If they are starting to soften they aren't going to change color. Leave some on the tree and see if they improve by actually fully ripening on the tree. Usually if they start to give in to touch they are about as sweet as they will be.

When they "give" at the blossom end is the best bet if you're unsure.

I sold some peaches this year, and as such, they can't be picked by feel, but must be picked by sight. Pressure on a ripe peach will produce a bruise which is a negative when selling. However, there are some tale tell signs when picking by sight, for most varieties.

- The biggest thing is that the background color will change from green to yellowish. Once I see the change, I give a day or two and start picking. They may be a slightly firm for fresh eating, but waiting till they are completely tree ripe often produces peaches that are difficult to pick without bruising. I may draw some disagreement for this, but setting fully "firm ripe" peaches on the counter for a couple days produces just as good quality, as a peach left on the tree. I think most new home growers leave the peach on the tree too long.

- If you see some yellow background peaches start to drop, that's a strong sign, you better start picking.

- If you do pick some a little early, leave them on the counter. Don't worry, they will sweeten up and have juice running down your arm.

- A peach that is ripe will develop a flat spot fairly quickly where it is sitting. If you grab a peach on the counter, and it has a flat spot, eat it.

- If a peach is on the tree and the stem end of the peach is swollen above the attached branch, that's a good sign it needs to be picked and probably eaten. If you pick it and the skin tears next to the branch, it definitely needs to be eaten.

I have been eating them. Just trying to taste them fully ripe. Here they go from a few days ago.

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I took Olpea's advice on my Reliance tree and learned this:

If I wait until the blossom end yields to slight pressure to pick, they are either fully ripe or one day on the table from being fully ripe. Also, if waiting to that point they are fragile and bruise extremely easily. It worked out very well to pick when they yielded to slight pressure on the blossom end, none had begun to rot on the tree and they were all delicious and slobbering juicy.

Michael