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How to Tell if Tangerines Are Ripe on a Tree
How to Tell if Tangerines Are Ripe on a Tree. Tangerines are a variety of mandarin orange. The tangerine is 2 ½ to 3 inches in diameter and its loose skin is simple to peel. The segments of flesh separate effortlessly and are less acidic than oranges. Tangerines have the nutritional value of oranges with a high content of vitamin C,...
Tangerines are a variety of mandarin orange. The tangerine is 2 ? to 3 inches in diameter and its loose skin is simple to peel. The segments of flesh separate effortlessly and are less acidic than oranges. Tangerines have the nutritional value of oranges with a high content of vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and B vitamins. California, Arizona, Texas and Florida are the largest growers of tangerines in the United States. Since tangerines do not ripen after picking and have a short storage life, it is necessary to pick them at the right time. Pick them as soon as they mature.
Begin checking the tangerines for ripeness several weeks in advance of the projected harvest time for the particular variety grown.
Check the color of the skin to detect any tinge of green. Pick tangerines with a deep orange-red color immediately. They are ripe at this stage and begin to deteriorate if left on the tree.
Heft the tangerines to determine if they have a heavy weight-to-size ratio. If the tangerines are fuller, firmer and weigh more than their size indicates, they are full of juice and ready to pick.
Inspect the tangerines for loose skin. If the skin is loose and mildly wrinkled it is mature. Make the decision to pick taking into account all other indicators of ripeness. If the skin is too loose it also indicates the tangerine is too ripe.
Peel a tangerine and taste it. The tangerine is mature and ready to pick if the fruit is sweet and juicy with a slight acidic flavor, the skin slips off without a problem and the segments of flesh within separate without effort.
Tips & Warnings
Store tangerines uncovered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks after picking.
Do not leave the fruit on the tree after maturation; it will shrivel up and dry out quickly.
Do not pick tangerines early; they do not continue to ripen after removal from the tree.
Be careful when removing the tangerine from the tree. If the stem pulls out of the tangerine it leaves a hole which will rot the fruit. Clipping the stem from the tree is safer.
