the branch, and here’s what that looks like.
Color Is The Biggest Clue For Picking Apricots
When you’re thinking about when is the best time to pick apricots, color is your very first indicator.
A ripe apricot should have a uniform, rich golden-orange or amber hue all over its skin.
If there are any greenish patches near the stem or on the shoulders, the fruit isn’t ready yet for picking apricots.
The green shading means the apricot hasn’t fully developed its sugars, so waiting a few more days is essential.
Also, look for a slight blush or red freckling on the skin, which sometimes develops but isn’t a requirement.
That golden color is your green light that this time for picking apricots has arrived.
Softness And Gentle Squeeze Test
The best time to pick apricots is also determined by how the fruit feels in your hand.
Gently press the flesh with your thumb and forefinger, but don’t squeeze too hard.
A ripe apricot will yield slightly to gentle pressure, similar to a ripe peach or avocado.
If the apricot feels like a baseball, it’s underripe and not yet at the best time to pick apricots.
If it feels mushy or has visible wrinkles on the skin, you’ve missed the optimal window for picking apricots.
So check your apricots daily because once they start softening, the right moment for picking apricots is near.
The Stem Detachment Test Helps You Find The Best Time To Pick Apricots
Another clever trick to know when is the best time to pick apricots is to test how easily the fruit separates from the branch.
When apricots are fully ripe, they release from the stem with almost no effort.
Give the apricot a gentle upward twist, and if it comes away in your hand without tugging the branch, that’s the signal.
If you have to pull sharply or break the stem, the apricot isn’t ready for picking apricots yet.
This physical cue perfectly answers when is the best time to pick apricots because nature has already prepared the fruit to drop.
Morning Is The Best Time Of Day For Picking Apricots
Beyond the ripeness stage, the time of day matters when you’re wondering when is the best time to pick apricots.
Cool, early morning hours are hands-down the best time to pick apricots in terms of fruit quality.
During the morning, apricots retain more moisture and are crisp and firm from the cool night air.
If you pick apricots in the heat of the afternoon sun, they’ll be softer, more prone to bruising, and have less water content.
So if you can, head out to your tree right after the dew has dried but before the sun gets intense.
This early morning window makes the timing for picking apricots both easier on you and better for the fruit.
Seasonal Timing For When To Pick Apricots
Ask any orchardist when is the best time to pick apricots, and they’ll tell you it also depends on your local climate and the apricot variety.
Apricot season generally runs from late spring through midsummer, typically from May through July in most regions.
Early varieties like “Harcot” or “Goldcot” ripen in late May, while later cultivars like “Tilton” or “Blenheim” peak in June and July.
So the best time to pick apricots is often a two-to-three-week harvest window per tree, not just one single day.
Monitor the earliest warm weeks of your local summer because that’s when you’ll first get to start picking apricots.
Just remember that full ripening doesn’t happen overnight, so plan to harvest apricots every few days as each fruit matures individually.
You Can Use A Taste Test To Confirm When Is The Best Time To Pick Apricots
The most reliable way to confirm when is the best time to pick apricots is to taste one straight from the tree.
Pick a single apricot that looks ripe in color and gives slightly to the touch.
Bite into it, and pay attention to the sweetness and juiciness, apricots should be aromatic and intensely sweet when harvested at the correct time.
If the apricot tastes bland or sharply acidic, it needs more days on the branch, and your start for picking apricots was too early.
Once you taste that perfect balance of honeyed flavor with a hint of tanginess, you’ve found your answer to when is the best time to pick apricots.
Use this taste test as a daily check during your suspected harvest weeks.
So, When Is The Best Time To Pick Apricots?
The best time to pick apricots is when they’re fully ripe on the tree, showing deep golden-orange color, gentle softness, and easy stem detachment.
The best time to pick apricots is also early in the morning during your local late spring or early summer season when the fruit is still cool from the night.
Picking apricots at the wrong time leads to disappointing, sour fruit, while waiting too long causes bruises and mushiness.
So check your tree daily, use your eyes, hands, and taste buds, and harvest apricots in small batches as they ripen.
Hope this guide helps you confidently answer when is the best time to pick apricots, so you can enjoy the sweetest, juiciest fruit your tree offers.
Happy harvesting.