Harvesting
People greet harvest time with mixed feelings. The joy of
gathering a bountiful harvest is certainly a strong and most gratifying
experience. There is also a sense little sadness as we reach the end of a
gardening season that brought new learnings and such satisfaction. At just
that moment, next spring feels a really long ways away. And indeed, that
"just around the corner" feeling will will have to wait until
January when the seed catalogs arrive in the mail!
Most fruits vegetables are at their best from a flavor and
texture standpoint when they are still young. Most can be picked when
small and help to thin out the harvest as well as to extend it. In
addition, many fruits are best picked before they fully ripen. This helps
to avoid damage during transit and they will last longer. Peaches are a
good example as they are best picked when still hard or firm and will
ripen to a soft and sweet tasting treat if left out on a counter for a few
days. But, if you pick peaches when they are ripe, those that don't fall
from the tree before you get them will keep for only a few days
and will be easily damaged.
While we often think about harvesting in the fall,
harvesting goes on all season long from the first asparagus, strawberry,
or rose all the way to pumpkin pickin'. The focus of this article is upon
the fall harvest and things you can do to prolong the harvest as well as
properly store and keep it in good condition. Note that many flowers,
fruits and vegetables have specific peak harvest times and storage
methods, so make sure to read further on each specific one as needed.
Keys to Successful Long Term Storage:
One recent spring day, a neighbor of mine walked over to
visit me as I was planting vegetables for an early crop. He wanted to show
me (as in show off) what was in a box that he was carrying. It was one
quarter full of small, yellow tomatoes and most of them were in quite good
shape! He had stored these tomatoes from late September to mid April and
had been eating fresh tomatoes all winter! Granted, this was a long keeper
variety, but the point is vegetables under the right conditions they can
last for quite a while. Here are some pointers to maximize the storage
times for your crop:
Know when to pick your fruits and vegetables: Most
vegetables should be picked before they peak. They will slowly ripen off
the vine. Some vegetables need to "cure" or ripen and harden
before storing. A good example of this is pumpkins and gourds.
Clean and sort: Wash the fruit or vegetable
thoroughly. Remove any that is damaged , soft spots, or have holes in
them. The old saying "one bad apple spoils the whole bushel" is
actually quite true.
Eliminate bacteria: Bacteria is what spoils fruit
and vegetables in longer term storage. After washing them, many people
rinse them in a very light solution of chlorine and water. This is works
well for winter squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers and a few other
vegetables that have a hard skin. Use one part chlorine to twenty parts
water. Then let them dry thoroughly before putting them away. Fruits and
root crops do not usually need this extra protection. and, this is not
recommended for thin skinned vegetables, leaf crops or others with a
short shelf life.
Spread them Out: When putting fruits and vegetables
away for long term storage, do not pile them high and together in one big
container. Several smaller containers are best.. Keep them from touching
each other if possible. If one does go bad, the bacteria or fungus has a
harder time spreading if the fruit is separated.
Optimal storage conditions: Most fruits and
vegetables store longer if kept in cool, dry conditions. And many will
last for months under the ideal conditions. Cold storage is used for many
crops, and are kept fresh for later use weeks and months later. Each fruit
or vegetable may have a different ideal temperature. Local cold storage
companies will know the proper humidity and temperatures. A few vegetables
will keep for several months out of the refrigerator if kept at a low
humidity. These include potatoes, onions, garlic and winter squashes. For
home storage, the general rule of thumb is cool, dry and dark conditions
are the best.
More Information:
Harvesting
Vegetables This is a great guide to properly determine the ideal
harvest time for each vegetable.
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