Harvesting the produce from your garden is the reward for months of care and commitment. As you plan your garden, consider how much of one vegetable can be eaten at a time and only plant that much. Plant in succession to have a continuous supply of maturing vegetables to eat throughout the year. Each vegetable ripens at a different time, so the point at which you harvest is important.
Fruiting vegetables like tomatoes, squash and beans should be harvested throughout the season as they ripen, or production will slow down. Leafy greens will go to seed or “bolt” (you will know this has happened when you see a stalk begin to grow out of the center) when is it too late to harvest. Some crops are tastiest picked immature such as carrots, lettuces, squash, and beans. Other crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and melons should be fully ripened.
Before you harvest from your school garden however, please take the time to familiarize yourself with the best practices for harvesting and eating in the garden. To learn about food safety take a look at these Five Steps to Food Safe School Gardening.
Here is a guide that describes when to harvest. Besides referring to the guide, sample your vegetables throughout their development and decide for yourself when they taste best. Experience will tell you when they have reached their peak.
