Correct way of harvesting and storing mango fruits

The harvesting of mango fruits should be done very carefully. While plucking the fruits, our slight carelessness can spoil the fruits. By adopting the precautions given in this post, you can save mangoes from spoilage.

the right way to pluck fruit

• It is better to harvest the fruits in the morning.

• If the mango trees are small, pluck the fruits by hand.

• If the trees are big then use harvester to pluck the mango.

• Harvest mango fruits with stalks about 8 to 10 mm long.

• Mango should never be plucked by hitting it with a stick.

• This causes injuries to the common man. Injured mangoes rot and get spoiled.

• Along with this, keep in mind that the mango should not fall down while plucking the mango.

• It would be better if you tie a net under the tree before plucking the fruits. With this, even if the mango falls while plucking, then the mango will not get hurt.

Storage

• After plucking the fruits, wash them with cold water and dry them in a ventilated place with shade. This increases the storage capacity of the fruit.

• Fruits are packed in baskets as well as in boxes made of card board.

• Before packing mangoes, spread tree leaves, paddy straw, paper clippings etc. Only then put the fruit inside.

• Ripe mangoes can be stored at room temperature for about 4 to 8 days.

• There are 3 methods of storage - complete cooling, cooling and cold storage.

• Complete cooling: After plucking the fruits, keep them in cold water for half an hour. This will lower the temperature of the fruit and increase the storage period.

• Cooling: Spraying of 2% calcium nitrate solution on fruits before harvesting increases the storage capacity. Repeat this method 2 to 3 times at an interval of 7 days.

• Cold Storage : In this process the fruits can be stored for 3 to 4 weeks depending on their variety at a temperature of 7 to 9.5 °C. Do not keep raw fruits in this temperature for a long time , due to this the fruits do not ripen well.