The objective of this work was to determine the optimum time for fruit harvest and the quality parameters of physic nuts (Jatropha curcas L) suitable for the production of biodiesel. This work was developed in the experimental station El Porvenir of Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria in Perú. The physical characteristics of the fruits and seeds and the chemical characteristics of the oil were evaluated. The fruits used were selected at the beginning of fruiting. The R2 maturation status lasted 29 ±1.8 hours, the state R3 12 ± 1.6 hours, the state R4 27 ± 1.7 hours and finally R5 24 ± 1.0 hours. Chemical analysis showed that the seeds of physic nuts contain 51.5% fat at the physiological state R4 while the highest acidity was found in the R6 with 1.3 mg KOH/g oil. The fruit of physic nuts can be harvested during the physiological states R3, R4 and R5 to have high oil content and low acidity.