Mango madness: our guide to picking your fruits

The best time of year, mango season, is upon us and for many that means picking your fruits before the wildlife and wind ruin everything.

If you are like us, it also means having to remember everyone you promised mangoes to for their assistance throughout the year for various issues, including running out of fuel between Port Hedland and Roebourne.

Mangoes should ideally be picked when the green colour starts to fade, replaced by a red/yellow blush.

The longer you leave them the more flavoursome they will get but be warned, corellas can strip a whole tree of ripe fruit in a few hours. Once picked, you should avoid letting the sap run over the mango as it can turn the skin black.

They can be ripened off the tree by wrapping in paper and leaving on the kitchen counter.

Pilbara News guide to mango picking:•Place bean bags or spare beds beneath the mango tree.

•Gaffer tape a tent peg to the top of a 12 foot fishing rod.

•Hook mangoes with tent peg on the stem just above the fruit and pull towards bean bags/beds. Please watch head. Yours and the dog’s.

•Wrap mangoes in your free weekly mango wrapping paper, also known as the Pilbara News.

•Store at room temperature in a dry place and leave wrapped until ripe.