In the gardener’s year, if spring is for planting, then summer is the time for harvesting. You’ve put all the work in getting the garden started early; summer is the time to enjoy the bounty. Picking edibles at the right time for each type ensures you harvest at the peak of nutrition and flavor. It’s also essential to plan for immediate consumption or preservation. Here’s how to make the most of your summer harvest.
When to Harvest Vegetables
Timing is, after all, everything. Vegetables picked before their time may not be sweet enough, or the texture may be wrong. On the other hand, vegetables harvested too late can be tough or woody. Generally, pick veggies early and often to stimulate more growth and more fruit. Some vegetables, like peppers, taste better when left to mature on the vine. Others, like tomatoes and winter squash, continue to ripen after being picked.
Tips:
- Beans, beets, carrots, cucumbers, yellow squash, and zucchini: Pick young and tender.
- Peppers: Allow maturing for better flavor.
- Tomatoes and winter squash: Pick slightly under-ripe and store in a warm, dry place.
How to Harvest Vegetables
- Pick early in the day when it’s cool.
- Harvest close to preparation time if canning, pickling, or freezing to retain flavor and nutrients.
- Bring a basket and a garden knife or scissors with you to the garden.
- Water the soil before picking root vegetables to loosen the roots.
Corn
Signs of Readiness: Silks turn brown, kernels are filled out, and milky when broken. Harvesting Technique: Twist the cob while pulling down to break it from the stalk. Pick in the morning for sweeter corn.
Cucumbers
Ideal Size for Picking: Small fruits offer better flavor and texture. Removal Method: Use small pruning snips to remove from the vine. Remove yellow, over-ripe cucumbers to encourage further production.
Eggplant
Signs of Readiness: Glossy skin indicates readiness. Harvesting Tips: Cut from the plant with snips, leaving a piece of the stem attached. Wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid scratchy stems.
Green Beans
Best Size for Picking: Tender pods before beans swell. Frequency of Harvest: Pick at least two to three times per week. Use small snips to avoid damaging future flowers.
Okra
Ideal Size for Picking: 2 to 4 inches long. Harvesting Tips: Pick every other day. Use small snips and wear gloves and long sleeves due to scratchy leaf hairs.
Peppers
Picking Stages: Green peppers can be picked, but maturing to red, yellow, or orange enhances sweetness or heat. Harvesting Technique: Cut peppers to avoid breaking branches. Wear gloves when picking hot peppers and avoid touching your eyes.
Summer Squash and Zucchini
Best Size for Picking: Young and tender before seeds become inedible. Harvesting Frequency: Harvest at least every other day using a sharp knife.
Sweet Potato
Harvesting Technique: Use a digging fork to loosen the soil, pull the crown, trim the vine, and gather the potatoes by hand. Curing Process: Cure unwashed sweet potatoes in a warm spot for seven to ten days to develop sweetness.
Tomatoes
Signs of Readiness: Fully colored but still firm when gently squeezed. Storage Tips: Store slightly under-ripe tomatoes at room temperature out of direct sunlight to continue ripening.
Watermelon and Cantaloupe
Signs of Readiness: Dull green color, yellow underside for watermelon, noticeable netting and cracking around the stem for cantaloupe. Harvesting Technique: Cut with shears or a knife, leaving an inch of stem.
Winter Squash (Including Pumpkins)
Signs of Readiness: Fully colored with a hard rind and shriveling stem. Harvesting Tips: Use a knife to cut from the vine before frost arrives. Avoid lifting by the stems to prolong storage life.
Herbs
Basil: Begin pinching leaves once the plant is 6 to 8 inches tall. Keep pinching to prevent flowering. Dill: Harvest as needed between seedling stage and flowering. Oregano: Snip sprigs often to encourage new growth.
Conclusion
Knowing when and how to harvest your summer vegetables ensures you enjoy the freshest, most flavorful produce. Regularly picking your garden’s bounty also stimulates more growth, giving you an abundant harvest throughout the season. Whether you need the right plants, seeds, or potting soil, The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them.
