GardenZeus Quick Tips: How to Harvest Tangerines
Learn how to harvest tangerines: avoid leaving behind valuable fruit through proper harvesting techniques and good cultural practices.
Tangerines can be harvested by using hand pruners and cutting the stem close to where it meets the fruit. Compared to other types of citrus fruits, tangerines require more caution when harvesting. Their loose skin makes it more likely for them to “plug,” or to have a portion of skin rip off the fruit and remain behind on the tree. This is not a problem for gardeners who plan to immediately eat the tangerine fruits; but fruits with open skin cannot store for long and will be much more prone to rotting. Tangerines are also a bit more delicate than normal sweet oranges, and can damage more easily during handling.
For fruits too high to reach, use appropriate, stable ladders or climbing gear. Injury is common when using stools, chairs, or other improvised supports for reaching upper fruits.
Pole fruit pickers may allow gardeners to harvest upper fruits from the ground, but they tend to tear fruit stems and may damage fruit trees; if you find yourself needing a fruit picker, consider reducing the canopy of your citrus to keep tangerine fruits closer to the ground.
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Other articles of interest:
GardenZeus Quick Tips: Harvesting Lemons
Getting Started With Citrus: Purchasing and Placing Your Citrus Trees