The right time to harvest Arkansas Black Apples in Central Pennsylvania?

Hello,  I hope that you all are having a good summer as it is winding down.  

I was wondering if anyone might be able to tell me when they pick their Arkansas black apples for winter storage?  I live in Pennsylvania (Usda 6 on the map even though it seems more like zone 5 to me where we live.)  Everything that I read says that they're "ripe" in October or November.  By October we certainly will have had at least one frost and I'm sure that all the leaves will be off of our tree.  This is the first year that I've let apples form on the tree and just wonder when the optimal time would be for harvest in my location.  They look ripe now, but I know that  (from everything that I've read) that they are not.

Should I wait as long as possible to pick them or is it best to pick them now and let them ripen in storage?  Will the apples be damaged if left on the tree until a light frost?  Is October and November the best time to use the apples or will they get better if they ripen longer?

Thanks for any advice.  I appreciate you all.
Best Regards,
Tim

I am also in central PA and I just picked mine this past weekend (10/14).  This was based on the fact that they were starting to drop, and the bees were starting to have enough of their share.  Those are pretty much my criteria for picking - weighing the loses against picking too early.  

Michael Matunis wrote:I am also in central PA and I just picked mine this past weekend (10/14).  This was based on the fact that they were starting to drop, and the bees were starting to have enough of their share.  Those are pretty much my criteria for picking - weighing the loses against picking too early.  

Hi Michael,  I took your lead and went to pick mine....half were on the ground so I guess that it was time.  Thank you!   They're looking good inside right now.  I need to find a cooler storage area though.