Aonla fruits are ready to harvest during November-December. Maximum ascorbic acid content is observed in mature fruits, while immature fruits are acrid and low in ascorbic acid content and minerals. Fully developed fruits are harvested. Delayed harvesting results in heavy dropping of fruits particularly in Francis and Banarasi. It also adversely affects the following years bearing. Harvesting should be done in early or in late hours of the day. The method of harvesting is hand picking of individual fruits. Individual fruits are plucked by climbing on the tree with the help of pegged bamboo or ladder. A budded/grafted aonla tree starts bearing third year onwards after planting, whereas a seedlings tree may take 6-8 years. Vegetatively propagated plants attain full bearing within 10-12 years and may continue to bear for 60-75 years of age under well managed conditions.
When and how harvesting of Aolna is carried out?
