I don't think it's a dumb question at all. Matter of fact I was going to ask the same question. I DID however pick all my Dancy Tangerines off the tree this evening.

Now since they aren't all completely orange will they continue to ripen off the tree?

Mike

Citrus trees are much more cold tolerant without fruit.
Pick all the fruit now- even if it is not ripe.
Growers pick like mad when freezes are coming for this very reason.
Plus, all the fruit will be ruined any way.
Might as well pick it and sell what they can for juice.
Here I will get 10 to 12 hours of 19 or 20 degrees.
Not one piece of fruit from my grove will survive that.
And NO.
Citrus does not ripen after it is picked.
Store the fruit in the garage or other cool place.
Juice and freeze it if you cannot eat it all.

Gatormom is right. As the oranges freeze on the tree ice crystals that form inside the cells of the orange will pierce the juice pulp "sacks" causing the sacks to leak once the oranges thaw. Once that happens the oranges can no longer hold the juice inside and while you won't see the oranges leaking they are losing the moisture inside and in a week or two when you cut them open they are dried out.

On the positive side unripe oranges from say Murcott or Valencia oranges can still be used. Pick them before a freeze or even right after a freeze and juice them. Freeze the juice in ice ube trays for cooking or other uses. To me unripe oranges taste a lot like lemons and can be used where you would use lemon juice.

I'm wondering where, exactly, wiigodess is located? Page doesn't say. If you're in an area w/ a freeze forecast, than the above advice is fine, but what if you're not?

I'm in St. Petersburg & tho it's cold, our low last night was forecast @ 38F. My trees seem fine today.

I check NOAA daily - often more than once....

Here is a link that might be useful: Enter your ZIP code @ the top

Thank you all so much, I did pick the oranges because it did freeze here in Osteen, between Sanford and New smyrna. My tree seems fine, everything not covered is dead though. I have been reading all the posts and thought I better check this, I'm glad I did I do love this place so much, such great people, so helpful. Thanks so much
Joan