Prepare the Tree Canopy

Shaping the Tree for Mechanical vs. Hand Harvest

For canopy contact harvesters making the fruit more accessible to the harvester head by training the tree into a hedgerow, presenting a flat fruiting wall to the harvester, will increase harvester efficiency.

See our Photo Gallery 2008 -> 2008 Pruning Trees for a series of photos of experimental hedging and skirting of trees, in preparation for mechanical olive harvest.

The tree on the left is shaped for mechanical harvest

Pruning Mature Trees for Mechanical Harvest

Canopy Dimensions for a Mature Orchard, Pruned for Mechanical Harvest.

The ideal orchard for mechanical harvest would produce a flat fruiting wall to the harvester.

A block of mature "Manzanillo" trees at Rocky Hill Ranch, Tulare Co., was mechanically hedged and skirted, in preparation for experimental mechanical harvest. The objective is to determine if this practice enhances fruit removal efficiency and final fruit recovery. Evaluation includes fruit quality and yield data.

Planting & Training an Orchard for Mechanical Harvest

Canopy Dimensions for a Hedgerow Orchard. Nickels Estate, Colusa Co.

A hedgerow "Manzanillo" orchard was planted in 2001 at Nickels Soils Laboratory in Colusa County. The ongoing evaluation of the planting will determine the effect of training trees for mechanical harvest on yield and fruit value. The four training treatments are: 1) conventional, 2) free standing espalier, 3) espalier woven through a trellis, and 4) espalier clipped to a trellis, all spaced at 12 X 18 feet, 202 trees to the acre. Evaluations for fruit quality and yield will be continued until the mature yields plateau.