On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 15:08:51 -0500, Dianna Visek
wrote:

How ripe do peaches have to be before picking? (I'm in competition
iwth squirrels.) My peaches are orange but hard. Will they ripen
inside?

Thanks, Dianna
_______________________________________________
To reply, please remove "fluff" from my address.

Dianna, Not knowing what zone you are in, or the variety of peach you
are talking about, it is difficult to give you an exact answer. For
instance in zone 7, Red Havens get ripe in early June and Alberta's in
late September, and many varieties in between.

Most varieties, except some white peaches, "Blush" a few days before
they get ripe. (Blushing is simply turning red on one side- -some
varieties all over).

After the peach blushes, grasp in asqueeze slightly(very slightly) .
If the peach shows any signs of softening, pick it. If it is
softening but still very firm, lay it up and the next day it will be
delicious.(do not wash it or put in a cold place, because that will
stop the ripening process).

Many years ago when I picked peaches for a commercial grower, the
first thing they would do (after de-fuzzing) would be to place the
peaches in a cold water bath to slow the ripening process.

Sorry for the long post- -RogerX