The kinds of avocados that are commonly grown in Florida can ripen as early as late May (such as ‘Donnie’) to as late as early March (such as ‘Brookslate’). Avocado fruits do not ripen on the tree but will ripen to eating quality if picked after the fruit is mature. In general, avocado varieties may be harvested anytime during their season of maturity. (See the table of avocado varieties in this fact sheet: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg213  ) Use this as your guide as to when picking your fruit may begin. However, slight year-to-year variations occur in when maturity begins. The easiest way to determine if your avocados are ready to harvest is to harvest one large fruit and place it on your kitchen counter top. A mature fruit ripens in 3 to 8 days after it is picked. If the fruit does not ripen properly (e.g., shrivels, becomes rubbery or exhibits stem end rot), select another fruit (larger fruit are generally more mature than smaller fruit at the beginning of the season) and repeat the test.

Mango fruits will ripen on the tree, but, are usually picked when firm and mature (See the table of varieties in this fact sheet: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg216  ). The table may be used as a guide to when picking your fruit may begin. However, slight year-to-year variations occur in when maturity begins. The crop is considered mature when the shoulders and the nose (the end of the fruit away from the stem) of the fruit broaden (fill out). Varieties that have color when ripe may have a slight blush of color development, or they may have begun to change color from green to yellow. Prior to this peel color break, the fruit is considered mature when the flesh near the seed changes color from white to yellow. Generally, mature fruit are available from May to September in Florida.

The fruit from mango trees do not all have to be harvested at the same time. This feature allows you to leave the fruit on the tree and pick fruit only when you want to eat it. It takes several days or more (depending upon how mature the fruit is) for the fruit to ripen once it is picked. As the season of harvest for any given variety passes, the fruit continue to mature (and later ripen) and there is an increased chance the fruit will begin to fall from the tree.