when to pick this M4 (with pics)

[Zafra]

Hi all. This is my first year with M4 fruit. This one pictured was the first to put on size and now is giving me vibes. But I have no experience and would love to pick at the closest to right time possible. What do the experts say?

[Orkine]

I was waiting on someone to respond to this because I am interested in the answer too.

My guess is full / raised shoulders, darkened lenticels and browning stalk = mature ready to pick.
See 3:30 point on this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4qSHrepLL8&t=439s

Interested in what others have to say.

[Zafra]

Me too I'm waiting for all the M4S whisperers in the group to chime in! The shoulders on this one look pretty full to me. Chris at TT talks about a "stretched bottom" though and I can't figure out what that means. Also this one does have sort of a yellow tinge to the green... I don't know!

[dwfl]

That looks pretty close. M-4 doesn't really get raised shoulders and they don't color up. I wait for dieback to spread up the panicles from where they attach to the fruit. You could gently touch the mango with your hand or picker and see if it easily falls off.

[Zafra]

My guess is full / raised shoulders, darkened lenticels and browning stalk = mature ready to pick.
See 3:30 point on this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4qSHrepLL8&t=439s

Loved this video btw thank you! Super informative and fun!

[palmcity]

Good luck...

[Zafra]

Thank you for the responses! I actually picked it yesterday, having inspected it following the advice in the video Akin provided above. The shoulders were definitely more bumpy, the stem dark, but it was the lenticels that convinced me they were almost completely brown. So now I wait! I do have several more to work with so more chances to practice. Fingers crossed!

[cbss_daviefl]

E4 or M4? E4 was renamed Sugarloaf and stays green when ripe. M4 is a variety that ripens in late July/August and does change color.

[Zafra]

This is M4. All the M4s I've seen are pretty green when ripe. This tree flowered in December so it seems to be earlier here, or at least this year! This is also its first flowering so maybe that has something to do with it.

[cbss_daviefl]

My M4s change color, not fully but there is at least a partial color change sometimes areas that are fully yellow. Tropical Acres has a picture and you can see them starting to get color on the tree. M4 are a keitt relative. I have had some early before but typical ripening is later.

https://www.tropicalacresfarms.com/product-page/zill-m-4

[Zafra]

The one I picked is yellowish near the stem. It was somewhat shaded but others I have in full sun are already looking more colorful. I think sun exposure is a relevant variable.