> 3. Apples are starting to ripen, keep apple maggot
> traps in trees and pick up fallen apples and
> destroy (a worm is inside).
>
>Why? We have coddling moths, not apple maggots, so maybe the damage done
>is different. For our apples each one has zero to half a dozen little
>marks on the skin that indicate damage. We just cut it out or eat around
>it. The rest goes in the compost.
In this area not many apples are ripe yet, and the ones that fall off
have worms. I guess they could go into pies. The ripe ones could be
used as you suggest. Leaving them on the ground is what i was concerned
about. This seems to spread disease, attracts rodents, and allows
pests to complete their life cycles.
Apples are great, our first apple (williams pride) is now ripe and
for the next few 6 months we will be buried in apples. This year
is the first year for a bunch of trees i planted 4 years ago so
we are anxious to run taste tests and record ripening dates.
I think Hudson's Golden Gem is going to be the winner.
----------
Jeff Owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Zone 7, http://www.teleport.com/~kowens
Underground house, solar energy, reduced consumption, no TV
