1 One of the great benefits of growing fruit in the home garden is the ability to harvest the fruit according to individual taste. One grower might consider a fruit to be ripe, whereas another believes it to be immature. As the fruits enlarge, change color, or simply begin to look ripe, try one if it suits your taste, it s ready to be harvested. It s best, however, to be a little discriminating don t pick too soon.
Immature fruit spoils quickly and never develops full flavor.
Pears should be picked at a green-ripe stage and ripened at a temperature of 72 F for approximately 1 week. A particularly effective way to ripen fruit is to place it in a brown paper bag on top of your counter at room temperature. The bag helps to seal in some of the naturally occurring ripening volatiles to promote faster ripening. In some instances this process can be enhanced by including a ripe banana in the bag. Fruit should be harvested regularly throughout the harvest season.