Anyone else's apples ripening earlier than normal this year?

matt_fender

A bit of a weird question perhaps, but I've got a Laxton's Superb apple tree that is in it's second year of fruiting, and the apples appear to be ripe already - a full month or so earlier than last year. Whether they are truly "ripe" or not, I'm not sure - but they are starting to fall from the tree with the slightest touch, and taste OK - not floury or too sharp. I'd probably just put it down to a young tree and changing habits early on (is that a thing?) but my Dad has the same variety up in London (at least a twenty year old tree) and he has reported the same. Anyone noticed similar? If so, I wonder why? Last summer was hotter, but drier. How does the season affect ripening time? I'm in West Sussex.

bookmonster

ours look much less ripe here than they were this time last year but the conference pears are way ahead...

Grannybee

Funny you should say that Matt - ours are the same, Laxton Superb. They too are ripe already! Sweet & juicy and falling off the tree like you say. Enjoy the early crop!

Allotment Boy

Easy, climate change! Yes some of the Apples on my allotment are ripening early, I have posted before about how many things are doing the same. I have a blackberry that is fruiting up to 6 weeks earlier (end of July rather than September) than it did when I first planted it about 10 years ago. Evening & night-time temperatures have almost as much effect as do daytime ones.

JennyJ

We had a couple of warm spells in the spring this year (including a really early one in February) so maybe they flowered earlier than usual?

Theveggardener

After buckets and buckets of water 2 a day to be precise my apple tree only produce walnut size fruit and now it looks like it's dead.