I planted a centennial crab apple this spring from raintree nursery. Amazingly, I have at least 10 beautiful fruit that are not reddish pink. I just ate one. It is kind of tart and sweet. This is my first time growing crab apples. Is centennial supposed to be ready now and should I wait to harvest the remaining few?
I am also considering growing a Delhi crab apple or a gooseberry …
You learn by doing so take notice of what they taste like at different stages.
If I recall right the flesh of centennial crabs softens if you let them get too ripe on the tree. For fresh eating you want them just before they get too red.
@Groggyfrog
Don is completely correct at least for my tastes. I pick them early before they are turning red, but once the hint of green is disappearing. They are crisp even if they have a bit of zip to the taste. If I wait, they get softer, the bugs attack them, and they don’t store very long.
That seems to be the curse of early apples, poor storage.
Also to add to it: Groggyfrog, don’t count on your apples ripening at the same time next year, it all depends on the seasons and how much sun they get. This year where I’m at everything is about 2 weeks late if not more.
I guess I should say that Centennial won’t keep long anyway… but picking early and putting in the fridge maybe gives me a little bit longer period of crispness before they are soft.
My Centennial ripens in early August here. So I would say “Yes” except I don’t know how the peculiarities of your climate in the PNW might affect it. I’d also suspect that a tree planted this year might be delayed. See what happens next year.
It sounds like your fruits need another week or two. I agree with comments about not letting the fruit over-ripen on the tree. But it should be pink over yellow.