Lemon Tree Harvesting Information
Lemons are thought to have originated in India and grow in warm climate like that of the far southern and southwestern United States. Harvesting lemons can be tricky, because if left on the tree too late, the lemons rot quickly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Historical Harvest
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Previously, commercial growers harvested lemons between July and October for fresh consumption, and from October to November for processing into things like juice, according to Purdue University's Center for New Crops and Plant Products.
Current Practices
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Purdue University says the current practice for commercial lemon harvest involves picking the lemons based only on size and then sorting them based on ripeness to be sent out either for fresh use or to be processed.
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Size
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For home growers, lemons should be harvested when they reach about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, and before they turn fully yellow.
Color
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When lemons reach a size of 2 1/2 inches in diameter, they will be a light yellowish green color. If the lemons are turning yellow on the tree they should be harvested and used right away.
Harvesting
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To pick lemons form the tree, grab hold of the entire lemon and twist to remove. Pulling on the lemon can damage the branches of the tree. You can also use clippers to cut the lemons off the tree.
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References
- Photo Credit lemon tree image by Dennis Carrigan from Fotolia.com
