The bliss of enjoying a fresh produce of homegrown vegetables can never be compared to when you buy them from the supermarket. Putting a piece of land in your backyard to good use and showcasing your garden with different varieties of veggies that you managed to grow might be a very exhilarating feeling. If this is your first venture into caring and nurturing your own home garden full of fresh vegetables, then you definitely want to snag up some very useful tips so you can get your first harvest done right with no – or minimal if at all – hindrances. The key to getting the freshest vegetables and ensuring you get the best flavours is to know when the fruit of the plant is of the ideal size, texture as well as colour. This piece of information might seem very minuscule but holds all the goodness of the vegetables in it. For instance, some vegetables are best enjoyed when they are completely ripe and others to be harvested before they reach that stage. Here in this blog, we have listed down some very useful tips for harvesting vegetables from your very own garden so you can really reap the benefits of the seed you sow! So, do not worry about everything related to planting harvesting because we have the guide for you.
Since it is a tedious process, you need to educate yourself better on how to get the best harvest yield by inculcating the best harvesting tips and tricks. Vegetable picking need not be a daunting affair if you possess enough knowledge, then half your work is already made easy. Some methods such as selective harvesting are employed for better yield of plants.
First, we will look at some harvesting tips for root and stem vegetables. Depending on their very own criteria and the vegetable type, we harvest them accordingly.
Some General Tips For Harvesting Root And Stem Vegetables
1] Do not let your vegetables overgrow. This might change their flavour.
2] Use proper tools. Some veggies need to be harvested using a tool while others do not need them. Ensure you use a specific tool required for harvesting a particular vegetable to avoid damaging the plant.
3] Check your garden everyday so you can keep a track of your produce as to when they should be harvested.
Some Tips For Harvesting Common Root And Stem Vegetables From Your Home Garden: -
1. Beetroot
They are ready to harvest within 10-12 weeks give or take. The best size to be harvested are the ones that are the size of a golf ball. While harvesting beetroot ensure that only one or two leaves are taken and the rest is kept as it is. Beetroots can do wonders to your body. Grow them easily in your kitchen garden.
2. Radish
While harvesting radish, pull at a 1 inch diameter and the smaller the fruit is, the juicier it is. Radishes grow very fast so you need to ensure you harvest the plant on time.
3. Onion
While harvesting onions, pull the bulbs in a gentle manner and store them in a warm and dry place to cool off. Onions usually take around 18 to 20 weeks to get ready to be harvested. While storing them, ensure the place is dry and warm and has enough humidity till it is used. Ensure to protect your onions from various plants and diseases in your home garden so you can have healthy onions to eat.
4. Carrot
Carrots are ready when they have grown full size in around 14 weeks. While harvesting carrots, use extracting tools to dig up the soil around the vegetable and loosen it before pulling it gently. Store them in a cool and dry place.
5. Cucumber
cucumber harvesting should be done in about 8-12 weeks as if they overripe then the vegetable gets a bitter taste. In India, cucumber farming is done at an extensive scale.
6. Pumpkin
Pumpkin harvesting can be done in around 12 weeks and can be picked when the leaves of the plant start withering. The best colour to harvest them is when they are a deep orange which is when this vegetable is the best.
7. Tomato
When harvesting tomatoes, the colour should be a deep red to orange, depending on which variety it is. Green tomatoes if picked should not be stored in the fridge to ensure the vegetable ripens. Also, make sure there are no tomato pests and you have healthy red tomatoes to eat.
8. Pepper
The fruit when harvesting should be firm and grown full size and can be harvested when they are still of the green or yellow colour. For red, let the vegetable ripen a little more. Usually, it takes about 10 weeks for the plant to mature for pepper harvesting to be done. One can grow different types of capsicum easily in the kitchen garden and make yourself healthy.
9. Brinjal
brinjal harvesting is done when the vegetable is firm enough, in about 20 weeks or so and when it has reached the required size. Ensure you use a pruner to harvest.
10. Broccoli
For broccoli harvesting, the flower buds should not open and should be picked when they grow to the size of a lemon.
11. Peas
Harvest peas 12 weeks from their sowing and should be consumed fresh after harvest for the maximum taste as it starts declining later. Peas can be grown easily at home.
12. Cabbage
Depending on the variety, harvesting cabbage should be done of the respective size when it is firm. Apply pressure to see if the texture is solid which is the best time to yield it.
13. Okra
This plant grows fast which is why the span for harvesting okra should be every 2-3 days when the pods are about 3 inches long. Make sure you do not let the plant mature to get the best produce. Grow okra easily at home and have them daily in your meals.
14. Lettuce
For harvesting lettuce head, cut closer to the stem and leaves overlap. Depending on the size of the leaves, it takes around 6-12 weeks to mature. Grow Iceberg Lettuce and Romaine Lettuce easily at home. They are very healthy for you.
15. Spinach
For Harvesting Spinach, the best time is around 6 weeks and cutting from the point of growth of the plant. Leave a few leaves so the plant can grow again.
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FAQs
Q 1] What are the different types of vegetables?
Ans: There are roots, stems, fruits, seeds and flower vegetables.
Q 2] Can vegetables be grown at home?
Ans: Yes, there are many vegetables that can be grown at home with proper care without any professional equipment.