Harvesting

Standard sweet cherries produce fruit in 4 to 7 years after being transplanted into the garden. Dwarf varieties may produce fruit as early as 2 years after transplanting. The

tops of grafted trees are already 1 to 2 years old, while the roots maybe 2 to 4 years old. Harvest Dwarf cherries when they are fully ripe. Sour cherries are also known as pie cherries. Sour cherries producing fruit within 3 to 5 years after being transplanted in the garden. Dwarf varieties may produce fruit in 1 to 2 years.

Determining the right harvesting time is crucial in cherry fruit cultivation. The yield and quality of fruits are highly affected by stage of maturity at fruits are harvested. Color and taste are the best method to pick the fruits in right time.

After planting, it takes 4 months to come to peak flowering. One can expect 10 to 10 flowers per plant in commercial carnation cultivation. However, yield may depend on many factors such as variety, soil type, plant age, and other cultivation practices. Picking of carnations should be carried 2 to 3 times a week with a long stem and pocked in a bunch.

Depending on the variety, this crop comes to maturity in 3 to 5 months. Harvesting can be started when the leaves, stems and capsules begin to turn yellow and the lower leaves of the plant start shedding. Don’t wait until the crop becomes dead ripe which will cause the shedding of seed. The ripe sesame plants should be cut at the ground level and should be stacked for 7 to 10 days in sun to make them ready for threshing.

Depending upon variety use, the marigold will be ready to harvest in 2 to 2.5 months. French Marigold flowers ready for harvesting in 1.5 months whereas 2 months required for African marigold. Plucked marigold plants when they attain full size. Harvesting must be done either in the morning or in the evening hours. The field must be irrigated before plucking of flowers; it will help to maintain quality for a longer period.

Loose flowers are plucked when attaining full size depending upon the plant variety. Flowers must be harvested in the morning hours. Irrigation before plucking gives better Marigold flower quality. Plucking of Marigold flowers regularly and removal of dried flowers enhance the yield. For Garland stalkless fully opened flowers or loose flowers are picked, white for vase decoration also fully opened flowers with stalk are plucked. Loose Marigold flowers are packed in a bamboo basket, while flowers with stalk are bunched in bundles and transported to the market.

When the Peppermint crop is in full bloom during vegetative maturity, optimum oil can be obtained from it. The oil yield is affected because of environmental conditions, crop variety, weather, water, and the nutrients present in soil. Harvesting includes cutting of mint and then it is allowed to dry for 24 hours. Cured mint is then transported to the distillery where it is distilled for maximum oil production.

The vanilla beans obtain a full size in six weeks after pollination and take 8 to 11 months for reaching maturity. The plants are ready to harvest between 6 and 9 months after flowering when the parts are dark green and the tip begins to turn yellow. The beans should be harvested when the distal end turns pale yellow in colour.

Noni fruit can be harvested when they start to turn white or when they turn soft, translucent and characteristically odorous this indicated that the fruit is fully ripened. Harvesting period of about 3 to 4 years and the regular yield will be from 5th year onwards.