Did you know that the best time to pick a tomato is when it is still green? Many people do not.
Ever see those beautiful vegetables hanging from the bush or vine, and think “Wow. I’m really going to have a bumper crop this year,” only to be disappointed when you harvest because the vegetables have become too woody, tasteless of mushy?
That is because not all vegetables ripen at the same time, and some must be harvested while still green. Some take longer than others do, and some must be harvested before they become too ripe.
For instance, do you know how to tell if your eggplant is ripe enough to pick? How about your beans, broccoli, or Brussel sprouts? Each grows on a timetable of its own, and will ripen according to that timetable. Other factors, such as the coolness of the nights, winds, and microclimates might also affect the ripening factor.
If you are going to grow a desert garden, it will pay you to know what to look for in vegetables in order to pick them at the right time.
Watch for two articles, one being published May 14, and another being published on May 17, which describe when to harvest which vegetables, how to know when they are ripe enough to harvest, and how to avoid problems.
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