Now the summer has come along it’s time for British fruits to
come back on to supermarket shelves and in to our kitchen. But better still it
is time for us to really see the fruits of our labour (metaphorically as well
as figuratively) as the crops from our different fruit trees begin to ripen.
With most fruits it is possible to tell that they are ready to
be picked. As you gently squeeze them you can feel that they are no longer hard
and have a light softness to their texture, or they, like apples, they start to
fall from the tree. Depending on the fruit, some need to be picked before they
mature as they are best ripened in the fruit bowl – this is the case with pears
– whereas other fruits, such as cherries are best left to ripen on the tree.
There is no steadfast rule on fruit ripening but a little common sense goes a
long way.
One thing you need to be careful of is that you don’t allow the
fruits to ripen for too long on the tree as this can attract wasps and bees. A
good way to know when the fruit is ready is when you see the birds starting to
take an interest. Be careful though, if
you aren’t quick enough at this point you may end up losing your crop to them
before you have had chance to pick it!
To give you a good idea as to which fruits come in to season
when here is a list that acts as a good guide – although you should bear in
mind that things can change slightly depending on the season
- June & July – blackcurrants, cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, whit currants
- August & September – early-season apples, blackberries, plums, raspberries, blackcurrants
- October & November – mid/late-season apples, pears, plums
Overall the most important thing to do when your fruit is
coming in to season is to check it regularly (often daily) as slight weather
changes can make a big difference as to how quickly it will ripen. Once ready
you can also look to store your fruits in a cold area, like a cellar or larder,
so that you can enjoy them for longer. There is nothing better than seeing and tasting
fruits from your own harvest!
No comments:
Post a Comment