Fruit bagging is a physical process of covering the developing fruits with any material. This is a very importance step to protect the fruit from any insect pests & improve the fruit quality. Bagging not only improves the visual quality of fruit by promoting skin colouration and reducing blemishes, but can also change the micro-environment for fruit development, which can have several beneficial effects on internal fruit quality.

Importance of fruit bagging

• Helps to protect the fruit from pest damage specially Fruit flies
• Helps to protect the fruit from harsh sunlight thereby avoid sun scald & fruit splitting
• Protects the fruits from non-insect pests like birds, pigeons, rats, monkeys & squirrels
• Helps to improve the quality of fruit with respect to colour, size, texture & taste
• Helps to protect fruits from mechanical injuries like blemishes, scars, fungal spots etc

Vegetables & fruits that can be bagged

Vegetables– Cucumber, Bottle gourd, Ridge gourd, Snake gourd, Sponge gourd, Bitter gourd, Ash gourd, Musk melon, Sambar cucumber, Water melon

Fruits– Pomegranate, Grapes, Guava, Papaya, Pummelo, Banana

Fruit bagging materials

There are many materials that can be used for bagging but need to decide depending on the season & your preference

• Cloth bags– Very helpful specially during summer season & can be washed & reused. Non-woven fabric bags are most commonly used one’s
• News papers– This is a temporary bag that can be made from waste news paper specially used for pomegranate & grapes in large quantity
• Plastic cover– Transparent covers that is used to pack groceries can be used. Do not use black covers as it absorbs sunlight & cause sun scald & fruit discolouration

NOTE: Fruit bagging should be done once the pollination is confirmed & fruit starts developing and reach at least 3-4 inch length

Procedure for fruit bagging

1.Take a plastic cover (can take any mentioned materials)

2.Fold them and give a V- shape cut by using scissor

3.You will observe a small opening

4.Insert the fruit from the bottom

5.Close them until the entire fruit covers

6.Pin them to avoid breakage

7.Leave the lower surface open

8.Finally, the bagged fruits look like this