Step 6 - Vegetable Harvest

A successful and abundant vegetable harvest is the reward for all the work and time you have put into your garden. Eating fresh veggies is probably the greatest reward.

It is important to keep observing your plants to tell when they are ready for harvesting. If you pick too early the vegetables may lack in size, flavor or sweetness; if harvested too late they loose flavor and can be tough or mushy. It is important to harvest vegetables when they are at their prime to get the best taste.

So how do you know when to harvest?

• Some you harvest only once at the peak of ripeness like corn.
• Others you can harvest several times like beans and Swiss chard if harvested regularly.
• Some stay in the garden longer than others like carrots and celery.
• The flavor of kale and cabbage for example is enhanced after a frost.
• Some plants preserve better than others like tomatoes.
• Still others do not store well like spinach.

Learn the best time to harvest specific vegetables using this vegetable list.

Storing:

Now that you have started your vegetable harvest, you may have more than you can use or give away. What do you do with the extras? Proper storage is needed for vegetables to retain their taste, freshness and nutrients.

Store these vegetables in a cool area, away from bright light:

• onions
• potatoes
• sweet potatoes
• rutabaga
• winter squash

Store these vegetables in a closed plastic bag or crisper in the refrigerator:

• asparagus
• beans
• beets
• broccoli
• cabbage
• carrots
• cauliflower
• celery
• corn (if husked)
• cucumbers
• leafy greens
• leeks
• parsnips
• peas if shelled
• peppers
• radishes
• scallions
• turnip
• zucchini

In the refrigerator, uncovered:

• peas in pods
• corn in husk

Store at room temperature:

• tomatoes

Preserving:

Freezing, drying and canning (pickling) are the common ways to persevere your harvest. The following list will give you the proper methods for preserving each vegetable.

Freeze	Dry	Can
Artichokes	Artichokes hearts	Artichokes
Asparagus	Asparagus	Asparagus
Beet greens	Beets	Beets
Broccoli	Broccoli	Cabbage
Brussel Sprouts	Brussel Sprouts	Carrots
Cabbage	Cabbage	Cauliflower
Carrots	Carrots	Celery
Cauliflower	Cauliflower	Corn
Celery	Celery	Okra
Collards	Corn	Onions
Corn	Eggplant	Peas
Eggplant	Kale	Peppers
Kale	Mustard greens	potatoes
Kohlrabi	Okra	Squash
Leeks	Onions	Tomatoes
Parsnips	Peas	Zucchini
Peppers	Peppers
Potatoes	Potatoes
Rutabagas	Spinach
Okra	Squash
Onions	Swiss Chard
Peas	Tomatoes
Spinach	Zucchini
Squash
Swiss chard
Tomatoes
Zucchini

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