Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Seed pod question, 1 by Kell

Kell wrote:
LOL Ginger! I have even cut a hole and left it open. I am a lazy gardener. Do you know how long they have been on? Many ripened around 4 months I notice but can take longer or even less time.

Do not worry, you can let them get real ripe to where it is real obvious they are ripe and it won't hurt anything. Once they start to ripen they go fast too. So just keep watching them and you will know for sure soon enough even if you miss the first signs.

Sometimes the peduncle (the little stem connects them to the branch) gets yellow as a first sign. Or the pod starts to feel squishy and the seeds move when you squeeze them. Often a side will split open and the pod can even still be green. Or a spot on it gets yellow and that yellow spreads. The outside can start to rot and then it will turn brown and dry and if you leave it on it starts to mummify and shrink up. I have even picked some then and the seeds still germinate.

Pictures help.