Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
With summer gardens coming into maturity, some folks may be wondering when is it time to pick some of the more popular fruits and vegetables. Sometimes it’s easy to tell. For instance, when a tomato turns red, it’s ripe (unless you’re one of those who likes fried green tomatoes, then you pick those, of course, while they are still green). For some fruit varieties, it can be a little tricky. The good folks at Farmer’s Almanac have provided some helpful information about when to harvest some of our more popular fruits.
Cantaloupes
This one can pose a challenge because there’s not a big difference in color between an unripe and a ripe cantaloupe. Although an unripe cantaloupe may still have a slightly green color, the best way is to give it the “smell test.” If the melon smells slightly sweet, it should be ready to enjoy. If it has a strong-sweet smell, it could be over-ripe. Also, ripe cantaloupes will be a little heavier than non-ripe ones.
Watermelons
This one can be another tricky one. If you knock on the melon and it sounds hollow, it’s probably ripe. You can also check the side of the melon that was on the ground as it grew. A ripe melon should have a yellow spot. A melon that isn’t quite ripe may have a white spot, or perhaps no spot at all.
Pumpkins
Pumpkins can be another one that can be deceiving. While most pumpkins go from a greenish-yellow color to orange when they mature, a pumpkin can be fully orange and still not be ready for harvesting. Just like a watermelon, a ripe pumpkin should make a hollow sounds when you tap it with your knuckles. The best way, according to Farmer’s Almanac, is to wait for the vine to wither and turn brown. When the pumpkin’s stem has dried, it’s ready for harvesting.
Peaches
There can be some conflicting opinions here. Probably the most sure-fire way to tell if a peach is ripe is to look at the color. A ripe peach should not have any hint of green around the stem. The side of the peach that faces the sun should be dusky red and the other side should be yellow with a hint of orange.
Pears
Pears can be especially difficult because ripe pears are often just as hard as unripe ones. In addition, most pears don’t change color as they mature. So what can you do? Give the stem a bit of a nudge. If the stem is firmly stuck to the pear, it probably isn’t ripe. You can also tell by giving a pear the “smell test.” A ripe pear should give off a hint of pear scent. Over-ripe pears will have a strong pear smell.
Apples
This should be another easy one, right? If an apple is red, it’s ready. Well, not so fast there, Speedy Gonzales. What if you are picking green apples, like Granny Smith apples? Or, if you are picking Macintosh or Gala apples, they can look like half-ripe apples, since they are green and red when ripe. The best way is to check for apple that may have already fallen from the tree. If there are a few apples scattered beneath the tree, then it’s a good chance that most of the apples on the tree are ripe. You can also tell by picking the apple. If the apple breaks from the tree fairly easily, it is ripe. If you have to twist or yank at the apple, let it remain on the tree for a while longer.
These are a few hints that will help you in selecting some fruits at the height of ripeness. Enjoy them.