How to Harvest Citrus Fruit

Get the maximum flavor out of your citrus crop by following these steps.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Polyethylene Bags
• Baskets
• Gardening Gloves
• Pruning Shears
• Plastic Bags
• Paper Grocery Bags
• Plastic bags

1. Grab a fruit with your hand.

2. Remove it from the tree with a quick snapping motion. If the rind tears, use pruning shears instead, cutting the fruit just above the stem.

3. Taste fruit to check ripeness. Flavor is the best judge of ripeness. Rind color alone is a poor indicator. Some brightly colored fruit may not be ripe. Some greenish fruit may taste great.

4. Harvest only what you will use. Fruit left on the tree will usually improve in quality.

5. Eat fruit as soon as possible, or store in the refrigerator for up to six weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a harvest basket with you when you pick citrus or use a paper bag or box.

• If the rind tears, eat the fruit immediately, or it will decay quickly.