Picked too early or too late, desert garden vegetables won't be as tasty, may be fibrous or woody or taste too strong, dry or become damaged by weather
There are some simple-to-follow directions for harvesting vegetables in your desert garden.
Picked too early or too late, vegetables will not provide the nourishment you want, nor will they be attractive.
Here is a list of vegetables, the best time to pick them and symptoms of having picked them too early or too late:
Asparagus (Asparagus officianalis)
- Best time to pick: when the spears are six to eight inches long
- Picking too early: the spears are not long enough
- Picking too late: the spears are woody, fibrous and tough to eat, even after cooking.
Beets (Beta vulgaris)
- Best time to pick: when the roots are two to three inches in diameter.
- Picking too early: beets are too small
- Picking too late: The beets are pithy with a strong taste.
Broccoli (a cultivar of Brassica oleracea)
- Best time to pick: when the blooms are bright green and tightly closed.
- Picking too early: buds are too small.
- Picking too late: the head is loose and some blooms are starting to show.
Brussel Sprouts (a cultivar of Brassica oleracea)
- Best time to pick: When the sprouts are bright green and the heads of the sprouts are tight.
- Picking too early: Sprouts are too small and hard.
- Picking too late: Sprout heads are loose and the color has changed from bright green to greenish-yellow.
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
- Best time to pick: When the heads are very firm and the leaves tight around the head.
- Picking too early: Not enough leaves
- Picking too late: When the leaves are too loose and heads start cracking open.
Cantaloupes (Cucumis melo)
- Best time to pick: When the fruit breaks away from the stem when pulled.
- Picking too early: The stem won’t separate easily. The fruit will not be ripe.
- Picking too late: The rind will be soft, the melon will be yellow and the pulp too sweet and mushy.
Collard Greens (cultivar of Brassica oleracea)
- Best time to pick: When the plants are bright green and the leaves have a small midrib
- Picking too early: The leaves are too small and will not provide enough nutrition.
- Picking too late: The midrib becomes large and fibrous.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
- Best time to pick: When the skin is dark green and the seeds sot.
- Picking too early: Cucumbers are too small.
- Picking too late: When the skin begins to yellow and the seeds turn hard.
Eggplant (Solanum melongena)
- Best time to pick: When the skin has a high gloss, and the side of the fruit springs back when mashed with a finger.
- Picking too early: When the fruit is too small.
- Picking too late: When the sides won’t spring back when mashed, and the seeds turn brown. It will be fibrous and have a strong taste.
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentis)
- Best time to pick: When the pods are two to three inches long, and are still tender.
- Picking too early: The pods are smaller than two inches long.
- Picking too late: The pods become hard, fibrous, and tough, even after cooking.
Onions (Allium cepa)
- Best time to pick: When the tops yellow and fall over (about ¾ of the stem has fallen over.
- Picking too early: The tops are still green.
- Picking too late: When the tops are all down.
Related articles:
- When to Pick Desert Garden Vegetables Part II
- Care of Tomatoes in Desert Gardens Part I
- Care of Tomatoes in Desert Gardens Part II
The copyright of the article Harvest Desert Vegetables Part I in Desert Gardens is owned by Robert Dailey. Permission to republish Harvest Desert Vegetables Part I in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
