Harvesting Summer Vegetables

Figuring out when to reap greens is simply as vital as figuring out learn how to develop them.  Some have a very long time over which you’ll harvest, others should be harvested at simply the correct stage of ripening.  Harvest on the unsuitable time, and your greens could not ripen correctly if too younger, or be powerful and bitter if too outdated. You’ll be able to’t actually go by the calendar, or days to maturity, as this will fluctuate from 12 months to 12 months with such situations as rain, temperature, and diet.  One of the best ways to inform when to reap is by the traits of every vegetable.  Listed below are some particular clues.

Lima beans are finest harvested when the pods are full, however earlier than they begin turning yellow.  They’re extra tender when immature, and meatier when mature.  The identical applies to snap beans.  When the seeds are half of full measurement or bigger, the pods will likely be extra fibrous and starchy.

There are three traits which point out a cantaloupe is prepared for harvest—the stem slips simply from the vine, the “netting” on the floor turns mild tan, and the blossom finish (reverse the stem) is smooth (push gently along with your thumb) and smells candy.

Really feel the information of candy corn ears.  Once they really feel full by way of the husk they’re prepared for harvest.  You’ll see dry silks.  Open the highest of the ear, peeling again the husks, and kernels must be crammed out.  Press a kernel along with your fingernail, and it ought to have a milky sap.  Use as quickly as doable after harvest for the utmost sweetness.

Size of cucumber when mature will fluctuate with selection, however usually they’re one and one-half to 2 and a half inches throughout, and 5 to eight inches lengthy.  They’re finest harvested barely immature when spines are smooth and earlier than the seeds grow to be half sized.

Eggplant maturity and measurement varies with selection too.  Basically, harvest when practically full measurement and vibrant and glossy.  Once they flip a boring shade, and seeds flip brown, they’re overripe.

Should you didn’t harvest onions for consuming whereas they have been nonetheless small, harvest when bulbs are one to 1 and a half inches throughout for boiling and pickling.  Harvest them even bigger, when tops fall over and the bottom of leaves (“necks”) shrivel, for storing and common cooking.

Harvest sizzling peppers as you want them, the younger and inexperienced ones being hotter in lots of circumstances than the mature and coloured ones.  Late within the season, you’ll be able to pull the entire plant, and dry peppers in a heat, well-ventilated area.  Then again, harvest candy peppers when the fruits are full and agency.  You’ll be able to go away them on the plant in order for you them to show colours if that is so for a specific choice (some keep inexperienced, others flip colours when totally mature).  Even when a pepper will ultimately flip colours, it could actually nonetheless be eaten whereas inexperienced with little distinction in taste, if any.

For brand spanking new potatoes, harvest solely a pair weeks after they bloom.  For a primary crop, harvest tubers when the tops have died down later within the season.  Harvest when the soil is dry if doable, and dig fastidiously to keep away from bruising (use a backyard fork, not spade, to loosen the soil).  Treatment potatoes for about two weeks in a cool (45 to 60 levels F), darkish, and well-ventilated space.  For candy potatoes, harvest in fall earlier than frosts and freezes. Deal with them fastidiously to keep away from bruising however, not like common potatoes, treatment them dry and heat (80 to 85 levels F) for one week.

Summer time squash must be harvested when younger, tender, and a fingernail simply nicks the floor.  Winter squash must be harvested when mature fruit is difficult and might’t be scratched with a fingernail.  Harvest winter squash earlier than the primary laborious frost, with a pointy knife, and leaving and inch or so of stem connected.  With out a stem, fruit will start decay from the scar.  Dry winter squash for 10 days to 2 weeks in a dry, heat space (75 to 85 levels F).  Harvest and deal with pumpkins much like winter squash.

The correct time to reap tomatoes varies with selection, however usually is when a fruit is uniformly purple (or coloured within the case of yellow or different varieties), and the tip continues to be agency and never smooth.  Ripe fruit ought to sink when positioned in water.  If late within the season and frosts are predicted, you’ll be able to harvest inexperienced tomatoes.  They are going to ripen positive in darkish, and in reality mild can delay ripening.  Maintain them heat (55 to 70 levels F) till ripe, and you must be capable to retailer them this manner for 3 to 5 weeks.

For all of your greens, the common inspection each few days is the important thing to the very best and longest harvest season.  There are a number of cool season crops corresponding to lettuce, carrots, and cabbage that may be planted out in late summer time for fall harvest.  Extra recommendations on rising these and different vegetable crops within the North, in addition to their storage, will be present in articles from Cornell Cooperative Extension (gardening.cals.cornell.edu).

HARVESTING SUMMER VEGETABLES

Dr. Leonard Perry, Horticulture Professor EmeritusUniversity of Vermont