There are right times and wrong times to pick vegetables, not only in the desert, but anywhere. The specific dates will vary depending on climate, plant variety, time of planting or transplanting, and other factors.
However here are more guidelines for the desert gardener to use in choosing the right times to harvest vegetables:
Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus)
- Best time to pick: When the pods are bright green and the seeds (beans) are the right size for the variety.
- Picking too early: When the beans are too small
- Picking too late: When the pods have turned yellow
Pole Green Beans (cultivar of Phaseolus vulgaris)
- Best time to pick: When the bean cavity is full and the seed is about ¼ of an inch
- Picking too early: When the beans are too small
- Picking too late: When the seeds are too large and the pods are hard and fibrous.
Snap beans (bush) (cultivar of Phaseolus vulgaris)
- Best time to pick: When the pods are turgid and the seeds are barely visible inside.
- Picking too early: The pods are too small.
- Picking too late: When the pods become hard and fibrous and the seeds too large.
Cauliflower (cultivar of Brassica oleracea)
- Best time to pick: When the head is compact and relatively smooth.
- Picking too early: When the head is not yet developed
- Picking too late: When the head (curds) open and separate.
Celery (Apium graveolens)
- Best time to pick: When the plant is 12 to 15 inches tall and the stem reaches a “medium” thickness.
- Picking too early: The stem will be too small.
- Picking too late: When seeds have formed. The celery will have a bitter taste.
Sweet corn (cultivar of Zea maya)
- Best time to pick: When the kernels are plump and the liquid inside the kernels resembles milk.
- Picking too early: When the grain is too small and watery.
- Picking too late: when the kernels start to dent and the liquid is more doughy than milky.
English Peas (cultivar of Pisum sativum)
- Best time to pick: When the peas are small to medium size, are sweet tasting and are bright green.
- Picking too early: When the peas are immature and too difficult to shell.
- Picking too late: When the pods turn yellow and the peas are large.
Bell (Green or Sweet) Peppers (cultivar of Capsicum anuum)
- Best time to pick: When they are firm and glossy
- Picking too early: When they are too small.
- Picking too late: Difficult to tell, but when the peppers start to become soft and mushy, it is probably too late.
Summer Squash (Curcubita pepo)
- Best time to pick: When you can penetrate the rind with your thumbnail.
- Picking too early: When they are too small and the fruit is still undeveloped
- Picking too late: Hard to penetrate the rind with your thumbnail
Winter squash (cultivar of Curcubita pepo)
- Best time to pick: When the rind is hard to penetrate with your thumbnail (as opposed to summer squash)
- Picking too early: When the rind is soft.
- Picking too late: After frost has damaged the fruit.
Watermelon (Citrullus linatus)
- Best time to pick: When the surface of the melon nearest the ground turns from a light straw color to a rich yellow.
- Picking too early: The flesh and stem is green and difficult to separate.
- Picking too late: The top surface has a dull look.
Related articles:
- When to Pick Desert Garden Vegetables Part I
- Care of Tomatoes in Desert Gardens Part I
- Care of Tomatoes in Desert Gardens Part II
