When to Harvest
The most common question is when to harvest grown fruits and vegetables. Below is a list of vegetables and how to identify the best time to harvest. Although this is not the complete list of vegetables, it will continue to grow as time goes on.
| Asparagus | Harvest when spears are 6 to 9 inches tall. |
| Beans, Lima | Harvest when pods are full, but seeds are green. |
| Beans, snap | Harvest while pods snap easily and are still smooth. |
| Beets | 1 1/2 – to 2 1/2-inch beets have the highest quality. |
| Broccoli | Harvest before flowers show yellow color. |
| Cabbage | Harvest when heads become firm and plump. |
| Cantaloupe | Harvest when you can lift a melon, and the vine releases the melon without pressure. |
| Carrot | Harvest any time roots are firm and brittle. |
| Cauliflower | Harvest before curd loosens and discolors. |
| Collard | Harvest when leaves are large but still green and firm. |
| Corn | Harvest when kernel juice is milky, silk begins to dry, and ears are full to end. |
| Cucumber | Harvest when they are small, the flesh is firm, and the color is green. |
| Eggplant | Before color begins to dull. |
| Kale | Harvest when leaves are large, but before they yellow. |
| Kohlrabi | Harvest when 2 inches or more in diameter but still tender. |
| Lettuce | Harvest when tender and mild flavored. Before bolting. |
| Mustard | Harvest when leaves are crisp and tender. |
| Okra | Harvest when pods are 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long. |
| Onion | Harvest green onions: when the bulb is 3⁄8 to 1 inch in diameter. |
| Parsnip | Harvest after cool weather has improved quality. |
| Peas, English | Harvest after pods have full, but before they turn yellow. |
| Peas, snap | Harvest after pods form but before yellowing. |
| Peas, Southern | Harvest for fresh use or freezing when you can quickly shell the pods. |
| Pepper, hot | Harvest after pods reaches full size. |
| Pepper, sweet | Harvest when pods are full size and still firm. |
| Potato, Irish | For immediate use: After tubers are 1 inch in diameter. |
| Potato, sweet | Harvest after reaching the desired size but before cool fall rains. |
| Pumpkin | Harvest after they are fully grown and mature colored. Before frost. |
| Radish | Harvest when firm and brilliantly colored. |
| Rutabaga | Harvest before becoming tough. |
| Spinach | Harvest when leaves are crisp and dark green. |
| Squash, summer | When the large end is 1-2 1/2 inches in diameter and the skin, Harvest is still tender. |
| Squash, winter | Harvest when fingernails do not easily scratch the rind. |
| Swiss, chard | Harvest when leaves are crisp, tender, and still green. |
| Tomato | Harvest when fully colored but still firm. |
| Turnip greens | Harvest while leaves are green and crisp. |
| Turnip roots | Harvest after 2 inches in diameter but while still tender. |
| Watermelon | Harvest when tendrils adjacent to fruit die and the rind on the ground becomes yellow. |