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Once you have put in the hard work required to grow your fruit and vegetables, it’s time to reap the rewards. But if your garden is loaded with produce, this can be a challenge. Sometimes, the harvesting process can be time-consuming.
The good news is this doesn’t have to be the case. Using the right tools will help you speed up this process. Keep reading to learn the best harvesting garden tool for you.
Garden Shears
Let’s start with one of the most straightforward harvesting tools you have at your disposal. Garden shears are the ideal choice when pruning back overgrown branches. They can also help cut the stems of flowers. This will allow you to get them to be a uniform height, so they will be easy to arrange.
Another type of plant that can be harvested using garden shears is herbs. It will be easy for you to control the amount that you need to make your meal.
There are plenty of shears for you to choose from. You need to find one that fits comfortably in your hands. It’s also important to choose something that comes with stainless steel blades. This ensures that they will last for a long time.
Sickle
The next thing that you might want to consider using is a sickle. This features a curved blade, which makes it easier to yield than a knife. There are a few circumstances in which this tool can be helpful. It can be good for maintaining your garden. It’s a good way of removing weeds.
When it comes time to harvest, it will be good to use for leaves and branches. You’ll be able to get large bunches at a time. It will be strong enough to cut through their stems with ease. Though if you only have a more miniature garden, you will be able to get away with garden shears.
Digging Fork
If you have vegetables in your yard, you will benefit from the use of a digging fork. This is especially useful when you are harvesting vegetables like potatoes and garlic. It will allow you to break up the soil, so it’s easier to remove them. But, like many other tools on this list, this isn’t the only way you can use a digging fork. It can also come in useful for:
- Removing weeds by the roots, stopping them from germinating again.
- Turning over the soil, to retain soil nutrients.
- Tending to compost piles
Handheld Trowel
If you have a more miniature garden, you might be better off using a handheld trowel rather than a digging fork. It will be easier to operate. You need to dig between the vegetables. This will loosen the soil and should allow you to pull them out with ease. However, you can also use a flat-tined fork to lift them.
Berry Picker
If you are trying to pick berries by hand, it will be a physically intensive process. Thankfully, there are berry pickers to make it fast and effective. These look like a plastic bucket, with wire tines along one side. In this case, you will need to run the wire tines along the side of the berry bush. This video
shows you how to use it.
The berries should come off the bush. The wires should separate the berries from the branches. Once this is done, the berries will fall into the basket. Then, all you need to do is periodically empty the bucket into a bag. It might take a few combs to get all of the bush’s berries, but it will be a lot more efficient than trying to do it by hand.
Fruit Harvesting Blade
If you have a fruit tree, you need to find a way of removing the fruit efficiently. The alternative is to spend a day climbing up and down a ladder with a sharp knife. Thankfully, there is a fruit harvesting blade.
In this case, you will be able to attach the blade to a metal pole. You can lift this from the ground. Then, you need to push the blade against the stem, cutting it. These devices will come with a way of catching the fruit. This might be a metal cage or a net. This video shows you how to use it.
There are multiple types of fruit harvesting blades for you to choose from. It’s best to think about the practicalities of using it. Try to pick sometimes with a large catching device. It’s also important to consider how you will store the device when you aren’t using it. For example, you might want to choose something that comes with a telescoping pole.
Harvesting Basket
When you are doing your harvest, you need something to store all your fruits and vegetables in. The way that you are doing this will often depend on the type of product you are harvesting. Some of the options that you can explore:
- A basket. This is one of the most common options. It’s best suited to use in a small garden. It’s suited to the widest range of fruits and vegetables. You’ll be able to hold something small like berries as well as delicate things like flowers and herbs.
- A net bag. On the other hand, if you are dealing with larger items, like apples and oranges, it might be a good idea to use a net bag.
- A Ziploc bag. If you are dealing with lighter items, like herbs, you don’t want them to get blown away by the wind. Putting them in a Ziploc bag will prevent this. Or you can put them into a plastic container. This will stop them from getting crushed by heavier items.
Wheelbarrow
If you have a smaller garden, you might be able to get away with using a harvesting basket. But if you are dealing with a lot of produce, it will often be better to use a wheelbarrow. It will allow you to transport lots of fruits and vegetables at the same time.
There are a few types of wheelbarrows that you can use. Usually, though, it will be best for you to use one that has four wheels. This will be more stable. This is best if you are going over uneven terrain. It’s also a good idea to look for something that has a quick-release function. This will help you when you are moving things like mulch around the garden.
Flat-Tined Forks
Digging forks might help loosen root structures, but you’ll need to be careful when using them. You don’t want to slice up your fruits or vegetables accidentally. Because of this, you should use a flat-tined fork. This will allow you to get under the vegetables. Then, you will be able to lift them up and out of the dirt. Any excess dirt will fall out from between the tines.
Strainers
Once you have picked your fruits and vegetables, you’ll need to remove the dirt. This is where the strainer comes in. This is a mesh basket. You put the vegetables inside and run the hose over them. Or you can dunk them into a sink filled with water. This will clean off any excess dirt.
Then, leave them to dry before you bring them into your kitchen. Make sure to leave them in a place that has good airflow and a warm environment. If you aren’t going to use it right away, you will need to ensure that you are storing your fruit and vegetables properly.
Final Thoughts
If you have a large garden, the thought of harvesting your fruits can breed nervousness. After all, it is one of the most time-intensive parts of the year. The good news is that this doesn’t have the be the case. As long as you use the right tools, harvesting will be a breeze. This will leave you more time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.