Cherimoyia,color when ripe

Have three cherimoyia trees the largest isabout 20 ft. has five fruit on it. the fruit is about the size of amedium size cantaloup My problem is how do you tell when its ripe the color on one is yellowish but the bottom is pale green Would appreciat any advise on this subject

The above post was added by Earl R Hilderbrand on October 31, 2000 at 4:08 pm PST.

One of the most difficult attributes to the cherimoya is understand when the fruit is mature for harvest.
Variation occurs depending on variety, climate and pollination. There are several important areas that
need to be understood that help in determining harvest time. First, the cherimoya flowering period las
t several weeks allowing fruit to set at various intervals. Therefore cherimoya mature at various intervals
] as well. Strip picking is not an option with harvest. Instead you need to examine each fruit. Look first
for a color change, usually from a dark green to a yellow or light green. Then look at carpal size.
A carpal is the large scales on the surface of the fruit. Watch carpal represents one seed. Fully
enlarged carpal means the seed and flesh around the seed are full developed and ready to be harvested.
Finally when you pick the cherimoya, shakeit! When you hear some seeds rattle around you know that that
the cherimoya has full developed it's carpal. Determining cherimoya maturity is an art form and like most art
forms it takes practice and time. By being detailed in examining the qualities of your fruit and you shall be rewarded
with the sweetest possible cherimoyas from your garden.

For more information take a look at Calimoya Exotic Fruits web page at www.calimoya.com

Happy Harvest!

Jay Ruskey

• Calimoya Exotic Fruits

The above post was added by Jay Ruskey on December 19, 2000 at 11:08 am PST.

I have three kinds of them but haven´t had any fruit yet(too young). They grow really good here on the coast in Portugal. I see them planted out everywhere but I haven´t eaten one off a tree yet.They seem to grow like weeds here. Is there any one that knows about them here in Portugal?

The above post was added by Jason Huerta on March 03, 2000 at 3:53 am PST.

In Hindi, the language of India, it is called 'Sitaful' which means the fruit of Sita (from the epic The Ramayana). I feel it is the most delicious fruit and we usually eat it as it is or remove the white flesh from the seeds, blend it with milk and sugar to make an ice cream. I would like to know how to grow it from seeds. Does one soak them and then plant? And at what time of year should they be planted?

The above post was added by Arnavaz Garda on May 15, 2000 at 11:03 pm PST.