It will soon be time to harvest and you will finally enjoy the fruit of your labour. Each vegetable is harvested at a different time and has its own preservation method. Learn a little more about your vegetables with the following tips and tricks.
Harvest broccoli about two months after planting, once it has reached between 7.5 and 10 cm in height. It is important to harvest it when its head is bright green.
Wrap your broccoli in moist paper towel or keep it in a well aerated bag in the refrigerator. It can be kept 4-5 days in the crisper drawer.
Start harvesting carrots once they've reached the size of a finger, that is, about 30 to 40 days after seeding.
You can leave your carrots in the ground until fall, and pick them as needed. When picking, remove the leaves. You can keep them in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
You can harvest your cauliflower about 3 months after seeding. Its head should be firm. Cut the stem at the base.
Keep the head intact and keep the leaves as well. Those preserve freshness and increase keeping time. Cauliflowers can be left in the refrigerator for up to 10 days in a perforated bag.
Harvest cucumbers 3 to 4 months after planting, when they've reached about 10 cm in height and 2 to 3 cm in diameter. Use a sharp knife or scissors to cut cucumbers off the stems.
Cucumbers keep longer in the refrigerator, wrapped in a dish cloth or plastic bag in the crisper drawer. Wash them only before use.
Beans are usually harvested 2 to 4 months after seeding. You can pick them when they've reached half their full size, that is, 12 to 15 cm in length. Make sure to harvest your beans before they harden.
Place your beans in a perforated plastic bag in the crisper drawer. They will easily keep for 3 to 4 days. It is possible to humidify them to prolong the keeping time.
Lettuce is harvested 6 to 8 weeks after seeding. In the case of head and romaine lettuce, it is important to wait until the head is well formed and to cut them before they go to seed. In the case of leaf lettuce, harvest as needed.
It can be kept a few days in the crisper drawer. Its leaves must be washed first, wrapped in paper towel and then placed in a perforated plastic bag or container.
Onions can be harvested when the leaves are dry and wilted. That usually occurs about 6 months after seeding.
Store your onions at low temperature, in a dry, fresh and well aerated location. Avoid storing them alongside potatoes, as both vegetables will rot. You can keep them this way for 2 to 3 months.
Potatoes can be harvested 2 to 3 months after seeding, when their leaves have turned yellow. However, do not wait until they're completely dry, as this means it's too late.
Keep your potatoes in a dark, dry and fresh location. They can be kept 2 to 3 months. It is important to eat them before they germinate. Store them away from onions, as this would cause both vegetables to rot.
Tomatoes can be harvested 4 or 5 months after seeding. When picking them, lift the fruit and twist it. If it's ripe, it will come off the stem.
If your tomatoes are not completely ripe, store them at room temperature, sheltered from the sun. If you want to slow down the ripening process, keep your tomatoes in the refrigerator. However, preserving tomatoes in the refrigerator will unfortunately affect their taste.
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