My castor spikes mature at different times. How do I pick them in rounds and dry the seed properly before selling?
How do I pick castor spikes in stages and dry the seed for selling (castor)?
MMangilal Choudhary5 महीने पहले · 230 व्यू
4 जवाब
🌾Farmer.in Krishi Teamविशेषज्ञ ✓5 महीने पहले
Castor sets spikes in successive flushes, so it is harvested in several pickings as each spike matures rather than all at once, with the first pickings from the main spike followed by the side branch spikes. Pick a spike when its capsules have dried and turned brown but before they shatter and drop seed. Dry the harvested spikes in the sun on a clean floor until the capsules split, then thresh, clean, and dry the seed to a safe low moisture before storage or sale. Keeping the seed dry preserves oil quality and avoids mould. Staggered picking does take more labour but reduces shattering loss. For safe storage moisture and grading expectations, check with your APMC mandi or local KVK.
BBheraram Choudhary5 महीने पहले
I pick the main spike first when its capsules go brown, then come back for the side branch spikes as they mature in the following rounds. Picking each spike at its own right time, before it shatters, saves the seed that would otherwise drop. It is more trips through the field but the seed saved is worth it.
PPoonamchand Vishnoi4 महीने पहले
Spreading the picked spikes thin on a clean floor in the sun lets the capsules split open on their own, then threshing is easy. If you heap them thick they do not dry evenly and can go mouldy in the middle. Thin drying then threshing gave me clean seed.
HHanuman Ram4 महीने पहले
Dry the threshed seed down properly before bagging, because castor stored even a bit damp loses oil quality and can mould, which the buyer notices. I keep it in a dry airy place off the floor until sale. Confirm the safe storage moisture and what grade the mandi expects before you sell.