July Healthy Harvest Habits

By this point in the season, early summer fruit such as cherries and berries are just about finished, and Toronto’s stone fruits (plums and apricots) will ripen over the course of this month. 

It’s peak summer during this month, and hopefully you’re enjoying it! Apple and pear season is fast approaching, with grapes to finish the season off.

In July, continue maintenance pruning of your tree to tackle water spouts, the 3Ds, and crossing branches. Tidy fallen fruit regularly, and watch the leaves, trunk, and fruit for insects/disease.

The habits to hone in on this month are scouting for ripeness, and food processing tips for your fruit!

This month, familiarize yourself with the fruits of Toronto’s Urban Orchard through our updated Fruit Ripening Guide!

Get to know the fruits that make up Not Far From The Tree’s basket, from Apple to Quince!

Learn about

  • Ripeness indicators (when is the fruit ready to pick?)
  • How to harvest (tips and tricks on a good harvest)
  • How to store and eat (not all fruit behaves the same way!)

At Not Far From The Tree, getting the harvest timing right is essential for ensuring we are rescuing fruit in the best condition for sharing with community agencies.

Additionally, knowing how to correctly pick each fruit ensures trees and/or fruit aren’t damaged during harvest and can keep providing in future seasons.

The Guide also has information for storing and eating each NFFTT fruit so you can make your harvest last into the Fall (or use immediately in new ways!).

Further reading:

Fruit Trees of Toronto by mapTO

A reminder of the Healthy Harvest Habit we cultivated in June:

Following ‘June Drop’ (fruit trees’ way of shedding excess fruit), we can help thin an apple, pear, plum or peach:

1. Wait until the point that your young fruits are about thumbnail sized and/or have completed the June drop.

2. Remove any damaged or diseased fruit from the tree.

3. Most fruit grows in clusters, so select the biggest or best looking fruit from the cluster to keep.

4. Thin the rest of the baby fruit off the cluster by cutting with pruners rather than pulling by hand.

Head to the June Healthy Harvest Habits blog post to keep reading!

Looking for more information on caring for fruit trees and growing fruit from a recommended source? 

Join Not Far From The Tree, home growers, arborists and small scale orchardists from across North America and around the world in 5-star-rated organic fruit tree care education with Orchard People’s interactive, instant access courses. 

Find courses like: Certificate in Fruit Tree Care; Fruit Tree Pruning Masterclass; Managing Fruit Tree Pests & Disease; Soil Essentials for Fruit Trees; and so many more!

Or, tune in to the Orchard People podcast! Join live and submit your questions to an expert guest, or catch the show later on your favorite platform. 

Further Reading

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