What are the key points to note during the bayberry harvest period? Growers need to master the latest essentials
Bayberries should be picked after they ripen, at about 70 to 80 percent maturity. Picked at this stage, the fruit has already reached maturity and can also be stored for a period of time. If picked when overripe, it spoils easily and does not keep well, but if picked too early, physiological after-ripening is not enough to complete maturation and the taste is poor. So today let's talk about the things to note when picking bayberries.
1. Harvest at the right time
Once the harvest period arrives, do not pick immediately. First check whether the fruit color has already turned to a dark black with red. Generally, when the fruit turns red and then ever more dark black, feel it to see whether it has reached a ripe softness, no longer hard, with tender flesh but not leaking juice, that is the best harvest time. But if you are picking it for your own consumption, or for direct sale through orchard picking, you can wait until it is fully ripe before harvesting.
2. Picking time
Once the harvest maturity stage is determined, then observe the ripening state of the fruit to decide the specific harvest time. Generally, bayberries should be harvested on an overcast morning with no wind or rain. This way there is no dew, less water evaporation, and freshness can be maintained to the greatest extent. If picked without rain or dew, rot can be avoided, making storage and transport easier. When picking, handle gently and set down gently to avoid damage, which leads to easy rotting. When picking, pay attention to simply distinguishing quality and packing separately. Use special branch shears for picking, leave 1 cm of fruit stalk before cutting, and carry a small basket with you to hold the fruit. For long-distance transport, pack them as soon as possible.
3. Carry out storage
After picking, first remove leaves and impurities from the fruit, then sort and pack by size and maturity. Fruit at 70 to 80 percent maturity should be selected for storage. First line the basket with a layer of clean ice cubes, then place a layer of bayberries, then add fine ice cubes and another layer of bayberries, generally three layers, not too many, or they will be crushed and damaged. Then they can be placed in a cellar, but the container must be cleaned, dried in the sun, and then used.
4. Post-harvest management,
After harvesting, pruning should be carried out. Old leaves, old branches, dead branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and dense branches should all be checked and pruned. In addition, old trees should be cut back for rejuvenation, done part by part, and some roots should also be cut to stimulate new roots. Also, for normally fruiting trees, post-harvest supplementary fertilizing should be carried out. Fruiting consumes a large amount of the tree's accumulated nutrients, so nitrogen fertilizer should be applied promptly to prepare for new shoot growth the following year, and then phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be applied to increase root vitality and prevent cold and frost damage.
The above are the things you need to do during the bayberry ripening and harvest period. These are the key points to note during the bayberry harvest period. When picking, pay attention to these work points, follow the procedure, and then apply them flexibly in the details according to your own situation.