- Determine the skin colour and fruit size of the plums in the optimum flesh firmness range. Use the skin colour and size of the plums in the optimum flesh firmness range as a guide on which plums to harvest. Harvest can commence if the TSS and skin colour conforms to the minimum standard.
- It may be necessary to harvest each orchard more than once depending on the maturity variation on the trees.
- Maturity permitting, do not harvest in extreme heat (>30°C). Attempt to harvest in the cooler parts of the day.
- Do not harvest when the fruit is wet. Fruit can be harvested as soon as it is dry. However, if there was more than 10 mm of rain, delaying the harvest for 2 to 3 days will have a positive effect on fruit quality. This will be maturity dependant.
- Note that after cold spells and/or rain fruit ripening will be accelerated and it should be harvested as soon as possible.
Plum
PL2 - Harvesting