When to Harvest General Plant Information You can determine when you will be harvesting certain plants by checking the maturation time and then planting them accordingly so they should be ready to pick when you want to pick them. By staggering your planting time by the different types of vegetables, you can plan to have all the plants mature at close to the same time for a large scale harvest of your garden. Or, if you prefer to have a continual supply of various vegetables to eat, freeze, or can, then you can plant them all at the same time, knowing they will be ready to harvest at various intervals throughout the growing season. Keep in mind that there are issues that can alter the time to harvest. These issues may include an early frost, colder or warmer than normal temperatures, and amount of rainfall if more or less than normal. In addition, although the seed packet or young planting may state a certain length of time for maturation, keep in mind that this may vary according to your latitude and elevation.
Specific Vegetables Asparagus - when spears are 5-8 inches long, snap off at ground level.
Beans (Green) - when the beans inside the pod are 1/4 normal size.
Broccoli - when heads are a nice green color. Florets should be close together.
Beets - you can begin harvesting when roots are about an inch in diameter,
although most should be harvested when roots are 2"-3" in diameter.
Carrots - when they are about the size of your finger and before hot
weather sets in.
Cabbage - when head is good and firm, solid.
Cantaloupes - when the cantaloupe breaks easily and cleanly from the stem
Cauliflower - when head is white, smooth and solid.
Corn (Sweet) - when ears are filled with plump, tender, juicy kernels. If
you puncture a kernel with your fingernail, milky liquid should squirt out.
Cucumbers - when cucumber is dark green, at least 5 inches long and about 2" in diameter.
Lettuce (Head) - when head is firm
Peas (Green) - when pod is full. Earlier harvests yield more tender peas.
Red Bell Peppers - when firm and bright red in color.
Potatoes, Irish - when the tops have become yellow or die back.
Pumpkins - before first frost, when skin is orange and firm
Spinach - when the leaves are desirable size
Tomatoes - if using immediately, harvest when bright red and firm; if the tomoato is not completely red, you may chose to leave it on the vine or you can pick it and let it ripen on a window seal. If the tomatoes drop on their own, insects may feast on them so don't wait too long!
Watermelons - when underside turns from a whitish color to yellow; should make a thud when thumping on it. Specific Fruits
Blackberries - when berries are black and plump. Harvest every couple of
days.
Grapes - cannot tell by color. Will have typical grape flavor and smell
when ripe. Remove clusters with garden shears or garden scissors.
Raspberries - when the berries are a nice deep shade of red, not pink. A
ripe berry should be able to "pop" off immediately without pulling on it.
Strawberries - when the berries are a nice bright red and are firm but just
starting to soften a little.
Apples - depend on the type of apple as some are early varieties and some
are green when ripe. Apples should be tested for taste and texture.
Peaches - when fruit begins to soften and color is no longer green. Taste
for ripeness. Fruit will continue to ripen after it has been picked.
Pears - when they are not quite but almost ripe. Sample for light pear
taste. Fruit will continue to ripen after it has been picked.
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