HARVESTING BAGGED FRUITS
The bag may be carefully opened to check if the fruit inside is ripe. Bagging produces very high quality fruits at harvest. It is best suited to protect guavas, mangoes and carambolas.
Harvested guava after bagging for eight weeks Guava protected by bagging (left) compared to unprotected guava (right) (Photo L. Leblanc)
ALTERNATIVE BAGGING METHODS
Plastic bags may be used but are not ideal, because the inside gets hot and moisture favors fungus growth, though it is more suitable for large cucurbits.
Alternatively, bags made of natural leaves may be used. Leaves of Pandanus, betel nut tree, sago palm or swamp taro are recommended.
To protect bananas, the whole bunch may be bagged inside banana leaves, as frequently practiced in Papua New Guinea (See photos below).
Banana bunches bagged with banana leaves (Photos: L. Leblanc) Banana bunches bagged with rice bags (Photo: L. Leblanc)
Page updated on: 17 October, 2002