Most fruits are ripe when the stem breaks loose from its branch as the fruit is lifted gently. If you have trouble breaking the fruit loose, let it ripen another couple of days. As the ripening season progresses, test apples every few days for tenderness, color, and taste. The seeds turn brown when the apple is ready for eating. Apricots Harvest when fruits are soft and fully colored and have the characteristic apricot aroma.
Apricots are particularly sweet when fully ripened on the tree.
Blackberries Mature fruit is plump, juicy, sweet, and dull in color. The fruit slips easily off the stem. Harvest every 2 or 3 days. Cantaloupes Melons Harvest when the stem slips easily from the fruit. Ripe 'Crenshaw' and 'Casaba' melons will have an enticing aroma at the blossom end.