When to Pick a Kari Star Fruit

[bobbyjo]

I got this Kari star fruit from Jeff (Cookie Monster) Hagen two years ago.  It flowered this summer and managed to hold on to three fruits.  Here is a photo of the tree:



The 3 fruits have changed colour from green to yellow/orange but they are only about 3 inches long.
Ist one on the left:


Middle one:


3rd one on the right:



How do I know when they are ripe/mature enough to pick?  They seem pretty small but with the colour change, I am thinking they are starting to ripen and may not get any bigger.

Appreciate any feedback.  Thanks.

Robert

[TREESNMORE]

The one in the middle is close I will post a picture of a big ripe one. I cut the green edge off it makes it sweeter. Your tree will produce better fruit with age.

[bobbyjo]

TREESNMORE, Thanks for the info.  It makes sense that the fruits will get better as the tree matures.

[TropicalFruitHunters]

yeah...let those babies develop as much color as they can and those sugars really start to come on.  Nice job.

[bobbyjo]

Yesterday I picked (and ate) the middle Kari star fruit.  I waited for the color to change some more as Treesnmore and Ohiojay suggested so it was fairly ripe.  I am now waiting for the other two to ripen some more.  This would be my first container grown fruit that I ate.  The flavour was quite good with a bit of sweetness.

[Zambezi]

Congratulations Bobby on your first fruit. Well Done!

[TREESNMORE]

And you are in Canada. That is a great job

[mathmom]

Congratulations...that is amazing.  I've been tempted to try growing starfruit (in a container) but the ones in the grocery store are so bland and tasteless.  Are they really worth growing? 

[bobbyjo]

Thanks all - I am thrilled to finally get one of my tropical plants to flower and retain some fruits to enjoy eating.

Mathmon, the one I just picked was not bad.  I wouldn't say great but it is the first one for a two year old plant.  It is better than store bought & definitely not bland.  Plus it should hopefully get better as the plant matures.  From what I've heard on other postings, star fruits are prolific bearer and one plant should be more than enough.  I can somewhat confirm this as it has flowered three times so far in less than a year.  It is also the only plant that I was able to get an edible fruit from.

[GwenninPR]

Congratulations! 
In my experience with star fruit (though I have never had this variety), the more deep gold in color the better.

[gnappi]

Congratulations! 
In my experience with star fruit the more deep gold in color the better.

Agreed. I let my KARI actually start to develop brown "age spots" on the tree, they are sweetest then.