Harvesting produce correctly helps plants stay healthy, encourages continued production, and ensures everyone in the community has access to fresh vegetables throughout the growing season. Whether you're a first-time gardener or an experienced volunteer, these guidelines will help you harvest with confidence and ensure continued healthy gowth for the plants!
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Tomatillos
Tomatillos
How to Harvest:
Tomatillos are ready to harvest when their husks begin to dry out , split open and turn yellow or purple, depending on the variety, revealing the fruit inside.
You can harvest them by gently twisting and pulling or by using pruning shears or scissors to snip the stem.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
How to Harvest:
With gardening shears or by hand, remove the tomato from the plant as close to the tomato as possible.
Pole Beans
Pole Beans
How to Harvest:
Green beans are ready to harvest when the pods are plump but still smooth, and the seeds inside are just barely visible as a bulge through the skin.
To harvest green beans, look for pods that are about the size of a pencil, firm, and snap easily when bent. You can use your fingers or scissors, but be careful not to pull the pod from the plant.
Peppers
Peppers
How to Harvest:
Sweet Peppers -
Pick when the outer skin is firm and tight and the fruit is 4-6 inches in diameter.
To pick, pinch above the stem and pull off fruit
Hot Peppers -
Serranos should be picked when they have a slightly darker green color or red color.
Jalapeños should be 3-5 inches in length, firm to the touch, and have a deep green or red color.
Both peppers should be picked by snipping the stem with scissors or sheers.
Zucchini
Zucchini
How to Harvest:
Use a sharp knife or scissors to cut the zucchinis from the plant.
Leave about 1 inch of stem attached to each fruit so it stays fresh.
It’s best to pick zucchinis when they’re 4 to 8 inches long.
You can also harvest blossoms the same way for cooking or eating fresh.
Cucumber
Cucumber
How to Harvest:
Cucumbers are ready to harvest when they are about 6-8 inches long, with dark green and firm skin.
Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the cucumber of the vine.
New to gardening? Don't know how to harvest?
New to gardening? Don't know how to harvest?
Take a look at our harvesting instructions. The document includes plants that we have in the garden this year and some that we've had in previous years.
To access the harvesting instructions click on the image to the left or click the attached link.
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