Harvesting crops from your very own trees is fulfilling and satisfying. There’s just something that feels right whenever you get fruits and vegetables from your own backyard — it’s as if these are the results of your own blood, sweat, and tears.
However, getting fruits and vegetables from tall trees is not a walk in the park. It can be confusing to think of ways to get the crops, especially if this is your first harvest. If you are a farm owner and you tend to work with numerous tall trees, then chances are you have already bought an orchard cherry picker for sale before. If not, then you are in luck as below, we will discuss a few things you should know when it comes to picking crops from tall trees:
Harvesting Small Crops
If you have trees that produce small crops such as nuts, cherries, and berries, then this tip would be amazing for you. Get a huge tarp and place it underneath the tree’s branches. Once the tarp is laid down, you can then shake the tree for a couple of times until most or all of the crops have fallen on the tarp.
This way, you would not have to pick the fruits or nuts one by one. Instead, you can just get the tarp, transfer the crops into a bag, and call it a day. Make sure to wear protective gear such a football or motorcycle helmet to prevent the fruits and nuts from directly hitting your head.
Use a Basket Picker
You can get a basket picker from your local hardware store or you can make it yourself. This usually consists of a long pole, a metal basket on one end, and metal fingers that are curved inwards.
Once you have made or bought the pole, you can then use it to pick heavier fruits such as apples and pears. Simply hold the basket underneath one fruit and push it upwards. The fruit will then get caught in the metal fingers towards the basket. Pull the fruit gently until its stem breaks off from the tree or the branch. You can do this for about three consecutive times before you have to empty the basket. Repeat the process until you have picked all of the fruits from the tree.
Using a Ladder
Of course, one of the most popular and easiest ways to get fruit from a tree is by getting a ladder and climbing it. You have to make sure that the ladder is sturdy enough to support your weight, though, and you should also have a sturdy tree that can support the ladder. Bring a bag with you before going up the ladder so you can easily pick a couple of fruits in one go.
Get an Orchard Fruit or Vegetable Picker
If you are serious about fruit and vegetable picking and you are planning on planting a lot of trees on a massive land, then it would be best for you to go and get an orchard picker instead. This machine will help you pick a lot of fruits all at once and with minimal effort. You can do it yourself or you can also hire someone else to do it for you, especially if you are managing a huge land.
Picking fruits and vegetables from tall trees is no joke, which is why you should never just “wing it.” This takes practice and patience, so if you are not sure you can do it, then ask a friend or family member to do it instead.