Harvesting Coconut - Here Is How It Works

Coconuts are harvested from coconut tree at different times throughout the year. Each location has a different harvesting time and frequency. If you are on the west, harvesting takes place 6 to 12 times a year. If you have a garden that is well maintained, you can harvest once a month when the nuts are mature. On the other hand, if the soil is in poor condition, you will only be able to harvest about 6 times.

You should only harvest coconuts when they are fully mature. The only exception is for special markets where mature nuts aren't required. Usually, it takes a coconut about 12 months to become mature. And this happens only after the opening of the flower bunches. If a tree has regular and heavy bearings, the bunches will appear and mature in about thirty days. If this is the case you can pick them every month.

If there is a long interval between harvests, you can harvest two or three bunches at a time. You will find this most often on the West Coast. That is because on the West Coast green husks are in high demand.

Harvesting coconut with a knife attached to a long bamboo pole.

Usually the harvesting is done by climbing a tree with a rope ring around the feet or ankles. Once at the top of the tree, the coconut will be tapped to see if it is indeed mature. If the nut is mature, it will be cut at the base of the stalk. It will then drop down to the ground. If the ground is thought to be too hard, the coconuts will instead be lowered down with a rope. The climber is also responsible for cleaning the crown and removing any dry leaves, sheaths and spathes.
If you are located in an area where the trees are very tall, harvesting will be done with a knife attached to a long bamboo pole.