Embark on a delightful adventure this fall as you explore the world of Delaware apple picking, featuring popular farms, unique apple varieties, and useful tips to enhance your experience. Discover the state’s rich history, vibrant flavors, and charming festivities while creating lasting memories with friends and family.
Milburn Orchards
Located in northern Delaware, Milburn Orchards is a popular family owned and operated apple farm that has been in business since 1902. With a longstanding history of providing quality apples to the community, this farm offers more than a dozen apple varieties throughout the season, such as Honeycrisp, Stayman, and Granny Smith.
A unique aspect of Milburn Orchards is its annual harvest festivals, where visitors can not only enjoy apple picking but also engage in family-friendly activities, such as hayrides, face painting, and apple slingshots.
Fifer Orchards
Another well-loved apple farm in Delaware is Fifer Orchards, situated in the heart of the state and founded in 1919. This farm offers a diverse selection of apples, including Gala, Fuji, and Golden Delicious, available for picking during their harvest season which runs from August through October.
Fifer Orchards is known for hosting a variety of seasonal events, such as their annual Fall Fest, where visitors can partake in apple picking, corn maze exploration, pumpkin painting, and more.
Bennett Orchards
Nestled in southern Delaware, Bennett Orchards is a charming, family-run apple farm with roots dating back to 1867. The farm prides itself on cultivating unique, hard-to-find apple varieties, such as Blondee and CrimsonCrisp – ensuring a delightful and often exclusive apple picking experience for visitors.
Bennett Orchards also features a pick-your-own blueberry section during the summer season, offering an even wider variety of fruits for customers to enjoy. In addition to apple picking, the farm frequently hosts tours, community events, and educational programs to deepen the connection between the community and the orchard’s rich history.
Delaware Apple Picking Tips
When embarking on your apple picking adventure in Delaware, it’s essential to know that the season generally lasts from August to October, with different varieties ripening at various points during this timeframe. To ensure you’re selecting ripe and ready-to-eat apples, consider the color, touch, and aroma of the fruit. Ripe apples will have a full, even color, while unripe apples might appear green or uneven. Furthermore, fresh and ripe apples will be firm to the touch without any soft spots or indents. And finally, when you bring an apple close to your nose, you should detect a pleasant, sweet smell that indicates its ripeness.
Effective Techniques for Apple Picking
When apple picking, it’s essential to be gentle and precise to avoid causing damage to the trees or fruit. One of the most effective techniques is to use an upward and outward motion as you twist the apple from the tree. Gently grasp the apple with your entire hand and give it a slight twist as you lift it off its stem. This will help preserve the tree’s health and ensure future fruit production. Tools like apple pickers or fruit pickers are handy in reaching apples higher up in the tree. These tools have an extended handle with a basket on the end that can help make the process more comfortable and efficient.
Additional Fall Activities
While embarking on your Delaware apple picking journey, be sure to explore the many local orchards that offer additional fall activities such as hayrides, corn mazes, and other family-friendly events. As you indulge in this delightful pastime, take the time to learn about the various apple varieties found in Delaware, including Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Honeycrisp. Understanding the unique characteristics and flavor profiles of these apples will enable you to select the perfect apples for your needs – be it for baking pies, making applesauce, or just enjoying them on their own.
Apple Picking in Delaware
In Delaware, apple picking is a beloved fall activity enjoyed by enthusiasts and hobbyists alike. The state’s local orchards offer a wide range of apple varieties to choose from.
One popular variety is the Rome apple, known for its mildly sweet flavor and dense flesh. This apple is excellent for baking and cooking, often holding its shape well in dishes like apple pies and crisps. Rome apples are typically best for picking in late September and early October.
Meanwhile, the Empire apple is another variety attracting many to Delaware’s apple orchards. This medium-sized red fruit has a sweet-tart taste with juicy flesh, making it a popular choice for snacking or slicing into salads. Empire apples are a result of crossbreeding McIntosh and Red Delicious apples, and their peak harvest season falls in late September. Fuji apples are also popular, famous for their sweet, crisp flavor and firm texture, perfect for eating fresh or in salads. They become available from mid-October onwards.
Golden Delicious apples are another common sight in Delaware orchards, recognized for their sweet, mellow taste and golden-yellow skin. These versatile apples can be used in baking, cooking, or simply eaten fresh, with their peak harvest time being from late September to early October. The Stayman-Winesap apple is loved for its tart flavor, making it a popular choice for pies and preserves. These apples boast a deep red color with a yellowish-green undercast and a firm, juicy flesh. Expect to find Stayman-Winesap apples ready for picking around mid-October.
Apple Picking in Delaware
Apple picking is a delightful fall activity, perfect for families and friends to enjoy together. In Delaware, there are several orchards where enthusiasts can pick fresh, crisp apples to their hearts’ content and then use these apples to create the delicious recipes mentioned earlier. However, in order to ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience for all visitors, it is essential to follow certain etiquette and rules while at the apple farms.
Rules and Etiquette
- Always follow the specific rules outlined by the Delaware apple farm you are visiting. These may include guidance on which areas of the orchard are open for picking, as well as any special regulations for parking or picnicking.
- Be mindful of your surroundings and avoid picking apples from trees marked as off-limits or in areas designated for farm staff only.
- Handle the apples gently, refraining from yanking or pulling the fruit from the trees. Instead, grasp the apple firmly, twist it gently, and lift it up in order to avoid damaging both the tree and the fruit.
Respectful Behavior
- Be respectful of fellow apple pickers and farm staff. The ability to fill several baskets with apples should not come at the cost of causing an inconvenience to other visitors.
- Be mindful of your noise level and avoid throwing apples or engaging in rough play that could create an unsafe environment.
- Only take as many apples as you intend to use, so that there is enough supply for everyone visiting the farm.
Conclusion
By being considerate and attentive to these guidelines, Delaware apple picking can be a memorable and enjoyable experience for all.
With the new-found knowledge of Delaware apple farms, picking techniques, local apple varieties, and preservation methods, you’re all set to transform your apple picking experience into something truly unforgettable. Always remember to practice proper etiquette and follow the rules, ensuring a delightful, respectful, and enjoyable time for everyone involved. Happy apple picking!
