Although harvest can be throughout
the whole garden season, August is typically the time for garden
harvest in most areas. Main crop vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers,
corn and beans are abundant during the hot days of a summer. So
how does harvest time go?
Tomatoes should be picked when
they easily come off the vine. It's best to let them ripen
on the vine but if for some reason they are picked too early or
begin to fall off before they are ready (heavy winds and rains do
occur even in the dog days of summer), the tomatoes can be ripened
in a sunny window. The tangy citrus smell of a tomato is enticing
to many people. A fresh tomato smell is a good way to tell if a
tomato should be picked.
Beans should be picked every
two to three days to ensure a continuous supply. The best way to
harvest beans is to gently grasp the bean stem and snap or pinch
the stem off. Avoid harvesting beans when the foliage or ground
is wet. This can injure the plant by pulling up its shallow roots
and may increase the risk for disease.
Some Other Vegetables to Harvest
- Peppers should be cut off to minimize
the risk of plant injury.
- Corn is ready to be plucked when the hair starts to turn brown.
Use the dried up corn husks and hair to make corn husk dolls.
- Squash and zucchini taste better when picked smaller. They will
frequently have seeds that are less coarse than larger produce.
- Cucumbers can be harvest at almost any time in their life cycle
but on average are harvested at around six inches. Harvest cucumbers
smaller if you want to pickle them.
Garden Tasks and Thoughts-
The garden is a great spot
to collect your thoughts and wonder about the amazing mechanisms
at work in the garden. Step back and be amazed by the garden. You've
worked so hard in the garden this year. You deserve some production.
Here are some other tasks and thoughts
when working with the summer harvest.
- Main Harvesting: Regular harvesting throughout the month
can actually prolong the production of your crops.
- Fall Sown Cover Crops: Now
is the time that the earliest cover crops should be sown.
- Mulching for the Heat: Mulch
around plants to help conserve moisture. In the hot days of August,
moisture loss is inevitable. Mulching helps keep in the moisture.
- Moisture: Keep yourself from
losing too much moisture and keep a water bottle with you when working
outside in the garden. Or make some fresh lemonade to soothe that
thirst.
Don't over do the harvest. You
don't want too much on your plate all at once. Many vegetables
will hold over well in the garden. But if you do go overboard with
the harvest and find yourself with an overabundance of harvested
vegetables there are some things you can do. You can always give
to neighbors, friends or family members that may desire or be in
need. You could hold a harvest gathering and maybe give away excess
produce that way. Gather friends and family for a special harvest
time feast. Summer is the perfect time for a cookout. Why not have
some fresh produce on the menu?
