Tips for Harvesting Summer Produce
Now that your garden is planted, whether in containers or raised beds, you're just waiting for the fruits of your labor. But how can you tell when it's time to start harvesting summer produce? Read these harvesting tips for five seasonal favorites – tomatoes, peppers, summer squash, melons and cucumbers.
Melons
About a week before harvesting any melon, minimize watering to let the sugars concentrate in the fruit for a sweeter taste. Only water as much as absolutely necessary to keep the plant’s vines from wilting.
You can judge the ripeness of a cantaloupe by the skin and stem. The rind will take on a more yellow color and a circular crack will appear where the stem attaches to the melon. Ripe melons will slip easily off the stem when harvesting time comes.
Honeydew melons, on the other hand, become cream-colored when ready for harvest. The skin should also give a little when you press it. When harvesting honeydew melons, leave a bit of the stem attached to prevent rotting before you eat it.
For watermelons, look for a rind color that changes from bright to dull green, with the part touching the ground changing from white to yellow. Ripe watermelons will keep for two to three weeks unrefrigerated.