How to tell when Lisa Atemoya is ready to pick

[Orkine]

My first Lisa Atemoya has been on the tree for a while and sugar apples that set fruit at the same time are being picked.  How can I tell when the Lisa is ready to pick?

Is there a subtle change of color?
Does it get soft to the touch?

Will appreciate your input

[bsbullie]

Treat like a sugar apple.  You will see spreading in the sections exposing a pinkish/light mauve color between the sections.  I dont recommend letting it get soft on the tree.

[johnb51]

Treat like a sugar apple.  You will see spreading in the sections exposing a pinkish/light mauve color between the sections.  I dont recommend letting it get soft on the tree.

If you let it get soft on the tree, it will most likely fall to the ground on its own and become bruised or worse.  I had that problem with my PPC atemoya.  One day it seems hard, and the next day you find it on the ground.

[cbss_daviefl]

Left is not ready and right is ready. Lobes are mostly green and only slight pink hint between lobes on the left. The right is mostly pinkish green and there are some small black spots.

[Nick C]

Based off this picture does anybody have any insight into how far from being able to be picked this lisa is? It's the only one on the tree so I'm not trying to mess this up.

[achetadomestica]

The pictures cbss_daviefl posted really shows when the fruit starts to seperate
between the segments and is getting close. Your fruit has no seperation between
the segments. I like to squeeze the fruit also morning and night. They do get soft
fast. I had rabbits eating the fruit from my trees and also raccoons this past season
and had to time it right. Is the tree really in NJ? In my experience in florida the fruit
is more sweeter in the Summer and Fall when the temps are warmer. The trees go dormant
when the sunlight decreases and any Winter fruit has not been as good?

[Nick C]

The pictures cbss_daviefl posted really shows when the fruit starts to seperate
between the segments and is getting close. Your fruit has no seperation between
the segments. I like to squeeze the fruit also morning and night. They do get soft
fast. I had rabbits eating the fruit from my trees and also raccoons this past season
and had to time it right. Is the tree really in NJ? In my experience in florida the fruit
is more sweeter in the Summer and Fall when the temps are warmer. The trees go dormant
when the sunlight decreases and any Winter fruit has not been as good?

Yup tree is in New Jersey in my greenhouse. I had African prides ripen indoors last year but they were pretty flavorless. Thats why I'm testing them in the greenhouse this year. I'll see how they are, might have to experiment with them next year and defoliate them earlier in the season to time this right.

[Nick C]

Just to follow up. I was out watering the greenhouse this afternoon and noticed the lisa had started to split. I ended up picking it as something has been eating all my white sapotes and late season figs and assumed this would be next. Does this look like it has any chance of ripening correctly?

[Seanny]

Put it in an oven to protect from dust and humidity.
Should be ready in 3-7 days.

Remember to remove it before you use the oven.