I leave them alone till you pick the fruit, I let them sit till they are close to a foot before I pick them Then just treat them like any Brom.

The mother plant will survive for quite some time. I have one that I just let the pups go and I got fruit this year so 2 years from the first fruit she is still alive although looking pretty ragged .....

Thank you. I had one last year that didn't fruit but just kind of quickly died in its spot after growing to a nice size with no sign as to why. I had figured that maybe it had reached it's end and died off, but it never pupped, so I was unsure of what to expect with this one. I have read what to look for in harvesting this fruit, but I fully expect that some critter will notice before I do as they are so often reported as doing.

The best way to tell if its ripe is when the raccoons start taking bites out of them..... I wait till they start smelling sweet then pick , I have a few that are getting close......

I haven't seen signs of racoons in my area. Foxes, armadillos, rabbits, rats and squirrels, but no racoons yet. Still, I wouldn't put it past the squirrels to try. I have less to fear of the rats and rabbits since a fox took up residence under my house. I have seen his paw marks at both den entrances and signs of him rooting through the mulch, but nothing destructive.

yes and watch for the squirrels too! They always chewed out the ripe spots on mine.