Picking apricots

[pinkerton]

Can apricots be picked when they are firm, to ripen off the tree?

[Whoever]

Yes, I suppose they can, but remember that the moment a fruit is removed from the tree, you remove its moisture source and gradually the skin will start to shrivel and wrinkle even as it ripens. . Unless you have some very specific reason for removing them early (i.e. squirrels stealing them) your fruit will be much better for staying on the tree until it's ripe. And if you're lucky enough to have an apricot tree, enjoy the pleasure of picking and eating tree ripened fruit rather than the horrible unripe stuff the rest of us have to buy from supermarkets.