It’s time to get picking again, as the late summer through early fall months surely heightens our cravings of all things apple.
But coming off a hot and dry summer might have you wondering about the impact it may have had on apple crops.
Here we’ll share some answers so you know what to expect from this season's crop before you venture out to the orchards.
What You Need To Know
- Dry conditions lead to smaller yet sweeter apples
- Spring weather may be more crucial to apple outcomes than summer weather
- Temperature also affects apple colors
It was a hot and rather dry summer. For apples to thrive and reach their fullest, juiciest size, it’s important to have regular doses of moisture.
When our weather cooperates and brings regular rainy spells from spring through summer, apple crops yield full size apples.
As conditions remained dry for much of the summer, with some areas in persistent drought, the apples may turn out smaller than in recent years.
Smaller sometimes is better though, as the more compact fruits might just taste sweeter. Why you ask? Sugar concentrations run higher within the smaller apples, making for more taste in every little bite.
Apple trees are sturdy and quite hardy plants when compared to other types of fruit crops. The trees’ deep roots enable them to better withstand drought conditions and other weather hazards, such as strong winds and flooding.
There are workarounds too, as many farms have irrigation capabilities, although some are not in line to water every tree.
While we sometimes concentrate on summer weather as it leads into harvest time, we may have to backtrack to spring to find out how the weather affects the yearly crop.
The warm spring weather helped expedite apple blossom pollination, as bees were more active than normal.
Come to find out, cool nights lead to more vibrant apple skin colors, and warmer than normal hours can hinder their shade.
With recent rainfall and more expected to come, we might get to play catch-up with larger apple development for later season varieties.
Despite drought conditions, we can look forward to a plethora of apple varieties
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