Stonefruit harvesting tips?

[lawrocket 3]

My back yard has an apricot tree with hundreds of apricots ready to go. Problem is, I have no idea what the best way to harvest them is.

I thought about inviting neighbors and other folks to come get them for free, but then nixed that idea due to the premises liability of invitees. So I want to pick them and give them away (a goodwiil gesture to the neighborhood).

How to I harvest the apricots without killing myself? I've got some peaches that will also be ready in a couple of months, too, so hopefully those tips will work there, as well.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Nightingale 0]

well, um... we always just got a ladder and picked them off the tree.

[lawrocket 3]

I know. But the tree is spread all over, and, God, there may be thousands of apricots on it.

I wonder if I can sell them to a fruit stand or something...

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[skymama 37]

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but then nixed that idea due to the premises liability of invitees.

Yep, you're definitely a lawyer.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Nightingale 0]

you could probably donate them to a food bank or homeless kitchen.

[misskriss 0]

Maybe you could call a local farmers market and ask them. They might be willing to come get it themselves.

[lister55 0]

go rent a tree shaker. Thats how they get the pecans off those trees. Or better yet climb out on a limb and shake it yourself. But get video.

[freeflir29 0]

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then nixed that idea due to the premises liability of invitees.

What are you..........a lawyer that lives in California?

[flyangel2 2]

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but then nixed that idea due to the premises liability of invitees.

Yep, you're definitely a lawyer.

I thought the same thing.

Hey, just have all the folks sign a waiver before they come into the back yard. Rumor has it, you know how to write one of those up

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[lawrocket 3]

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Hey, just have all the folks sign a waiver before they come into the back yard. Rumor has it, you know how to write one of those up

Yeah, but people piss and snivel and moan about them.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Michele 1]

Well, Jer, if you wait until they fall down, they're ruined...and you've lost all the goodwill stuff you're trying to foster.

So get up on a ladder, wedge a box somewhere so you can plonk the apricots into it, and then go at it with the understanding that the clothes you're wearing now will get nasty and will need to be washed.

Or you can buy one of those basket fruit-picking things. I find them to be more trouble than they're worth, and it's far more fun to climb a tree than it is to wedge one of those suckers up there after a piece of fruit, and have all it's neighbors fall down because you were not as accurate with it as you thought you would be.

have fun!

Ciels-
Micehle

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[AirMail 0]

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Well, Jer, if you wait until they fall down, they're ruined...and you've lost all the goodwill stuff you're trying to foster.

So get up on a ladder, wedge a box somewhere so you can plonk the apricots into it, and then go at it with the understanding that the clothes you're wearing now will get nasty and will need to be washed.

Or you can buy one of those basket fruit-picking things. I find them to be more trouble than they're worth, and it's far more fun to climb a tree than it is to wedge one of those suckers up there after a piece of fruit, and have all it's neighbors fall down because you were not as accurate with it as you thought you would be.

have fun!

Ciels-
Micehle

It is more fun but don't step on any dead branches. I speak from experience, it hurts when you fall.

P-

--
It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
Postal Rodriguez, Muff 3342

[jumpinfarmer 0]

Don't bang the fruit up or it will bruse very easily. Find a nice clean pail and put a hook on the handle so you can hang it from the ladder rungs while picking.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Hire a hydro ladder/cherry picker type thing.

What you do with the crop once its gathered is up to you.

Have you ever heard of a rumtopf? What my mum does is make a rumtopf, and then, closer to christmas, snags any pieces of fruit from the rumtopf, and then dips them in chocolate as an added treat.
Mmmmm.

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He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson