Whether a first time gardener or a seasoned veteran – there is nothing that compares to harvest time!
All of the hard work of digging, planting and watering has finally paid off. The tomatoes and cucumbers are finally ripening on the vines – the peppers are growing large and firm, and new zucchini, peas and beans are showing up every day.
However, as simple and easy as harvesting sounds – there are a few tricks of the trade that can really help you get the most out of your garden when it comes time to pick those veggies.
When and how you pick not only can make a huge difference when it comes to the freshness and taste of your garden produce – but they can also help that bountiful harvest going deep into the growing season.
1. Make going to your garden a daily habit
Daily trips to your garden are a must during harvest time. Grab that harvest basket and walk the rows each and every day to get a feel for what is happening. This time of year – things can change quickly! That tiny cucumber or half-ripe tomato can go from just right – to just rotten – in just a few days!
With that said – here are a few more tips and tricks to get the most from your garden when harvesting:
2. Harvesting at the right time.
Almost all vegetables are best harvested in the cool morning hours so that the crops are as crisp and stress-free as possible. The fruits and vegetables on your vines and plants are under the maximum stress at mid day. Because of that, they give up much of their moisture and crispness. Picking in the early morning means that your veggies are at their peak of flavor, freshness and moisture content.
If the early morning just isn’t possible – then try picking late in the evening when the plants have begun to recover.
3. Tread carefully and watch your step.
Be sure when you are picking to watch where you step. Walking right near the root zone of plants can compress the soil and roots and make it hard for water, air and nutrients to work their way into the plant.
In addition, watch out for those sprawling vines of cucumbers, watermelons, etc. Stepping on the vines can limit future growth and production, and knock off blooms as well.
4. Remove damaged fruit and foliage.
Be sure as you are harvesting to pick off the fruit that shows obvious signs of damage. Not only will it most likely rot before ever ripening – the damaged fruit is also robbing valuable resources from other blooms and vegetables on the stalk. In addition – keeping the “bad apples” out of the bunch so to speak – can help keep disease and rot from spreading to other fruits and veggies.
5. The importance of regular harvesting – keep picking for peak production
One of the best ways to keep the veggie coming is to keep picking!
Harvesting early and often helps keep vegetable plants in reproduction mode longer. That in turn increases yields. Picking vegetables as soon as they are ripe often encourages the plant to produce more blooms and eventually more fruit.
This is not true for all crops (example – tomatoes of the “determinate” variety will bear for a few weeks and be done no matter what) But indeterminate varieties (many of the heirlooms) will keep on growing until frost – and keeping them picked will encourage the plants to keep producing.
The same can be said for those cucumbers, peas, peppers and zucchini – too much ripening fruit left on the vines can signal to the plant to stop producing new blooms and
The biggest harvesting sin gardeners commit is waiting until produce is too big or too old. This results in produce that is tough, bitter, or diseased. Check your vegetable garden daily and pick what you can when it’s small and tender. (Frequent harvesting also encourages more production.)
6. When is a veggie ready to be picked?
As for when to pick – most vegetables are at their peak of tenderness and flavor when they are on the smaller side – so be careful not to let them go another “few days” to hopefully get bigger.
It’s hard for some first-time gardeners to understand that most home-grown garden produce will not get as big and beautiful as what you see in your local grocery store. Of course, those are grown to be plump with chemicals, fertilizers and bug sprays to look good – not necessarily taste good!
What your garden veggies may lack in size will more than be made up in flavor!
Vegetables should be firm to the touch and showing some or most of their final color when ready to be picked. Enough of the reading now – get out and check on that garden! 🙂
Happy Gardening – Jim and Mary
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