Don’t be alone in thinking that you are the only person who is clueless when it comes to planting and harvesting times for specific plants. You will need to check these times for individual plants as most differ.
There are so many different things you can grow so nobody expects you to remember this information from memory.
To remedy this, I have compiled a handy table for reference below that will hopefully tell you everything you need to know. There is also further advice about planting, harvesting and general gardening.
How do I go about harvesting?
Planting and harvesting times vary depending on whether you are growing Summer or Winter crops. You can begin to pick most of the produce in the late Summer/early Autumn (Fall) months.
During Autumn (or Fall) it is normal for leaves to turn brown and fall to the ground so don’t worry. Your plants most likely aren’t dying if this happens.
You should only pick your produce when you need to use them. Otherwise you may as well leave them on the plant to grow a little longer as they will last longer that way. If you buy a packet of seeds then there should be clear instructions on the back for you to follow.
Are there any other indicators of when to harvest?
As I’ve already mentioned, it may be best to let the produce fall to the ground by itself. Stay sharp as wildlife will eat it if left on the ground for too long. Some produce give an indication that they’re ripe by the shine and vibrant color of the skin particularly for peppers, tomatoes or eggplants.
What should I do with my seeds before planting?
Your unused seeds and bulbs should be stored in cool, dry and dark setting. Don’t leave them sitting there dormant as they may become useless if you wait too long before planting.
Will pests try to eat my harvest?
Garden pests are most likely to come out during the night-time so you need to pick all of the day’s ripe produce before the sun goes down. If you don’t do this then you will find that it has probably been eaten when you go to check the next morning.
You have to be on the ball when harvesting as it can literally take a matter of hours from becoming ripe for creatures to eat the fruits of your labor.
How do I harvest root vegetables?
This is tricky as obviously you never can tell what’s going on beneath the surface of the soil so there will be some guess-work involved. Root vegetables are usually ready to dig up with a pitchfork after the stems, leaves and flowers have died of in the Autumn/Fall.
It’s a balancing act of not digging them up too early or too late. You will get a handle on this after the experience of going through a few seasons.
Why is it important to harvest quickly?
Again, garden pests are a hurdle but another reason why it is important to promptly harvest ripe produce is because it may hurt other developing produce if you don’t. The reasoning behind this is the fact that the ripe produce that stays on the stem will still compete for growth with the unripe stuff.
On top of that, failing to harvest the crop when ripe and ready can cause dryness when picking at a later date.
Should I worry about planting seeds too early?
You shouldn’t plant crops earlier than your supposed to as they will likely die off. It’s better to be too late rather that too early. Being a little late mostly just means missing out on a few weeks or months of sunshine which isn’t the biggest problem in the world.
key:
P = planting
H = harvesting
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(If you believe that I’ve missed any fruits or vegetables that you would like to grow then please let me know in the comments section and I will add them to the table.)
This advice should ensure success in the garden in terms of growing delicious produce. You may want to bookmark this page so that you can access this table when you need it the most. Please don’t forget to share this with your friends and comment below. Thanks for reading!
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