Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
When Is a Pluot Ripe?
When Is a Pluot Ripe?. If you can imagine a fruit that has the texture and appearance of a plum but with the sweetness of an apricot then you're thinking about pluot, a hybrid fruit that is about three-quarters plum and on- quarter apricot. Pluots were created by geneticist Floyd Zaiger, who blended the best qualities of each fruit to create a...
If you can imagine a fruit that has the texture and appearance of a plum but with the sweetness of an apricot then you're thinking about pluot, a hybrid fruit that is about three-quarters plum and on- quarter apricot. Pluots were created by geneticist Floyd Zaiger, who blended the best qualities of each fruit to create a smooth, firm-skinned fruit with a higher sugar content than plums or apricots alone.
Taste and Smell
Ripe pluots taste like plums but are less acidic, thanks to their apricot parent. They also have a noticeable fragrance when ripened. Depending on the variety, the level of a pluot's sweetness can vary, but typically a ripe pluot has a high sugar content and therefore tastes significantly sweeter than a plum or an apricot.
Color and Size
Pluots come in a range of colors depending on the variety and may be black, crimson, green, plum or yellow. Ripe pluots may have dappled or streaked skins that vary in color as well. The flesh also ranges from white or yellow to reddish pink. For example, when ripe, Candy Stripe pluots are medium-sized, and will have pinkish yellow striped skin which gives them the name. Cherry pluots are small with red skin and white flesh, while a Dapple Dandy is larger with pale greenish-yellow skin that is spotted, or dappled. The flesh of a Dapple Dandy is pink to red in color. Although you may find pluots from May through September, each variety has a relatively short season, so depending on the time of the year you might find more of one color than another. As long as the color is rich and vibrant, then the pluot is usually ready to eat.
Texture
A firm, plump pluot is typically ripe enough to eat. When you press on the stem end, the fruit should give slightly. However, pluots are fragile when ripe, so don't press too hard when checking for ripeness or they will bruise. The flesh of a ripe pluot is also juicy and sweet, similar to that of a plum. If you bite into a pluot that is not soft and juicy, it is not ripe. If the texture of the pluot is mushy and soft when you pick it up, it may be too ripe.
Storage
If you've purchased pluots that aren't quite ripe, store them in a paper bag at room temperature and check them daily. They'll ripen after a few days in the bag. Do not stack them in the bag or they may bruise. Ripe pluots are ready to eat and will keep for a few days if stored in the refrigerator.
