Pick summer vegetables when they are young and tender—bigger is not tastier. Check crops daily. Whenever possible eat summer vegetables the day you pick them. Vegetables ready for picking commonly have a shiny, healthy look. Pick most vegetables when they reach usable size. Don’t delay the harvest simply to grow bigger crops — flavor will […] More
Give cucumbers the right conditions–warm, sunny weather and consistent water–and they will be one of your top-producing garden crops. To keep ahead of cucumber problems, pests, and diseases, here is a troubleshooting list of possible cucumber problems with brief control suggestions. Cucumber problems and solutions Seed and seedling problems Plants are eaten or cut off […] More
There are many ways to eat cucumbers raw or cooked. Favorite cucumber recipes How to Make Cold, Tasty Cucumber Soup Sliced Cucumber Flavor Matches How to Make Dill Pickles for Beginners Canning Sweet Pickle Relish Why do cucumbers and warm weather mix so well? Cucumbers are more than 90 percent water. Their crunchy texture, sweet […] More
Harvest rutabagas when root tops are 3 to 5 inches in diameter. Young, small roots will be the most tender and succulent. Rutabagas touched by at least two frosts will be the sweetest and most flavorful. Related articles: When to harvest rutabaga Kitchen Helpers from Amazon: How to harvest rutabaga How to Store Rutabagas How […] More
Peppers can be harvested as soon as they are large enough to eat. Most mild and hot peppers take at least 70 days from transplanting to reach edible size and another 3 to 4 weeks to reach maturity. Some hot peppers take longer. Related articles: If you know the variety of pepper you are growing […] More
Harvest summer squash young and tender. Harvest summer squash when the skin is glossy and soft enough to be easily pierced with your thumbnail. Related articles: When to harvest summer squash How to harvest summer squash More tips on harvesting all summer vegetables at Summer Vegetable Harvest Tips. How to store summer squash Storing winter […] More
Kale is ready for harvest as soon as the leaves are large enough to eat. Kale matures 55 to 75 days from seed sowing. It is best grown to mature in spring or fall before temperatures climb into the 70°sF. In mild-winter regions, kale will produce new leaves nearly all winter. Related articles: When to […] More
Harvest radicchio almost any time during growth—when leaves are just 2 to 3 inches (5-7 cm) long or after a head forms and is firm to the touch. Radicchio matures 60 to 64 days after sowing. Related articles: Radicchio will grow green or reddish-green until cold weather arrives then leaves will change to a range […] More
Harvest winter squashes when they are mature. Winter squash is mature when its rind cannot be scratched with a thumbnail. Winter squashes include Acorn, Butternut, Hubbard, Banana, Buttercup, Spaghetti, and pumpkins. Winter squash refers to squash planted in spring, grown in summer, harvested in fall, and stored for winter use. Winter squashes require more days […] More
Harvest leeks when they are big enough to use. Most leeks mature 100 to 120 days after sowing seed, but a few varieties mature in as few as 60 days. Some varieties mature at ½ to ¾ inches in diameter; others can grow to 1 inch (2.5 cm) or more in diameter. Related articles: When […] More
Harvest eggplant young as soon as the skin becomes glossy. The flesh of young eggplant will be more tender and the seeds smaller. The plant will produce more fruit if kept picked. Related articles: When to harvest eggplant It is better to harvest eggplant just before it’s ripe than to wait too long. Kitchen Helpers […] More
Harvest Swiss chard when the leaves are tender and big enough to eat. Swiss chard is ready for picking 30 days after sowing if you want baby leaves. Harvest chard 45 to 60 days after sowing if you want full-sized leaves with a thick midrib. Related articles: When to harvest Swiss Chard Kitchen Helpers from […] More
Stephen Albert