00:01Whether you are new to vegetable gardening or an experienced pro, sometimes it's difficult to
00:06know how and when to harvest vegetables. Harvesting at the right time can make the
00:11difference between flavorful produce and practically unpalatable. Hi this is Amy from
00:17Gardening Know How and I'm going to share a few handy garden harvest tips that will have you
00:22picking those vegetables at their peak. Timing for harvesting vegetables is primarily dictated
00:28by the length of time they have been growing. This information is found on seed packets and plant
00:33tags. Be sure to keep your tags and packets throughout the season for reference even if
00:39they're empty or jot down the recommended harvest date into a notepad. I like to add a reminder
00:44event into my phone's calendar so that I can set it and forget it. As far as the timing of
00:49the harvest,
00:50some veggies prefer to be picked early while others need to wait on the vine. Basically the best time
00:55to harvest vegetables is when the commercial farmers do, so early in the morning. Produce harvested in
01:01the morning tends to stay crisp and fresh while veggies harvested during the heat of the day tend
01:06to wilt. If you're not a morning person, the next best time to pick is in the evening after the
01:11heat of
01:12the day has passed. Veggies continue to improve or degrade after they are picked so timing is crucial.
01:19Some veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and various root vegetables can be picked at any time of
01:24the day but should then go right into the proper storage. When harvesting vegetables you are looking
01:30for ripeness. Ripeness involves all of your senses from smelling to eyeballing your peas for that just
01:37so plumpness, puncturing a corn kernel and popping a couple of cherry tomatoes right into your mouth.
01:43Green beans for instance should be harvested when the pods are full but not swollen, dark green and not
01:49fading in color. Harvest green, wax, bush and pull beans when they are still young and tender before
01:55the seeds that are inside are visibly evident when looking at the pot. Store the freshly picked beans
02:00unwashed in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer. Whole beans should remain fresh for about one week.
02:06One of the most popular home garden crops is the tomato. Tomatoes are one of the vegetables,
02:12vegetables, well technically fruits, which can be picked before they are completely ripe. In fact,
02:17the harvest should ideally occur when the fruit is green and then allowed to ripen off the vine.
02:23There is a fine line when picking tomatoes at the green stage. Look for the first light blush of color
02:28as an indicator of when to pick your tomatoes. Of course you can always harvest tomatoes when they are ripe
02:34but there is more of a chance the fruit will become split or bruised.
02:38Heirloom types with the tendency to crack should be picked before the cracking extends to the interior of the tomato
02:44which can then introduce bacteria. Sweet corn is ready to be harvested once the silk is brown and dry and
02:51the kernels are plump and juicy.
02:53Be sure to cook or freeze within 72 hours as the quality will begin to degrade quickly.
03:00Onions should be harvested once the foliage begins to yellow and the tops fall over.
03:04After digging the onions dry or cure for several days then cut the tops off and store in a cool
03:11dry area.
03:13Harvest garlic similar to onions. You can begin testing the garlic once the leaves or leaf tips
03:19turn one-third brown. To test just loosen the dirt around one or two bulbs to get an idea of
03:25size while
03:26still keeping them in the ground. If you dig the bulbs too soon they will be small and if you
03:32dig them
03:32too late they will be split and no longer good for eating. Be careful not to wait too long though.
03:38Once the leaves are one-half to two-thirds brown you should harvest the garlic regardless of its size.
03:45Potatoes are an easy crop to harvest. All you need to do is wait until the tops of the plants
03:50are dry
03:51and have turned brown. Start digging wide around the potatoes to keep from damaging them.
03:56Then after harvest the potatoes must be cured. Allow them to sit in temperatures of 45 to 60 degrees
04:03Fahrenheit for about two weeks. The skins will harden during this time. Store your potatoes in a dark
04:10place as too much light will turn them green. If you are looking for tender edible pea pods pick early.
04:18When you see the pods swelling pick one to see what's inside. If the peas are of a desired size
04:24start picking
04:25the others. If not wait a bit longer to harvest but check daily as they ripen quickly. After harvesting
04:32your peas the spent foliage is a perfect addition to your compost bin or turn it into your garden
04:38as the nitrogen rich plant provides nutrients far superior to any chemical fertilizer in the soil.
04:45Harvesting peppers differs by variety. Most sweet varieties mature within 60 or 90 days
04:51while some of their spicy cousins may take up to 150 days. Bell peppers are often harvested when the
04:58fruit is still green but full-sized. For sweeter flavor allow the pepper to remain on the plant to ripen
05:04fully changing colors from yellow to orange to red. Banana peppers can also be harvested when yellow or
05:11mature at orange or red. Hot peppers should be picked when they reach a deep color or complete the change
05:18to their final color such as the deep red of the cayenne pepper. The when and how to harvest lettuce
05:24depends on the type. Loose leaf lettuce can be harvested anytime the leaves have formed to about 4 inches
05:30but prior to the formation of a seed stalk. Simply snip a few outer leaves or grab a bunch and
05:35cut with
05:36scissors just an inch above the plant. If you leave that crown intact it will produce again resulting in
05:42additional harvests. Heads of lettuce are harvested by cutting the entire head away from the stalk.
05:47Be sure to use a sharp knife. No matter the type harvest all lettuce in the morning for the best
05:53results. Lettuce is also the perfect succession crop. Seeds can be planted every three weeks for
05:59continuous harvesting. Cucumbers are usually ready to harvest in 50 to 70 days. The fruit should be picked
06:06before they show the signs of yellowing which indicates the fruits are past their prime. As cucumbers
06:12do not continue to ripen after harvest it is best to pick when they are firm with green flesh.
06:17The exact size depends on the use and variety grown. Cut the stem one quarter inch above the fruit.
06:24Do not twist or pull the fruits to remove. Harvesting ripe cucumbers at the right time
06:30ensures sweet fruits that have no bitterness. Cucumbers left on the vine too long have a bitter
06:35taste that ruins the fresh flavor. Even though zucchinis can grow rather large rather quickly,
06:42it is best to harvest smaller fruits as they are more tender with a better taste. Ideally zucchini
06:48and summer squash should be harvested when they are about six to eight inches long. If you leave them
06:54on the vine too long the seeds and the rind will harden and if the fruit feels mushy it is
07:00past its prime
07:01and probably rotten. If squash is properly stored in a crisper it should remain fresh for a week or more.
07:08Avoid storing the squash in sealed bags or airtight containers as the lack of airflow will impact their
07:14flavor. Other veggies that I have yet to mention like root crops such as turnips beets and radishes
07:22plus winter squash and eggplant should be harvested when they reach their mature size.
07:29Once the garden begins to ripen it is best to check its progress each and every day as some veggies
07:35ripen quickly. Daily checks are also a good time to check your plant's health. Check the leaves for any
07:42spots or discoloration to quickly put an end to any disease or pests that may have taken over.
07:48You also do not want to wait until your vegetables grow too big. Most vegetable varieties have the
07:54best flavor and tenderness if picked small. Daily checks will help keep an eye on the size of your
07:59individual harvests. When harvesting your fresh produce gently cut them from the vine with a sharp
08:06pair of pruners or scissors. Do not twist or pull the produce from the plant. Place them in a large
08:12bin or
08:12basket big enough for that day's harvest to prevent any damage or bruising. Homegrown vegetables may
08:19not resemble those you see at the grocery store. Having unrealistic expectations may cause you to
08:25think you did something wrong or that the vegetables are not edible. When you grow your own you will soon
08:31realize that your misshapen or small yield is fresher with better flavor than anything you can buy at the
08:36grocery store. Your hard work will pay off. Well now you have the know-how to properly harvest some of
08:44the most common garden vegetables. Let us know in the comments below if you have any additional
08:49harvesting or storage tips for fresh produce. For more information on home gardens please visit us at
08:55gardeningknowhow.com and subscribe to our channel. For additional gardening tips delivered right to your
09:01inbox please sign up for our free weekly newsletter with the link below. Thanks for watching and happy gardening!
