STIGA Shares Expert Tips from Gerry Edwards

STIGA Shares Expert Tips from Gerry Edwards: As National Apple Day approaches on October 21st, STIGA is celebrating Britain’s favourite fruit with expert guidance from orchard specialist Gerry Edwards. Apples and pears are two of the nation’s most beloved orchard crops, yet many home growers are often left disappointed when their fruit spoils before they can enjoy it. With a few simple tricks, however, you can extend the life of your harvest and make the most of every crisp bite.

Not all apples are created equal

According to Gerry, the first step is to understand the difference between early- and late-season apples. “Early-season apples such as Discovery, James Grieve, and Laxton’s Fortune need to be eaten straight from the tree,” he explains. “They won’t store well and may last only a couple of days in a fruit bowl. Enjoy them in late summer with the warmth of the sun still on them; that’s when they taste their best.”

A handy rule of thumb: if apples start falling in late August or early September, they’re likely early-season varieties.

Picking at the perfect moment

But how can you tell if an apple is ripe? Gerry advises: “Lift the apple gently, and if it comes away easily, it’s ready. Never force fruit from the tree in August or September.”

When selecting fruit for storage, handle it carefully and keep the stalks intact. Bruised or damaged apples should be eaten quickly rather than stored, as one bad fruit can spoil the rest.

Storing for long enjoyment

Late-season apples, picked in late September, are ideal for storing. Gerry suggests using supermarket apple trays. free and readily available, to keep fruits separated and allow air to circulate. Apples should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated shed or garage, though he warns growers to beware of hungry mice. “I let my cats sniff around the fruit shed now and then. Their scent seems to keep mice away!”

Regular checks are essential. Overripe apples can quickly spread rot, so Edwards recommends inspecting stored fruit weekly and removing any that show signs of spoilage.

Pears: the tricky cousin

When it comes to pears, things get trickier. “Pears can be beastly to store,” Gerry admits. “By the time they smell ripe, the centre is often mushy and inedible.”

Some pears, such as Beth, Onward, and Williams Bon Chretien, are best eaten straight from the tree. Mid-season varieties like Conference, Concorde, and Doyenne du Comice, however, can last a few weeks if harvested while still unripe in mid-September.

For pears, Edwards stresses more frequent monitoring. Unlike apples, pears often ripen suddenly due to ethylene gas, which can trigger all fruits to soften at once. He advises daily checks, especially in warmer storage areas. A pear is ready to eat when its skin colour begins to change and the flesh near the stalk softens slightly.

Tools of the trade

As well as sharing his advice on fruit storage, Edwards has also been trialling the STIGA SC 100e battery pruners. His verdict:
“The pruners are very easy to use once the instructions are read correctly! The safety features are good and I’m well impressed. Whilst I wouldn’t use these pruners for simple pruning on one-year-old growth, they are absolutely ideal for thicker branches and for more major pruning. I have found them very good up to around 18mm, which is impressive and replaces the need for the use of a pruning saw where thicker wood needs attention. The RSI is also much, much less!”

Make the most of your harvest

By following these tips, and with the right tools at hand, gardeners can savour their apples and pears well into autumn and early winter. Gerry concludes: “A little care at harvest and in storage makes all the difference. With the right approach, you can enjoy your fruit for weeks, rather than losing it to overripeness.”

This National Apple Day, STIGA encourages everyone to celebrate the orchard tradition by picking, storing, and enjoying apples and pears the expert way.

To see all of the handy STIGA products for Apple Day, including the SC 100e pruners, go to www.stiga.com/uk/

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