Kathy

In my experience they get a yellow tinge and they give slightly to the touch.

You can also use it green for cooking or a salad.

Silvia

Here is a link that might be useful: ripe papaya

They turn yellow/orange when fully ripe, but you can pick them when they still have some green and let them ripen indoors. If you leave them to ripen on the plant, the local critters will get them first.

Mine is the dwarf Red lady, do you know the size of the fruit when ripe? I have seen football sized fruit in the stores, but not a red lady. I don't know if it is close to being ripe or not. It is the size of a large orange now.

Thank you both for you info. :o)

Two of my neighbors grow Papaya and both of them get large yellow fruit. If yours is called "dwarf", you might have a mature fruit there.

No matter what size they are. when they start to turn yellowish and give a little when touched, they are ripe; The size relates to variety. When they are hard and green pick only if you are going to peal and grate for salad. Depending on variety they may turn another color I.E. redish but you will know, as they are like a ripe peach or avacodo, they are just a bit tender when pressed on.