In general, the unbranched varieties mature earlier. The crop must be harvested before the first killing frost to obtain high quality seeds. At maturity, leaves and stems tend to change from green to yellow to red in color. The leaves will begin to fall off the plants. The shattering and nonshattering types require different harvesting techniques.
Caution is recommended to minimize seed damage and loss.
Shattering sesame varieties are usually swathed green and placed upright in small shocks, about 8 bundles per shock. Tighten the strings on the shocks in 2 or 3 days. In 2 weeks the crop will be ready to thresh. Light rains during this time will not seriously damage seed. Nonshattering types can be combined directly at low cylinder speed.