Harvesting your garden can be a chore, but also a fun task
for the whole family. In my family, we have the kids help plant, pick and cook
garden items. A fun task for children is to have them pick beans and peas. Simply show them when to pick the pods or point out ready to harvest foods. When pods feel full, it’s time to pick them. Including
children in gardening helps them gain responsibility and helps you out! This simple task turns into an educational game with lessons that can be used throughout their lifetime.
Here is a cheat sheet of when to pick the most common fruits
and vegetables. Remember that every plant is different – even varieties within
a species – some will take longer to mature and some mature quickly.
- Beans: When you can see the inner seeds. Or, when the pod feels full.
- Carrots: Harvest when the tops of the carrots are 1 ½ inches in diameter. There should be at least 3/5 inches of top root (the lovely green) showing. Be gentle when pulling!
- Corn: Puncture a kernel with your fingernail. If a milky liquid flows out, the corn is ready to harvest. If the liquid is clear, the corn is not ready. If the liquid is thick like toothpaste, the corn is over mature. The tops of the silk will be brown when the corn is ready to pull.
- Cucumbers: Perhaps one of the easiest to harvest, this vegetable really depends on what size you want and what variety they are. Some varieties will be thick and long; others are short and stumpy. Either way, look for dark green color before picking.
- Potatoes: When the leaves die back is when to pull potatoes. Purchasing a potato hook will help you pull potatoes more easily and will save a lot of time and backache.
- Summer Squash: When you can easily stick your fingernail in the skin.
- Winter Squash: When you cannot stick your fingernail in the skin. Knock on the outside, it should sound hollow.
- Tomatoes:When ripe: red or bright orange. They should still be form, but a little soft on the bottom. Pull from the vine. You can set tomatoes on the counter to ripen.
- Watermelon (and other melons): When the leaves close to the fruit have begun to turn brown. Knock on the outside; if it sounds hollow, it is ready to harvest.
Recipe:
Smashed Red Potatoes with Crème Fraîche
Ingredients:
3 lb. red potatoes
Peel of 1 lemon
1 ½ tbsp. Kosher salt
4 tbsp. butter
1 c. Crème fraîche
1/4 c. chopped chives
Freshly ground pepper
Directions:
Peel of 1 lemon
1 ½ tbsp. Kosher salt
4 tbsp. butter
1 c. Crème fraîche
1/4 c. chopped chives
Freshly ground pepper
Directions:
In a large pot, place potatoes and enough cold water to
cover by 2 inches. Add lemon peel and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to
medium and gently boil until potatoes are tender, 25 minutes.
Drain and transfer potatoes to a large bowl; discard lemon
peel. Add 3 tablespoons butter. Using a wooden spoon, lightly mash potatoes,
allowing some chunks to remain. Gently stir in crème fraîche and chives. Season
with additional salt, if desired. Top with remaining butter, season with
pepper, and garnish with chives.
