Ready to be picked

RIPE

Think of how a fruit might look or feel when it's at its peak for eating, just before it starts to soften. This word describes that perfect moment of maturity.

Ready to be picked" describes something that’s fully grown and at the perfect stage for harvesting, which is exactly what "ripe" means. The clue plays on the literal idea of fruit or crops being mature enough to gather, with no hidden wordplay or tricks—just a straightforward definition. If you think of a banana turning yellow or a tomato softening on the vine, that’s the image this clue is pointing toward.