Even though fruit will grow on a tree long before it is ready to eat, you must wait for it to ripen before it can be picked and consumed.

If you want to somewhat accelerate the growth process of fruit, you can have it ripen a little faster by storing them at room temperature for a few days.

Some pinecones do not fully ripen until their second year of growth, so they stay closed on their trees for a long time.

Some fruits will ripen faster in certain climates, and this is especially true of citrus, which grows faster in the southern hemisphere.

If you allow a tomato to ripen on the ground instead of in suspension, they will grow to have an earthy flavor that few people tend to desire.