The Siberian plants having been picked by the rooks all that is left is the German plants.
With no facility to make product to sell that has been certified by the Environmental Health this year is focused on product design.
Having started on August 18th there are some observations worth making.
There are not as many berries as last year but they are much bigger this year than last. Average 50 berry weight is 28g., with a size between 8 and 10mm wide and 10/12mm long. This being for Habego.
They are mostly ripe, but it is the berries in the middle and bottom of the plants that are most forward. Some plants are being half picked and the remainder will be taken next week.
Picking is still with last year’s stainless steel tongs. Branches are first striped with the tong and then because of the size of the berries the picking is finished with a hand pick to clear the fruit around the end of the branches.
I am taking the Askola and leikora after this first picking of habego as these seem to be further behind the habego. Hergo – the berries are smaller but have a good taste and will be taken next week.
Picking starts now at 10am and goes through until 2pm, after which the berries are spread on mesh trays and leaves picked out; then put into a mesh screener and shaken to remove the small bits of leaf and small and broken berry. A wash through and shake to dry and then frozen.
All very cottage industry, but at least it is a real harvest of sorts. It certainly would not pay to have hired in help – but with all the family picking everyone gets to have a say on how we can do things better.
The weather is not helping and afternoons have been hit with rain showers, but the forecast is not bad so I hope that picking will be over by the end of next week.
