The heat continues throughout the state. Small fruits and peaches are being harvested in great quantities as disease and insect issues continue to develop in certain vegetable crops. See details below.
07.06.2024 - 18:35 / gardengatemagazine.com / Marisa Reyes
Handy Vegetable Harvesting Guide Not sure when is the best time to harvest different vegetables? Check out our handy guide to learn about the signs of ripeness (and overripeness!) to pick vegetables at their peak. Tips for harvesting vegetables
When I first started vegetable gardening, I was caught up in the process of seeing tiny seeds transform into flourishing plants. It was impossible not to feel a sense of wonder as I watched my garden produce a vibrant tapestry of fruit in shades of green, yellow and red. I waited eagerly for any sign of ripeness but sometimes harvested too early or too late, leading to less flavorful produce or, worse, waste. I wish I’d had a handy chart like the one below back then! Once you know how to recognize each crop’s subtle cues, you can pick at the perfect time to capture peak flavor and nutrition.
Learn how to pick produce at the best timeThe perfect harvest window varies plant by plant. For example, root vegetables like carrots can remain in place without going past peak ripeness for a lot longer than green beans, which you probably need to check every day or two. And if you’ve ever grown zucchini, you know this all too well. I swear, they can grow a foot overnight!
Learning the signs of ripenessHere, you’ll find the expected days to maturity if you’re starting from seeds, along with the telltale signs that indicate when your crop is under- or overripe. Whether you’re a beginner gardener wondering about the best time to harvest or an experienced one looking to refine your timing, this guide can help ensure that every vegetable you grow tastes its best. Happy harvesting!
Related Articles:
Calculate How Many Vegetables To Plant
Maximize Your Harvest with Succession Planting
Watch
The heat continues throughout the state. Small fruits and peaches are being harvested in great quantities as disease and insect issues continue to develop in certain vegetable crops. See details below.
Growing sweet potatoes in sacks and bags is a super easy and successful way to bring homegrown goodness to your table. From saving space to getting bigger tubers, this method is about to become your new favorite gardening trick. Let’s dig in!
It’s always tomato girl summer in my garden. I purposefully lean down and focus on what I grow in my spring garden beds to prepare and make room for the eight to 12 tomato plants that are a combination of favorites started from seed and new varieties picked up at the local farm’s heirloom tomato pop-up. It’s definitely taken me many years to perfect my gameplan, but over time I listened to my space and learned what worked best for me. I think that’s what is most important here: to understand that not every garden guide is a strict must-follow. Think of this as just a few new ideas or suggestions in the pursuit of full harvest baskets this summer. From seed starting in soil blocks to homemade trellising that will maximize your yield—I hope you feel inspired to try something new. Happy tomato growing my friends. Here’s to a bountiful season ahead!
Growing perennial vegetables can mean longer harvest periods, less maintenance once established, and even improved soil structure. But selecting the best ones for your grow zone and conditions is key.
After all that hard work, a bad harvest can spoil your mood. Not anymore, though; with these tips and tricks on pruning cucumbers for a juicy harvest, you’ll have plenty of these veggies, and that too, really good ones!
Collaborative post
Adapted from Rodale’s All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, pages 541-550, with permission from Rodale Institute
More hot, dry weather is in store for this week. Disease and insect pressure continue to increase as watermelon, small fruit, tomato, and peach harvest continues. See details below.
For the best cauliflower from your garden, it’s important to learn when to harvest cauliflower. This cool-weather brassica crop is joy to grow. Firm, often colorful cauliflower heads offset by large, green leaves—which are also edible—make a statement among your garden rows. Cauliflower growing in a container is also a pretty sight! Once the head starts forming, the countdown to the harvest begins. As you’ll learn in this article, cauliflower has similar growth habits, climate needs, and pest pressure as its brassica cousins, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale. The precise timing of when to harvest cauliflower is really what sets it apart from other garden vegetables. Why good timing matters While cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) is a brassica, it’s among the less hardy of th
Stay true to your vegan lifestyle with your own homegrown produce! This guide will teach you the basics of vegan gardening, using all-natural methods to get organic and delicious harvest. Let’s get our hands dirty!
When and How to Harvest Zucchini
Finally, a little rain fell around the state, though things remain fairly dry overall. Disease and insect pests are becoming more common as tomatoes, cucurbits, and sweet corn come to harvest. See details below.