Bananas.org - View Single Post

The Hollyberry Lady · 09-04-2009, 10:28 AM

I began this thread on another forum as well and thought it may be helpful here also, so I am copying all of my information and tips. Hope you guys will find them useful...

Harvesting is really the easy part of gardening.

: )

There are some special things to know for the crops that will still be growing at the end of the season...

1) If you still have some beets in the ground in late Autumn, you can try mulching them for later harvesting. While success isn't guaranteed, it might work, and pulling fresh beets from a snowy field can be kinda fun!

2) Cabbage will spoil if it freezes, so harvest it before frost threatens. The best way to select heads for storage is to pick the ones that feel heavy for their size.

3) Carrots can stay in the ground through winter if your ground doesn't freeze solid. They should be protected with a mulch. Once picked, carrots will dry out quickly if the tops are left on, so cut them off, leaving only an inch or two of green.

4) Make sure you have located and harvested all your potatoes before the ground freezes. They are ready to harvest when the tops die down. Leaving them in the ground for a couple of weeks longer toughens their skins, improving their storage quality. Any left will probably over-winter, and sprout in the Spring. There's nothing wrong with that, except potatoes should not be grown in the same area two years in a row, to lessen the possibility of disease.

5) Pumpkins can begin to rot if left in contact with the ground. As they are ripening, put something between the pumpkin and the ground - a short length of board, a shingle, or anything else that will stay dry where it touches the pumpkin. Pumpkins are ready to pick when the vines wither. Cut pumpkins away from the vine and leave a stem of 3 or 4". Treat the pumpkins tenderly, since a break in the skin can lead to rot. If you store them for awhile, don't wash them. Pumpkins can take light frost in the field, but need to be protected from a hard freeze.

6) Treat Winter squash the same way you do pumpkins above. Leaving a stem on is important, as squash and pumpkins will begin to rot without it!

7) If you have a turnip planting fest in July, You won't need to harvest too soon. These vegetables can be left in the ground until it begins to freeze, but don't leave them too long. For best quality, pull turnips before they get too large. About 3" in diameter is as big as you want them to grow.

8) If you grow brussel sprouts, remember that some light frost improves the flavor. If this is your 1st time growing them, you may have been surprised to see how they grow, held tight to the main stalk by a tiny stem. Pick from the bottom up, before the lower leaves turn yellow.

9) Although Collards are eaten mostly in the South, the plants are quite tolerant of frost. As with sprouts, the taste of collard greens is improved by a visit from Jack Frost. These are one of my favorites to grow. I love them.

10) Onions should be harvested when most of the tops begin to dry and fall over. Once the bulbs are mature, pull them. If left in the soil at that stage they will rot! Allow the freshly pulled onions to dry in dappled sun for a few days, and then bring them into a protected area to dry for an additional several weeks. If you cut off the stems, leave several inches on, or rot might set in. Allow them to dry with soil on them - once the onions are completely dry, the soil will brush off easily. If some of your onions have thick necks, use them in the kitchen first, since they will store poorly.

: )

09-04-2009, 10:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,341,433 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Harvesting Tips... I began this thread on another forum as well and thought it may be helpful here also, so I am copying all of my information and tips. Hope you guys will find them useful... Harvesting is really the easy part of gardening. : ) There are some special things to know for the crops that will still be growing at the end of the season... 1) If you still have some beets in the ground in late Autumn, you can try mulching them for later harvesting. While success isn't guaranteed, it might work, and pulling fresh beets from a snowy field can be kinda fun! 2) Cabbage will spoil if it freezes, so harvest it before frost threatens. The best way to select heads for storage is to pick the ones that feel heavy for their size. 3) Carrots can stay in the ground through winter if your ground doesn't freeze solid. They should be protected with a mulch. Once picked, carrots will dry out quickly if the tops are left on, so cut them off, leaving only an inch or two of green. 4) Make sure you have located and harvested all your potatoes before the ground freezes. They are ready to harvest when the tops die down. Leaving them in the ground for a couple of weeks longer toughens their skins, improving their storage quality. Any left will probably over-winter, and sprout in the Spring. There's nothing wrong with that, except potatoes should not be grown in the same area two years in a row, to lessen the possibility of disease. 5) Pumpkins can begin to rot if left in contact with the ground. As they are ripening, put something between the pumpkin and the ground - a short length of board, a shingle, or anything else that will stay dry where it touches the pumpkin. Pumpkins are ready to pick when the vines wither. Cut pumpkins away from the vine and leave a stem of 3 or 4". Treat the pumpkins tenderly, since a break in the skin can lead to rot. If you store them for awhile, don't wash them. Pumpkins can take light frost in the field, but need to be protected from a hard freeze. 6) Treat Winter squash the same way you do pumpkins above. Leaving a stem on is important, as squash and pumpkins will begin to rot without it! 7) If you have a turnip planting fest in July, You won't need to harvest too soon. These vegetables can be left in the ground until it begins to freeze, but don't leave them too long. For best quality, pull turnips before they get too large. About 3" in diameter is as big as you want them to grow. 8) If you grow brussel sprouts, remember that some light frost improves the flavor. If this is your 1st time growing them, you may have been surprised to see how they grow, held tight to the main stalk by a tiny stem. Pick from the bottom up, before the lower leaves turn yellow. 9) Although Collards are eaten mostly in the South, the plants are quite tolerant of frost. As with sprouts, the taste of collard greens is improved by a visit from Jack Frost. These are one of my favorites to grow. I love them. 10) Onions should be harvested when most of the tops begin to dry and fall over. Once the bulbs are mature, pull them. If left in the soil at that stage they will rot! Allow the freshly pulled onions to dry in dappled sun for a few days, and then bring them into a protected area to dry for an additional several weeks. If you cut off the stems, leave several inches on, or rot might set in. Allow them to dry with soil on them - once the onions are completely dry, the soil will brush off easily. If some of your onions have thick necks, use them in the kitchen first, since they will store poorly. : )