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Avocado: Avocados ripen off the tree, not on it. Harvest when full-sized and skin darkens (Hass: dark green to black). Test by removing the stem button — green underneath means not ready, yellow-green means close, brown means overripe. Ripen at room temperature for 3–7 days.

Common mango: Fragrant at the stem end; yields to gentle pressure. Colour varies by variety. Ripe when fragrant and slightly soft throughout.

Lemon (Citrus): Uniformly yellow skin; heavy for its size. Can stay on the tree for months once yellow. Scratch the skin — a strong lemon scent confirms ripeness.

Pomegranate: Skin turns from pale orange to deep red; fruit becomes angular and the blossom end flattens slightly as arils expand. Tap the skin — a ripe pomegranate sounds metallic. Heavy for its size. A slight crack at the shoulder is fine. Do not wait for it to fall.