The Backyard Fruit Grower

Harvesting fruit crops are extremely rewarding for you as well as your stomach. Each crop has a section on harvesting it specifically. Here is a list of general harvesting goals that should be understood: * Fruits are parrishable so they must be harvested once mature * Once harvested they must be refrigerated unless they will be eaten within 1-3 days * Certain crops can be harvested 3-5 days prior to maturity and stored in a cooler; others will never ripen properly * To maximize nutrition in fruits the more mature it becomes on the tree the greater the nutritional value Every grower harvests his fruits crops different. Every climate gives slightly different characteristics to watch for. However, all fruit with a stem should be twisted about 1/2 turn and pulled up against the formation of the stem. A finger held against the stem will help greatly but it is more important to learn which direction to pull the fruit. If the stem does not want to break away from the branch the fruit is not mature. On the other hand if the stem pulls out of the fruit normally it has reached and surpassed maturity. There is potential for the fruit to be soft and to have started the rotting process. In general it will still be alright to eat if you eat it immediatly! Fruits without stems like berries normally need to be taste tested to get a field for how loose they should be. Berry will not take much abuse from fingers testing to see how loose they are. Once the finger breaks the skil simply pick it and taste it so you understand how mature it was.