We waited all summer for early apples to start ripening and then life got crazy, and I forgot to post this lol! We have been picking our earliest apples for about a month now. Our first early apples truly ripened around August 10th but we had been taste-testing them since the end of July with way too much impatience!
Why Early Apples?
Our early apples typically begin to ripen fruit in mid-August through early fall. We started focusing a little more on early ripening apples to extend the harvest season. By growing early ripening varieties, we can enjoy fresh apples before the bulk of the apple harvest begins. We also extend our apple season on the front end, if you lack patience like me early apples could be right for you too.
Our early apple varieties can often times mis the disease or wildlife pressure that later season apples get. As the season progresses fungal issues can build in your orchard. Growing early varieties can give you that jump start to the season.
We also like being one of the first to market with apples. We sold all the apples we had the first few weeks we had apples this season. Being the first vendor at our farmers market with apples meant we wouldn’t have any competition for several weeks. My kids also like eating apples so the longer we have apples the more money we are saving on our monthly food bill.
Best Early Apples
All our apples are grown without any chemicals or sprays. Our no-spray apples can have some imperfections, actually most of them do. The imperfections are just cosmetic as the apples themselves are as delicious as any I have ever tasted. We like to grow disease resistant varieties and recommend you do too. Using disease resistant rootstock is important for us as are summers are hot and humid so fungal pressure is high.
Pristine is a yellow summer apple that is sweet with a little tart finish. These apples are great for eating fresh and turning into apple sauce. They don’t store long in the fridge so it’s best to eat or preserve them right away. Our kids devour these straight off the tree and we hardly ever have any of these make it inside, let alone to the farmer’s market.
Zestar is another early ripening apple. They are reddish green, sweet tart apple with a nice firm crunchy flesh. They make great snacking apples. We have also been pressing them into juice, making them into sauce, and have designs of turning some into fruit leather. Zestar also store nicely in the refrigerator for about 2 months. We will have Zestar for a few more weeks at the Frenchtown Farmers Market or for pickup at the farm.
Just this week we started picking Empire apples. Empire is another early variety with a bunch of crunch. Empire apples are sweet and crisp with red skin and white juicy flesh. They are a apple favorite of mine. An Empire apple eaten straight off the tree is a treat like no other. Empires are great for fresh eating, sauces, pies, and snacks. Empire apples can be stored for months but usually don’t last that long as they are hard to resist!
Liberty is one of the latter early season apples we grow. They ripen in mid-September here at the farm in western New Jersey. The are another apple variety that excels in our no spray orchard system. Liberty apples are deep red and make great snacking or baking apples. They are crisp, juicy and sweet. They are great for fresh eating and can be stored all winter. Some say their flavor improves after a few months of storage. We have never had our last that long so we can’t confirm this!
Tips for Growing Early Ripening Apples in New Jersey
Growing apples in New Jersey requires attention to the local microclimates and soil conditions. Here are some tips to help you cultivate healthy and productive apple trees:
1. Choose the Right Location
Apple trees good best in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight. Choose a planting site that receives full sun and has good air circulation to reduce the risk of fungal diseases. (Fungal issues will be your main enemy when growing apples. Choose a disease resistant cultivar for best results). Avoid areas where water tends to pool or where the soil is heavy and full of clay. Amend the soil with sand to help with drainage or find a better draining location.
2. Soil Preparation
Prepare the soil by incorporating organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure. This improves soil structure and fertility. Conduct a soil test to determine pH and nutrient levels, and amend the soil as needed to ensure optimal growing conditions. Top dressing compost around the trees root zone is my go to method of adding fertility. I do this once a year in the spring. Some people do spring and fall fertility treatments.
3. Planting
When planting apple trees, dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and slightly shallower than the height of the root ball. Plant the tree so that the graft union (where the scion (apple variety) was grafted onto the rootstock) is above the soil level. Your top roots should be at or just below the top of your soil. Water thoroughly after planting and apply a layer of wood chips around the planting hole to retain moisture and suppress weeds. We also use a few layers of wet cardboard under the wood chips to help retain soil moisture. Be careful not to pile wood chips or mulch up against the trunk of the newly planted tree.
4. Watering
Young apple trees need regular watering to establish their roots. Once established, apple trees are relatively drought-tolerant but still benefit from consistent moisture. Avoid overhead watering to minimize the risk of fungal diseases and focus on watering the base of the tree. Here at our farm in Pittstown we get rain pretty regularly during the growing season. We often don’t need to worry about watering already established trees. Your newly planted trees should be watered about once or twice a week depending on your area’s conditions, i.e. sun, wind, rain, temperature. We will water newly planted trees and bushes at least once a week if it doesn’t rain for most of the first growing season.
5. Pruning
Prune apple trees annually to remove dead or diseased wood, shape the tree, and improve air circulation. Remove any branches growing downward, to the inside of the tree, or that are rubbing against other branches. Proper pruning helps enhance fruit quality and reduces the risk of pests and diseases. For early ripening varieties, pruning should be done during the dormant season in late winter or early spring. We like to spread our pruning out over most of January and February. It gets us out in the orchard so we don’t miss anything that might have happened in the orchard over the winter.
6. Pest and Disease Management
Regularly inspect your apple trees for signs of pests and diseases. The most common issue here in the northeast is going to be fungal. Choosing disease resistant varieties and rootstock will be the best bet against fighting these fungal issues. Implement integrated pest management practices, such as using organic sprays, encouraging beneficial insects, and removing affected plant material.
Conclusion
Early ripening apple varieties offer a great way to extend your apple harvest season and enjoy fresh apples earlier in the summer than you might have thought possible. In New Jersey, many apple cultivars can be grown. The ones we grow and mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg for early apples. There are many other excellent choices whether you are a home grower, commercial grower, or something in between like me.
By selecting the right varieties and following proper cultivation practices, you can enjoy a bountiful apple harvest and explore the unique flavors that early ripening apples bring to your table. Whether you’re an beginner gardener or a seasoned orchardist, these early varieties can enhance your apple growing experience and contribute to a more diverse and extended harvest season. If you are looking to plant your own apple trees check out our store for a great selection of disease resistant apple varieties.
As always thanks for reading. If you are interested in plants or trees check out our store for easy to grow fruit and nut trees. We love feedback, leave a comment or send us an email at northeastedible@gmail.com
Happy Growing!
