Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): La fruta tarda en madurar cuando hace frío. - Fruit takes time to ripen when it is cold.

It means “to take (time) to do something.” The subject is the thing that takes time. So La fruta tarda en madurar = “The fruit takes time to ripen.” The general pattern is: tardar (+ amount of time) en + infinitive.

Why is it en and not a or para after tardar?

With tardar, Spanish requires en before an infinitive. Saying tardar a or tardar para with this meaning is not idiomatic. Use tardar en + infinitive: tarda en madurar, tardó en llegar, etc.

Can I use the reflexive form tardarse (e.g., La fruta se tarda en madurar)?

Yes, in much of Latin America you’ll hear the pronominal form tardarse in the same sense: La fruta se tarda en madurar. The non‑reflexive tardar is the safest, most neutral choice everywhere; tardarse sounds more colloquial/regionally Latin American.

Are there natural alternatives to tardar en?

Yes:

demorar(se) en: La fruta (se) demora en madurar.
llevar (time): La fruta lleva tiempo en madurar / en madurar bien.
tomar (time), usually with an indirect object: A la fruta le toma más tiempo madurar cuando hace frío. For broad, neutral style, tardar en or (se) demora en are very common.

Does the Spanish sentence mean “takes longer,” or just “takes time”?

As written (La fruta tarda en madurar...), it means “takes time.” To say “takes longer,” add más: La fruta tarda más en madurar cuando hace frío.

Why is it hace frío and not está frío or hay frío?

For weather, Spanish idiomatically uses hacer: hace frío, hace calor, hace viento.

está frío typically describes things/food being cold to the touch (or occasionally a place at a given moment).
hay frío is generally not used.
You may also hear está haciendo frío, which is acceptable, but hace frío is more standard and concise.

Could it be cuando haga frío instead of cuando hace frío?

Use the indicative (hace) for general truths/habitual situations: La fruta tarda (más) en madurar cuando hace frío.
Use the subjunctive (haga) when the time is future/unknown or in instructions: La fruta tardará más en madurar cuando haga frío. / Enciende la calefacción cuando haga frío.

Does La fruta refer to fruit in general or a specific fruit?

With the definite article, Spanish often uses the singular to talk about a whole category: La fruta = “fruit” (in general). Context determines whether it’s generic or specific; here, it’s generic.

What happens if I use the plural las frutas?

Then the verb must agree: Las frutas tardan (más) en madurar cuando hace frío. Both singular generic (La fruta tarda...) and plural generic (Las frutas tardan...) are fine.

Is madurar or madurarse better for fruit?

Standard, neutral Spanish uses intransitive madurar for fruit: La fruta madura. In many parts of Latin America, pronominal madurarse is also common: El aguacate se madura. Both are understood; madurar is the safest choice in formal or neutral contexts.

Why is it the infinitive madurar and not maduro or madurando?

After a preposition (en), Spanish requires the infinitive: tardar en + infinitive → tardar en madurar.

maduro/madura is an adjective (ripe).
madurando is a gerund and can’t follow en here.

Can I move the cuando clause to the front, and do I need a comma?

Yes: Cuando hace frío, la fruta tarda (más) en madurar. When the cuando clause comes first, a comma is customary. If it comes second, no comma is needed.

Why does frío have an accent on the í?

The accent marks a hiatus: frí‑o (two syllables) and puts the stress on í. Without the accent, the vowels would form a diphthong in writing conventions. So hace frío is spelled with an accent.

Could I use si hace frío instead of cuando hace frío?

cuando hace frío = whenever/when it’s cold (habitual/general condition).
si hace frío = if it’s cold (conditional/uncertain).
Choose based on nuance. In your sentence, cuando matches the general rule reading.

How do I add a specific time amount?

Insert the duration before en: La fruta tarda tres semanas en madurar. You can still keep the condition: La fruta tarda unas tres semanas en madurar cuando hace frío.

What’s the difference between fruta and fruto?

fruta: fruit you eat (apples, bananas, etc.).
fruto: botanical fruit or the result/product of something (figurative), though it can also mean fruit in a technical or formal sense. For everyday food talk, use fruta.