Approximate Apple Picking Dates

For Specific information, please call ahead (860) 429-5336
  • Horse Listener's Orchard, 317 Bebbington Road, Ashford, CT 06278Our current Apple Picking hours are Tuesday – Friday, 10am-6pm. Saturday and Sunday, 9am-6pm
  • We are located at 317 Bebbington Rd., Ashford, CT 06278 – Please click on the address for Google Maps.
  • Gala Apples – September 17th – Red-orange, with yellow stripes. A sweet crisp flavor and texture. Very good for salads and sauces. Introduced in 1934. Ripens in late September.
  • Cortland Apples – September 17th – A larger apple good for baking, with a deep, purple-red color. Moderately juicy and fairly sweet. Their white flesh doesn’t brown when sliced so Corlands are a standout for fruit salads, dipping in toppings, or eating wit a plate of sharp cheddar cheese. Developed in 1898, across between a McIntosh and Ben Davis. Ripens late September.
  • Ida Apples – October 22nd – Bright golden red. Their tangy taste mellow at maturity. Excellent for snacks and all culinary uses. Developed in 1942. Ripens in late September.
  • Empire Apples – October 8th – Deep red skin brushed with gold and green. The Empire is mildly tart-sweet and has juicy quality dessert apple, good for all culinary uses. A newer variety introduced in 1966 from McIntosh and Delicious parents. Ripens late September.
  • Shizuka Apples – October 1st – Green with yellow highlights. Tangy sweet. Best for cooking and baking. Dates back to 1700. Ripens in September.
  • Macoun Apples – September 17th – With their wine-red color with gold accents, Macouns are highly regarded for their aroma and sweet-tart, juicy flavor. Excellent for snack and desserts and good for all culinary uses. Developed in 1909 from Jersey Black and McIntosh parents. Ripens in mid-September.
  • Red Delicious Apples – October 8th – The unique shape of this red apple tapers to a five-knobbed base. Sweet, tender and juicy. Best for crunching out of hand and in fruit cups and salads. Developed in 1872, Red Delicious is America’s most plentifully grown apple. Ripens early October.
  • Golden Delicious Apples – October 15th – Golden or light-green, with pink blush. Tender, mellow, sweet. Wonderful fresh and in salads. Developed in 1912. Ripens in October.
  • Fuji Apples – October 22nd – Red blush with green and yellow stripes. Crisp, firm, juicy flesh. Developed in Japan in 1939. Ripens in October.
  • Creston Apples – It is a large, conical apple, yellow with a red blush or stripes. Its yellow flesh is crisp, juicy, and more sweet than tart. It is a late-season apple that has been compared to Jonagold in flavor, texture, and appearance. Ripens in October.
  • Stellar Apples – October 22nd
  • Mutsu Apples – October 22nd – Greenish yellow to yellow. Good for cooking. Introduced in U.S. in 1968. Ripens mid-October.
  • Fortune Apples – October 29th – The flavor and size of Fortune apples make them ideal for fresh eating, as well as pies and tarts. Fortune apples are available in the mid-fall and winter months.
  • Splendor Apples – October 27th and beyond – Splendor apples are sweet dessert apples that are best for eating fresh. Sweet apples pair well with a grounding accompaniment such as nuts, seeds, or nut butters. Splendor apples are also known to store well in the refrigerator though their skin bruises easily. Splendor apples are available in the late fall.