Abstract: A harvester (20) is provided. The harvester includes a frame (22) having selectively positionable wheels, a plant transport apparatus (24) disposed on the frame, and a seedling conveyor (26) positioned adjacent the plant transport apparatus and positioned to transfer seedlings along a conveyor axis that extends between the plant transport apparatus and a storage bin. The harvester also includes a root soil remover (28) positioned adjacent the seedling conveyor. The root soil remover includes a plurality of flexible probes selectively positioned during operation of the harvester such that at least one of the plurality of flexible probes is in functional contact with a root end of a seedling being transported by the seedling conveyor, wherein motion of the root soil remover is initiated by at least a portion of the seedling passing through the plurality of flexible probes.