ripening
Fruit reaching readiness
Ripening is the process by which fruit or other produce matures and becomes ready to eat.
Tomatoes continue ripening after being picked.
The word extends to any gradual development toward fullness or completion: the ripening of their friendship, a plan ripening in his mind.
Critical period of change
- ethyleneSimplest alkene, C₂H₄
- softeningBecoming less firm
- juicinessState of being moist
- aromaPleasant distinctive smell
flavor · sweetening · firmness · picking · pome · stonefruit · drupes · berries
Cutting crops for collection
- pickingAct of selecting
- yieldProduce or relinquish
- cropCultivated agricultural plants
- bountyReward for capture
autumn · orchard · vineyard · timing · readiness · peak · optimal · prime
Progress toward maturity
- growthIncrease in size
- progressionSequential forward movement
- maturingDeveloping toward completion
- blossomingBeginning to flower
flourishing · transformation · blooming · unfolding · flowering · emergence · cultivation · nurturing
Growing older over time
- rindTough outer covering
- moldForm-giving container
- caveUnderground hollow in rock
- curdsCoagulated milk solids
cultures · wheels · bloomy · washed-rind · cellar · turning · humidity · artisanal
Natural tissue coloring
- carotenoidsFat-soluble plant pigments
- chlorophyllLight-harvesting plant pigment
- yellowingBecoming pale gold-brown
- reddeningGrowing more crimson
blushing · golden · deepening · vibrancy · hue · tinting · coloration · fading
climacteric
Critical period of change
aroma · flavor · sweetening · firmness · picking · pome · stonefruit · drupes · berries · orchard
reaping
Cutting crops for collection
bounty · autumn · orchard · vineyard · timing · readiness · peak · optimal · prime · seasonal
development
Progress toward maturity
- growthIncrease in size
- progressionSequential forward movement
- maturingDeveloping toward completion
blossoming · flourishing · transformation · blooming · unfolding · flowering · emergence · cultivation · nurturing · fullness
aging
Growing older over time
curds · cultures · wheels · bloomy · washed-rind · cellar · turning · humidity · artisanal · wedge
pigmentation
Natural tissue coloring
- carotenoidsFat-soluble plant pigments
- chlorophyllLight-harvesting plant pigment
- yellowingBecoming pale gold-brown
reddening · blushing · golden · deepening · vibrancy · hue · tinting · coloration · fading · browning
- gardening termsgrowing, blooming, wilting, pruning, grafting
- plant growthbloom, bud, buds, flower, fruit
- Seasonal Changesbloom, thaw, freeze, leafing, budding
- fruit growingfruit trees, harvesting, pruning, grafting, fruit picking
- plant biologyphotosynthesis, chloroplast, pollination, stamen, pistil
- rice farmingpaddy field, rice paddy, paddies, flooded field, rice cultivation
ripeningdecaying
Undergoing organic breakdown
rotting · spoiling · decomposing · withering · decay
ripeninggreening
Environmental improvement process
overripening · going bad · perishing · decay · spoilage
ripeningdeclining
Decreasing in strength
regressing · degenerating · devolving · worsening · atrophying
- fruit ripeningProduce reaching peak edibility
- Ostwald ripeningDissolution feeding larger crystals
- ripening processHow fruit reaches readiness