Posted 12:59 am Thursday, June 21, 2012
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Look For Signs That Harvest Is Ready
By Keith Hansen
Smith County Horticulturist
You planted your vegetable patch this spring and the first fruits of your harvest are ready for picking. All your hard work of cultivating, planting, watering, fertilizing and waiting is now paying off as everything begins to mature.
But, how do you know whenyour corn, melons, peppers and eggplant are ready to eat?
Smith County Horticulturist
You planted your vegetable patch this spring and the first fruits of your harvest are ready for picking. All your hard work of cultivating, planting, watering, fertilizing and waiting is now paying off as everything begins to mature.
But, how do you know whenyour corn, melons, peppers and eggplant are ready to eat?
Old-time gardeners know from years of experience, but for city folks who have planted their first garden, knowing when summer vegetables are at the peak of maturity may not be so clear.
Here are some tips for reaping the highest quality rewards of your labor.
Here are some tips for reaping the highest quality rewards of your labor.
Corn
If the corn ear worms and raccoons have not wiped out your corn patch, then you are in for a treat with fresh corn. The signals that corn is ready to harvest are: 1) it's been 18 to 24 days after the silks first appeared, 2) the silks have turned brown and dry, and 3) the ear passes the thumbnail test.
Open the husk and press your thumbnail into a kernel. If it easily squirts out milky, white juice, you're ready to eat.
Snap off the ear by pulling it downward and twisting at the same time. Have the water boiling while you are harvesting to enjoy sweet corn at the peak of quality. If, for some unfortunate reason, you cannot partake immediately, refrigerate the corn, husk intact, in a plastic bag.
Finally, don't ruin everything by overcooking your corn. Boil for only three to four minutes, and enjoy with salt and butter!
Open the husk and press your thumbnail into a kernel. If it easily squirts out milky, white juice, you're ready to eat.
Snap off the ear by pulling it downward and twisting at the same time. Have the water boiling while you are harvesting to enjoy sweet corn at the peak of quality. If, for some unfortunate reason, you cannot partake immediately, refrigerate the corn, husk intact, in a plastic bag.
Finally, don't ruin everything by overcooking your corn. Boil for only three to four minutes, and enjoy with salt and butter!
Watermelons
If you are shopping for watermelons in the store, the grower has already done the selecting for you. To harvest from the field, there are a couple of things to look for to get the sweetest possible watermelon.
If you are a fastidious record keeper and know when pollination took place, count 45 days and the melon should be ripe.
Check the ground spot, the side of the melon resting on the ground - it should be creamy yellow. This will be more apparent on dark green melons. The overall appearance should be dull rather than slick. Check the tendril or tail nearest the melon. It should be dried and brown, though browning can occur up to a week before the melon is ripe. Most feel thumping is not a reliable indicator of maturity, but thumpers listen for a hollow, dull thud rather than a ringing sound.
If you are a fastidious record keeper and know when pollination took place, count 45 days and the melon should be ripe.
Check the ground spot, the side of the melon resting on the ground - it should be creamy yellow. This will be more apparent on dark green melons. The overall appearance should be dull rather than slick. Check the tendril or tail nearest the melon. It should be dried and brown, though browning can occur up to a week before the melon is ripe. Most feel thumping is not a reliable indicator of maturity, but thumpers listen for a hollow, dull thud rather than a ringing sound.
Cantaloupes
When ready to pick, cantaloupes form a natural break where the stem is attached to the fruit. The stem will easily separate or slip from the fruit when the fruit is gently pulled. If it doesn't turn loose easily, wait a couple more days and try again. If harvested too early, cantaloupes will get softer, but not sweeter.
Eggplant
Eggplant can be eaten at any size, but don't let them stay on the bush too long or they can get tough and develop an off flavor.
The skin should be shiny, not dull, and spring back when gently pressed with your thumb, leaving only a slight depression.
It takes about 70 to 90 days after transplanting before harvest. Cut fruit with a sharp knife since it is easy to damage the plant when pulling them off.
Bitterness is the result of fruit maturing during high temperatures with low soil moisture.
The skin should be shiny, not dull, and spring back when gently pressed with your thumb, leaving only a slight depression.
It takes about 70 to 90 days after transplanting before harvest. Cut fruit with a sharp knife since it is easy to damage the plant when pulling them off.
Bitterness is the result of fruit maturing during high temperatures with low soil moisture.
Pepper
What is the difference between red and green bell peppers? Red bell peppers are green peppers that have been left on the bush to ripen to full flavor and maturity. Peppers, however, can be harvested at any size.
Like eggplants, cut rather than pull peppers to avoid damaging the brittle plants.
Like eggplants, cut rather than pull peppers to avoid damaging the brittle plants.
Tomatoes
Everyone knows that tomatoes are ripe when they are red! However, not many folks know or believe it, tomatoes picked when they are pink and ripened at room temperature have exactly the same taste and flavor as one fully ripened on the vine.
This little bit of knowledge can give you a jump on hungry squirrels, birds and other critters that have been eying your crop, waiting for them to turn a little more red.
Another harvest tip is to store tomatoes at room temperature, not in the refrigerator.
Research shows that tomatoes lose much of their flavor and sweetness when stored cold.
This little bit of knowledge can give you a jump on hungry squirrels, birds and other critters that have been eying your crop, waiting for them to turn a little more red.
Another harvest tip is to store tomatoes at room temperature, not in the refrigerator.
Research shows that tomatoes lose much of their flavor and sweetness when stored cold.
Squash
Summer squash can be harvested at any size, but the smaller they are, the more tender they will be. Don't let zucchini get as large as a baseball bat. Yes, it looks unusual, but you won't be bragging on its eating quality.
Zucchini should be 6 to 8 inches long, yellow squash 4 to 6 inches long, and scallop squash 2 to 4 inches in diameter.
Winter squash, like the acorn and butternut varieties, are harvested for longer storage when they are fully mature, which for some types may be up to 100 days after planting.
Their skins will be hard and can't be scratched with your fingernail. Cut them off the plant, leaving the stem attached, and store them in a cool spot, and you'll be enjoying your harvest for several months to come.
Zucchini should be 6 to 8 inches long, yellow squash 4 to 6 inches long, and scallop squash 2 to 4 inches in diameter.
Winter squash, like the acorn and butternut varieties, are harvested for longer storage when they are fully mature, which for some types may be up to 100 days after planting.
Their skins will be hard and can't be scratched with your fingernail. Cut them off the plant, leaving the stem attached, and store them in a cool spot, and you'll be enjoying your harvest for several months to come.
Farmer's Markets
If you don't have a garden, there are other opportunities to get farm-fresh produce. Besides road and farm-side stands, there are two farmer's markets in Tyler. The East Texas State Fair Farmer's Market, located on the fairgrounds, is open Tuesday and Saturday through July 28.
The Tyler farmer's market, in the southwest parking lot of Broadway Square Mall (off Old Bullard Road.), is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through Aug. 30.
Keith Hansen is the Smith County Horticulturist with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. His web page is EastTexasGardening.tamu.edu His Blog is http://agrilife.org/etg Texas AgriLife.
The Tyler farmer's market, in the southwest parking lot of Broadway Square Mall (off Old Bullard Road.), is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through Aug. 30.
Keith Hansen is the Smith County Horticulturist with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. His web page is EastTexasGardening.tamu.edu His Blog is http://agrilife.org/etg Texas AgriLife.
