Harvesting Vegetables and Fruits
- - To Reap What You Sow!!
People greet harvest time with mixed feelings. The joy of gathering a bountiful
harvest is certainly a joyful, and most gratifying experience. There is also
a small sense of sadness, as we reach the end of a gardening season that
brought new learnings and such satisfaction. At just that moment, next spring
feels a really long ways away. And indeed, that "just around the corner"
feeling will have to wait until January, when the seed catalogs arrive in
the mail!
From a flavor and texture standpoint, most fruits and vegetables are at their
best when they are still young. Most can be picked when small ,and help to
thin out the harvest ,as well as to extend it. In addition, many fruits are
best picked before they fully ripen. This helps to avoid damage during transit,
and they will last longer. Peaches are a good example, as they are best picked
when still hard or firm. They will ripen to a soft and sweet tasting treat,
if left out on a counter for a few days. If you pick peaches when they are
ripe, they will keep for only a few days, and will be easily bruised.
While we often think about harvesting in the fall, harvesting vegetables
and fruits goes on all season long. It begins with the first asparagus sprig,
progressing on to early fruits and vegetables, and all the way to pumpkin
pickin'. The focus of this article is upon the fall harvest and things you
can do to prolong the harvest, as well as properly store and keep it in good
condition. Note that many flowers, fruits and vegetables have specific peak
harvest times and storage methods. Make sure to read further on each specific
one as needed.
Keys to Successful Long Term Vegetable Storage:
One recent spring day, a neighbor of mine walked over to visit me, as I was
planting vegetables for an early crop. He wanted to show me (as in show off)
what was in a box that he was carrying. It was one quarter full of small,
yellow tomatoes. Most of them were in quite good shape! He had stored these
tomatoes from late September to mid April, and had been eating fresh tomatoes
all winter! Granted, this was a long keeper variety. But, the point is,
vegetables under the right conditions can last for quite a while. Here are
some pointers to maximize the storage times for your crop:
Know when to pick your fruits and vegetables: Most vegetables should
be picked before they peak. Tomatoes and peppers are a good examples. They
will slowly ripen off the vine. Some vegetables need to "cure", or ripen
and harden before storing. A good example of this is pumpkins and gourds.
Clean and sort: Wash the fruit or vegetable thoroughly. Remove any
that are damaged, have soft spots, or have holes in them. The old saying
"one bad apple spoils the whole bushel" is actually quite true.
Eliminate bacteria: Bacteria is what spoils fruit and vegetables in
longer term storage. After washing them, many people rinse them in a very
light solution of chlorine and water. This is works well for winter squash,
pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers and a few other vegetables that have a hard skin.
Use one part chlorine to twenty parts water. Then, let them dry thoroughly
before putting them away. Fruits and root crops do not usually need this
extra protection. And, this is not recommended for thin skinned vegetables,
leaf crops or others with a short shelf life.
Spread them Out: When putting fruits and vegetables away for long
term storage, do not pile them high and together in one big container. Several
smaller containers are best. Keep them from touching each other, if possible.
If one does go bad, the bacteria or fungus has a harder time spreading if
the fruit is separated.
Optimal storage conditions: Most fruits and vegetables store longer
if kept in cool, dry conditions. Many will last for months under the ideal
conditions. Cold storage is used for many crops, and remain fresh for use
weeks and months later. Each fruit or vegetable may have a different ideal
temperature. Local cold storage companies will know the proper humidity and
temperatures. A few vegetables will keep for several months out of the
refrigerator. These include potatoes, onions, garlic and winter squashes.
For home storage, the general rule of thumb is cool, dry and dark conditions
are the best.
More Information:
Harvesting Vegetables This is a great guide to properly
determine the ideal harvest time for each vegetable.
More Information:
Buy Flower, Vegetable and Herb Seeds Finest quality
Ferry Morse Seed, America's oldest seed company with their famous "guarantee
to grow".
|
|
Sponsors -
Shop For:
Gardening:
Annual Seeds
Perennials Seeds
Vegetable Seeds
Herb Seeds
Organic Seed/Supply
Flower
Bulbs
Composters
Greenhouses
Houseplants
Planters
Raised Beds
Supplies
Tools
Yard & Deck:
Grills
Hammocks
Hose Carts/Reels
Outdoor Fireplace
Outdoor Storage
Statues/Elves
Pest Control
Seasonal:
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Other Holidays
Carving Stuff
Jello Molds
Lights
House Flags
Candles
Decorations
Kitchen/Party Supply
TGN OnLine Florist
|
