How long do plums take to ripen

Just like nectarines and pears, plums complete their ripening cycle off the tree. This is why you will typically purchase them firm and allow them to sit at room temperature a few days to soften. Depending on the firmness at purchase, this can take up to four days. You can also use a paper bag to speed up the process plastic will not work if you are in a hurry.

Place the plums in the bag and loosely close it. As they ripen, the fruit gives off ethylene gas. The paper captures the gas, but also allows air to flow in and out of the bag. Color : Plums ripen to many colors depending on the variety — from almost black, purple or red, to pale green. It can be difficult to tell if a piece of fruit is ripe just by looking.

Taste : The best way to determine ripeness is to taste. A ripe plum will be very sweet, flavorful, and juicy. A less ripe plum will have no sweetness. An overripe plum will be very soft and squishy and splat on the ground.

Smell : Give your plums the smell test. A ripe plum should smell sweet and fruity. An unripe plum will have little to no smell. The easiest and safest way to pick plums is by hand from the ground.

Grasp a plum with your fingers and push UP on the stem; when ripe it will snap off the branch. You may need to grasp the plum with one hand and the branch with the other. Some plum varieties need to be pulled, some come off better when pushed up. Try both ways and choose the method that minimizes any damage to the fruit and doesn't pull the stem out of the fruit leaving an open hole. If they're still firm, larger round plums like Santa Rosa or Mariposa can be picked with a telescoping pole fruit picker with a metal basket.

To make your plums ripen indoors more quickly, keep the plums at temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees F. Usually, the darker the fruit is, the riper it is. Plums are rich in antioxidants , which has anti-inflammatory and memory improvement effects.

In studies, there was a measurable improvement in cognitive function upon consumption. Fresh fruit ripens quickly in a paper bag because the bag holds in a natural hormone that escapes from fruit as it ripens. Never use a plastic bag to ripen fruit because the plastic will trap the air around the fruit and the fruit will have an unpleasant taste.

Kathryn Hatter is a veteran home-school educator, as well as an accomplished gardener, quilter, crocheter, cook, decorator and digital graphics creator. As a regular contributor to Natural News, many of Hatter's Internet publications focus on natural health and parenting.

Hatter has also had publication on home improvement websites such as Redbeacon. Share this article.