Harvesting Cherry Types

[sooby77]

Hi all,

My SunGold is starting to ripen. Can I harvest the entire fruit cluster even though not all of them are ripe yet? Or should I just pick individual fruits. If I harvest the entire cluster, will the unripe ones ripen on the counter? Sorry for the novice question.

[heirloomdaddy]

Hey. No apology necessary. We're all learning here.

There are definitely different schools of thought regarding whether it is better to let ripen on the vine or not. Some say there is no difference. I personally think that if you pull it super early while still green you will have a delayed ripening and noticeably less flavor. This is my first year growing sungold and it seems that they are all on their own schedule, even the fruits on the same truss.

[sfmathews]

If I harvest mine early, I notice they don't fully develop the flavor of those left to ripen on the vine.
HTH
Susan

[sooby77]

heirloomdaddy - thanks for the reply. I read about the different school of thoughts regarding harvesting as well. I just wasn't sure whether people actually harvest the whole cluster. SunGold is the most prolific in my garden this year. I was surprised to see that it's starting to turn gold 2-3 days ago. Caught me by surprise. Rose Quartz bore fruit much earlier, but so far is still green.

Meanwhile, my Cherokee Purple is starting to fruit. I didn't think it was going to make it at first. It was stunted for a good couple of weeks. Lillian's Yellow is flowering but doing nothing. I have a couple of blossoms that's dried up, but no fruit.

[nctomatoman]

I only pick ripe cherries, so pluck off the ready ones from the clusters - for best flavor. Sungold has to be watched closely, as it will crack easily if it gets water or rain when medium ripe. I actually like Sungold best when pale orange or slightly less than fully ripe - it still has a nice snappy tart element. When very ripe (deep orange), it is impossibly sweet!

[Mischka]

My advice is to pick them from the vine as they ripen individually, for optimum flavor. The only reason to pick an entire truss at once would be if you're growing for resale and need a bulk quantity or to beat an early frost.

If you have to pick green fruit because of upcoming cold weather, you can put them in a paper bag and add an apple to it. Apples emit a good amount of ethylene gas (C2H4) as they ripen and this is the same gas commercially used to force the ripening of most produce that's destined for supermarkets.

[code]Ethylene Sensitivity Chart

N=None H=High L=Low M=Medium VH=Very High VL=Very Low

Perishable Temperature Ethylene Ethylene
Commodities C / F Production Sensitivity
Fruits & Vegetables

Apple (non-chilled) 1.1 / 30 VH H
Apple (chilled) 4.4 / 40 VH H
Apricot -0.5 / 31 H H
Artichoke 0 / 32 VL L
Asian Pear 1.1 / 34 H H
Asparagus 2.2 / 36 VL M (Toughness)
Avocado (California) 3.3 / 38 H H
Avocado (Tropical) 10.0 / 50 H H
Banana 14.4 / 58 M H
Beans (Lima) 0 / 32 L M
Beans (Snap/Green) 7.2 / 45 L M
Belgian Endive 2.2 / 36 VL M
Berries (Blackberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold)
Berries (Blueberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold)
Berries (Cranberry) 2.2 / 36 L L (Mold)
Berries (Currants) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold)
Berries (Dewberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold)
Berries (Elderberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold)
Berries (Gooseberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold)
Berries (Loganberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold)
Berries (Raspberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold)
Berries (Strawberry) -0.5 / 31 L L (Mold)
Breadfruit 13.3 / 56 M M
Broccoli 0 / 32 VL H (Yellowing)
Brussel Sprouts 0 / 32 VL H
Cabbage 0 / 32 VL H
Cantalope 4.4 / 40 H M
Cape Gooseberry 12.2 / 54 L L
Carrots (Topped) 0 / 32 VL L (Bitterness)
Casaba Melon 10.0 / 50 L L
Cauliflower 0 / 32 VL H
Celery 0 / 32 VL M
Chard 0 / 32 VL H
Cherimoya 12.8 / 55 VH H
Cherry (Sour) -0.5 / 31 VL L (Softening)
Cherry (Sweet) -1.1 / 30 VL L (Softening)
Chicory 0 / 32 VL H
Chinese Gooseberry 0 / 32 L H
Collards 0 / 32 VL M
Crenshaw Melon 10.0 / 50 M H
Cucumbers 10.0 / 50 L H (Yellowing)
Eggplant 10.0 / 50 L L
Endive (Escarole) 0 / 32 VL M
Feijoa 5.0 / 41 M L
Figs 0 / 32 M L
Garlic 0 / 32 VL L (Odor)
Ginger 13.3 / 56 VL L
Grapefruit (AZ,CA,FL,TX) 13.3 / 56 VL M (Mold)
Grapes -1.1 / 30 VL L (Mold)
Greens (Leafy) 0 / 32 VL H (Russet Spotting)
Guava 10 / 50 L M
Honeydew 10 / 50 M H
Horseradish 0 / 32 VL L
Jack Fruit 13.3 / 56 M M
Kale 0 / 32 VL M
Kiwi Fruit 0 / 32 L H
Kohlrabi 0 / 32 VL L
Leeks 0 / 32 VL M
Lemons 12.2 / 54 VL M (Mold)
Lettuce (Butterhead) 0 / 32 L M (Russet Spotting)
Lettuce (Head/Iceberg) 0 / 32 VL H (Russet Spotting)
Lime 12.2 / 54 VL M (Mold Degreen)
Lychee 1.7 /35 M M
Mandarine 7.2 / 45 VL M
Mango 13.3 / 56 M H
Mangosteen 13.3 / 56 M H
Mineola 3.3 / 38 L L
Mushrooms 0 / 32 L M
Nectarine -0.5 / 31 H H
Okra 10.0 / 50 L M
Olive 7.2 / 45 L M
Onions (Dry) 0 / 32 VL L (Odor)
Onions (Green) 0 / 32 VL M
Orange (CA,AZ) 7.2 / 45 VL M
Orange (FL,TX) 2.2 / 36 VL M
Papaya 12.2 / 54 H H
Paprika 10.0 / 50 L L
Parsnip 0 / 32 VL L
Parsley 0 / 32 VL H
Passion Fruit 12.2 / 54 VH H
Peach -0.5 / 31 H H
Pear (Anjou,Bartlett/Bosc) 1.1 / 30 H H
Pear (Prickley) 5.0 / 41 N L
Peas 0 / 32 VL M
Pepper (Bell) 10.0 / 50 L L
Pepper (Chile) 10.0 / 50 L L
Persian Melon 10.0 / 50 M H
Persimmon (Fuyu) 10.0 / 50 L H
Persimmon (Hachiya) 0.5 / 41 L H
Pineapple 10.0 / 50 L L
Pineapple (Guava) 5.0 / 41 M L
Plantain 14.4 / 58 L H
Plum/Prune -0.5 / 31 M H
Pomegranate 5.0 / 41 L L
Potato (Processing) 10.0 / 50 VL M (Sprouting)
Potato (Seed) 4.4 / 40 VL M
Potato (Table) 7.2 / 45 VL M
Pumpkin 12.2 / 54 L L
Quince -0.5 / 31 L H
Radishes 0 / 32 VL L
Red Beet 2.8 / 37 VL L
Rambutan 12.2 / 54 H H
Rhubard 0 / 32 VL L
Rutabaga 0 / 32 VL L
Sapota 12.2 / 54 VH H
Spinach 0 / 32 VL H
Squash (Hard Skin) 12.2 / 54 L L
Squash (Soft Skin) 10.0 / 50 L M
Squash (Summer) 7.2 / 45 L M
Squash (Zucchini) 7.2 / 45 N N
Star Fruit 8.9 / 48 L L
Swede (Rhutabaga) 0 / 32 VL L
Sweet Corn 0 / 32 VL L
Sweet Potato 13.3 / 56 VL L
Tamarillo 0 / 32 L M
Tangerine 7.2 / 45 VL M
Taro Root 7.2 / 45 N N
Tomato (Mature/Green) 13.3 / 56 VL H
Tomato (Brkr/Lt Pink) 10.0 / 50 M H
Tree-Tomato 3.9 / 39 H M
Turnip (Roots) 0 / 32 VL L
Turnip (Greens) 0 / 32 VL H
Watercress 0 / 32 VL H
Watermelon 10,0 / 50 L H
Yam 13.3 / 56 VL L
Live Plants
Cut Flowers (Carnations) 0 / 32 VL H (Sleepiness)
Cut Flowers (Chrysanthemums) 0 / 32 VL H
Cut Flowers (Gladioli) 2.2 / 36 VL H
Cut Flowers (Roses) 0 / 32 VL H (Open Sooner)
Potted Plants -2.8-18.3 / 27-65 VL H
Nursery Stock -1.1-4.4 / 30-40 VL H (Slower Start)
Christmas Trees 0 / 32 N N
Flowers Bulbs (Bulbs/ 7.2-15 / 45-59 VL H
Corms/Rhizomes/Tubers)
[/code]

[sooby77]

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

I only pick ripe cherries, so pluck off the ready ones from the clusters - for best flavor. Sungold has to be watched closely, as it will crack easily if it gets water or rain when medium ripe. I actually like Sungold best when pale orange or slightly less than fully ripe - it still has a nice snappy tart element. When very ripe (deep orange), it is impossibly sweet!

Craig, just a bit late to get your reply. It just rained heavily in Raleigh (you probably know that!). From my pic, is the top one considered ripe?

[nctomatoman]

Not nearly yet! gotta get a bit more orange. In North Raleigh(at my house,anyway!) , we got hardly a drop!

[sooby77]

Sorry to hear that. I'm in North Raleigh too, on Six Forks near North Hills mall and it rained sufficiently enough to wet everything. Was glad it rained. Save me from turning on my soaker hose! But now it's a steam-bath here. So much steam rising from the ground/road. Not good for disease prevention!

I'll wait another day or two to pick.