Tropical and subtropical fruits (2+1)

Harvesting, Yield and storage

Harvesting and yield

• Litchi is non-climacteric fruit and harvesting is to be done at full mature stage.
  
• The tree starts bearing from 3-4 years after planting with proper care and management under suitable environmental conditions and the economic life of the crop maybe over 100 years.
  
• It takes about 55-60 days from flowering to harvest.
  
• The fruits are harvested during May and June.
  
• The maturity indices are flatness of tubercles and smoothness of epicarp and colour development (Green-Pink).
  
• The whole bunch is harvested manually.
Yield: About 80-150 Kg of fruits/tree in Indian conditions.
Storage

• The fruits cannot be stored for more than 2-3 days under room temperature.
• It can be stored for 5 weeks at a temperature of 1.6-7.2⁰C in perforated polythene bags.
• Dipping of fruits in 250ppm ethrel improves the fruit colour.