How can I tell if my fruit is ok to eat?

5 years ago

Hello! I’ve recently moved into a new house and found out that I have fruit trees in my backyard! From what I can tell I have mulberries, nectarines, almonds, apples, and oranges. So exciting! My question is, how can I tell if my fruit is ok to eat? Right now the nectarines are very red so I picked a few And they look like regular nectarines but I still feel very timid to try them. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Featured Answer

garybeaumont_gw

5 years ago

Low chill apples such as Golden Dorset and Anna do ripen in Mid to late June. Since you also have oranges you may have one of these varieties. They have a short window of when they are good, about 2 to 3 weeks. Too early, they are very tart. Too late, and they are mealy.

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Comments (10)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Provided you have them identified correctly, they are all OK to eat :-) Do you mean how tell when they are ripe? The mulberries will be obvious. The nectarines will have good color, smell ripe and have a bit of give when softly squeezed. June is pretty early for any apple in the northern hemisphere to be ripe, so I'd wait until late summer (mid August) before I tried any of those. They will usually come away from the branch easily when properly ripe.

Can't tell you about oranges and almonds - I grow neither. But I never hurts to taste the fruit to see if it is properly ripe......at worst it will be overly tart and very crunchy rather than juicy but it won't hurt you. No need to be timid!!
Faith
5 years ago
I agree—try them and see! Along with a little internet searching to see when they’re generally ripe in your area. If they don’t taste good, wait a few more weeks or until some fruit is falling off the trees, and try again. One bite of unripe fruit certainly won’t hurt you. Congrats on your new place!
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fireballsocal
5 years ago
It will take some time to figure out what ripens when. Keeping a log helps immensely. I've gone through the same thing. Your oranges will ripen up in the fall/winter. If it is a navel, think about December for the earliest but the fruit should hang on the tree and get sweeter all the way into March if you don't have freezes.
summersrhythm_z6a
5 years ago
Do you have deer? They’d eat them before you could taste them......
Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
5 years ago
Don't worry...they're safe and wont poison you.
summersrhythm_z6a
5 years ago
Oh forgot, you might have diarrhea after test tasting, one way to lose weight........

Here are some tips for just in case: https://www.rd.com/health/conditions/home-remedies-diarrhea/
Embothrium
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Numbers of fully developed fruits dropping to the ground is a good hint that ripening has occurred.

Similarly a percentage of ripe almonds open up and let the nuts drop out. Sharecroppers such as squirrels coming for them is also a clue. Speaking of which ripening fruits attracting birds, rodents and wasps may become more of a concern than being sure you aren't picking them too green.

Your list makes it sound like you are someplace like southern California (for best results it's always a good idea to indicate where the gardening is occurring geographically when posting questions here). If this is true California Cooperative Extension has lots of information about fruit growing.
Megan
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you everyone so much for all the advice! I just tried one of my nectarines and it was absolutely delicious. I’m super excited to have these trees and can’t wait to try the other fruits as well. :)
albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
5 years ago
How can I tell if my fruit is ok to eat?According to Wikipedia, in ancient Rome, the duty was often given to a slave (termed the praegustator).

How can I tell if my fruit is ok to eat?

garybeaumont_gw

Comments (10)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Faith

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Original Author

albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.

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How can I tell if my fruit is ok to eat?

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