Under sunny skies, families picked McIntosh and Cortland apples amid a booming season at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Not far away in Lyndeborough, however, Paradise Farm had no pick-your-own apple crop this fall.

This season brought a mixed bag for growers, even across the Monadnock region.

Tim Anderson, who co-owns Washburn’s Windy Hill, said this summer and fall yielded an excellent crop. Windy Hill grows several varieties of apples to extend its pick-your-own season, and Anderson said this summer provided good growing conditions.

“There are a variety of factors that go into growing a good apple crop. The nature of growing relies heavily on nature itself,” Anderson said. “There’s only so much we can control. A late frost, an early warm-up, or a wet or dry summer can all make a difference. We had a near-perfect summer for growing, almost weekly rain and warm with a lot of sunshine.”

Not all orchards were so lucky.

Weather can be fickle, and microclimates matter. While Windy Hill reported an outstanding crop this year, Wayne Colsia, owner of Paradise Farm in Lyndeborough, said he’ll have no pick-your-own crop this year.

It’s not due to the current weather or the summer growing conditions, he said, but rather a late-season frost in April.

“In April, we had two nights that went below 25 [degrees]. That’s when our trees are budding,” Colsia said. Apple buds become less cold-hardy as they open, and cold damage can cause up to 90% fruit loss at 25 degrees when they are in full bloom.

“We just have to hope for apples next year,” he added. “Farmers are eternal optimists that way.”

Colsia isn’t a stranger to losing crops to cold — a few years ago, his peach crop failed for a similar reason. He said his farm sits at an elevation of about 1,000 feet, and reaches lower temperatures than other farms, even those just down the road from him.

  • Pumpkins at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville.
    Pumpkins at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • Picked apples at Washburn's Windy Hill in Greenville.
    Picked apples at Washburn’s Windy Hill in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • Ripe for the picking at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard.
    Ripe for the picking at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • Felicity Caron of Ashby seeks out an apple among the branches of a tree at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville.
    Felicity Caron of Ashby seeks out an apple among the branches of a tree at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • Felicity Caron, held by her mother Brina Caron of Ashby seeks out an apple among the branches of a tree at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville.
    Felicity Caron, held by her mother Brina Caron of Ashby seeks out an apple among the branches of a tree at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • Felicity Caron, held by her mother Brina Caron of Ashby seeks out an apple among the branches of a tree at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville.
    Felicity Caron, held by her mother Brina Caron of Ashby seeks out an apple among the branches of a tree at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • Giovanni Machado of Ashby feeds some grass to a petting zoo goat at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville.
    Giovanni Machado of Ashby feeds some grass to a petting zoo goat at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • Giovanni Machado of Ashby feeds some grass to a petting zoo goat at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville.
    Giovanni Machado of Ashby feeds some grass to a petting zoo goat at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • Sammy hoisington of West Boylston, Mass., collects windfall apples at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville.
    Sammy hoisington of West Boylston, Mass., collects windfall apples at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • Sammy hoisington of West Boylston, Mass., collects windfall apples at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville.
    Sammy hoisington of West Boylston, Mass., collects windfall apples at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • acob Hoisington of West Boylston, Mass., enjoys a candy apple at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville.
    acob Hoisington of West Boylston, Mass., enjoys a candy apple at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript
  • acob Hoisington of West Boylston, Mass., enjoys a candy apple at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville.
    acob Hoisington of West Boylston, Mass., enjoys a candy apple at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville. Credit: ASHLEY SAARI / Ledger-Transcript

Barrett Hill Farm in Mason is also abstaining from pick-your-own apples this year, according to owner Beth LeClair, though it’ll have farm-grown apples available at the farm stand for purchase.

Galas are already picked out at Windy Hill, but McIntosh and Cortland are currently ripe for the picking.

The growing conditions affect different apple trees differently, said Anderson. The McIntosh ripened slightly earlier than usual and will be in their prime for another week or so, and Cortlands had a good crop this year.

Windy Hill’s Macouns — Anderson’s personal favorite eating apple — produced a lighter batch this year, but he got looks to be coming in well, Anderson said. Macouns were expected to be ready for picking this past weekend.

“They won’t last long due to the light crop,” he noted.

Red Delicious is the latest to come in but should be ready shortly after the Macouns, said Anderson.

Washburn’s Windy Hill is open daily, on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The orchard anticipates being closed on Halloween weekend.