They usually turn yellow-ish and drop off when ripe. If the frost hits them before they are ripe, they may not drop off, but just hang on the dead vines. Possums or raccoons usually eat mine just before they are ripe, so I put small draw-string cotton bags over them for protection and to catch them when they drop.

Thanks, Kiwinut. They are all still green and feel light but hopefully they will ripen bfore frost -- there are a few weeks left at least.

Last year there wasn't enough time and I was so bummed!

:-) Mel

I was wondering the same thing about when my P Capsularis.

The fruit are not round, they look a little like okra (for lack of a better description).

Today I found out how to tell if they are ripe, they explode open (spilling and dropping seed).

~Chills