Cherapu - When to pick?

[cbss_daviefl]

I have a few fruit on my tree. One is turning color, green with orange tint and is soft like a ripe persimmon. The first one that turned slightly orange disappeared, consumed by an animal. Are these like mangosteen, which can be picked when the white fruits turn pink? Or do these need to be fully orange?

[brian]

I am not sure when they are ready, but when you do pick them sell us the seeds 

[cbss_daviefl]

Here is a pic

[palologrower]

wait till orange

[roblack]

camp out underneath with bb gun and faithful hound, jerky and beer

please provide taste report =)

[Finca La Isla]

The more orange the better. Cherapu is not really quick to spoil. What might look passed can still be good. If it’s light yellow it will probably be sour.
Peter

[cbss_daviefl]

Thanks both of you for responding! I figured they would need to get fully orange.  The fact that the first fruit to turn color was stolen and consumed had me considering other possibilities.  I only have three fruits left this go around. There is not a lot of room for error. I started this journey a decade ago and too many dollars have been spent.

[brian]

How many trees did you end up growing to get flowering male & female?  Growing like five has got to be a commitment, I can't wait until somebody starts selling grafted male+female plants.

[cbss_daviefl]

I lucked out. I only have two flowering trees so far and got one of each. Both are 6+ft tall and probably 9-10 years old.   My trees seem to mirror what others have also stated, the male is "vigorous" and the female looks less full and less healthy.  The male flowers frequently but the female has only flowered once and only on one branch.

[brian]

That is fortunate, very nice

[cbss_daviefl]

I found one of the small fruits on the ground this morning. It was green on the bottom so I was concerned it would be sour. It tasted great.  Sweet tangerine is the best flavor description I can offer.  The larger fruit still on the tree is around two inches in diameter.