Part 5; Harvesting the Garden & Preserving the Harvest

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Harvesting the Garden is the last in our series and the fun part of growing your own garden! The payoff of all of your hard labor! Tons of free recipes too!

Finally, after months of planning and work, you have beautiful vegetables and fruits in your garden! There are a few tips and tricks for proper picking and then storage and preserving your crops, so that they are at the peak of freshness!

How do You Know a Crop is Ready to Harvest?

Crops to Harvest Immature

Determining when your crop is ready to harvest varies by type. Here is a nice chart from Iowa State U, that shows this nicely.

Certain fruits and vegetables are best harvested young. They are tender and most flavorful immature. These include;

• carrots
• lettuce
• radishes
• basil
• broccoli
• summer squash
• cucumbers
• beans
• eggplant

Crops that Can be Harvested at any Stage

Crops that should be Harvested Fully Mature

Fall Picked Crops – Crops that Become More Flavorful After a Light Frost

Harvesting the Garden

Harvesting the garden is perhaps the easiest of all the steps, and obviously the most rewarding! Many of our most beloved vegetable crops can be picked by grabbing the fruit, twisting the stem of the fruit, and adding a gentle tug, while twisting. Do not tug too hard, or you risk damaging the root system, or breaking the plant. Plants in this category include, tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers.

Root crops, such as carrots, radishes, garlic, onion and parsnips, are picked by placing both hands around all of the leaves of the upper part of the plant, close to the ground, and strongly pulling straight up. If the root is very deep, a flat bar tool (link below) can be used to loosen the soil around the vegetable. Then it should pull right out of the soil.

Harvesting the Garden – Storing Your Harvest

My great grandparents had what was called a root cellar, under their house. Many root cellars were accessible only from the outside. They usually had earthen floors and homemade shelving. It never froze in the root cellar, but maintained a temperature ranging from 40-50°F. This area was perfect for storing all of their canned goods and much of their produce, like potatoes, apples, winter squash and garlic.

Most modern homes do not have root cellars, so the best thing to do is purchase a separate refrigerator (used ones are cheap). Set the refrigerator to around 45°-50°F and you have an instant root cellar!

Most of the vegetables and herbs that you harvest will have a longer shelf life, if they are refrigerated immediately after harvest! Like everything in gardening, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Tomatoes are at the top of the list, they break every rule!

• tomatoes

Tomatoes are best stored on a sunny counter, or window sill, after picking. They can be rinsed off, or not.

• basil

Store basil, after cutting off of plant with garden shears, in a cup filled with water. “Tent” the leaves with a plastic bag to form a greenhouse. Change water daily.

• parsley

Same as basil, above.

• potatoes

Store potatoes in a cool, dark space.

• onions

Same as potatoes

• garlic

Same as potatoes

• melons

The same as potatoes

• berries

Same as potatoes

Obviously, some crops will not store as long as others. Potatoes, garlic and onions will last a few months, berries only a few days.

Harvesting the Garden – Preserving Your Harvest

Harvesting the Garden – Drying as a Means of Preservation

Drying fruits and vegetables is an ancient tradition and still a great way to preserve some of your summer crops.

Many vegetables and herbs are perfect candidates for drying. Methods include, the oven, grill, an electric dehydrator, air fryer, or in the sun in dry climates. Those include;

• Sweet and hot Peppers

Recipes; Dried Peppers, Habanero Hot Pepper Flakes

• Basil
• Oregano
• Thyme
• apples

Freezing as a Means of Preserving Crops

Some crops freeze quite well. Many will lose their texture, but are great used in a variety of dishes.

Recipes; Venison Stew, Curried Carrot Soup, Carrot Soup with Toasted Pecans

• corn, Cut off cob. Freeze on baking sheets, until firm, then transfer to freezer bags.

Recipes; Chicken Soup, Venison Stew, Mexican Turkey Soup

• garlic

Recipes; Garlic Scape Pesto, Garlic Scape Herb Butter

• peas. Freeze on baking sheets, until firm, then transfer to freezer bags.

Recipes; Venison Stew, Chicken Soup, Turkey Soup

• peppers, roast peppers in oven or on grill. Freeze in bags

Recipes; Sausage with peppers and onions, Roasted Pepper Soup, Roasted Pepper Sauce, Salsas

• tomatoes

Recipes; Slow Cooker Chili, Venison Chili, Seafood Fra Diavolo

• zucchini, (I grate it in a food processor and then freeze)

Recipes; Lemon Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Cheese Bread, Banana Zucchini Bread

• berries, all types. Freeze on baking sheets, until firm, then transfer to freezer bags.

Recipes; Blackberry Jam, Strawberry Jam, Blueberry BBQ Sauce, Blackberry Syrup

• cherries, halved with pit removed. Freeze on baking sheets, until firm, then transfer to freezer bags.

Recipes; Cherry BBQ Sauce, Cherry Pie Filling, Cherry Preserves

Fermenting Vegetables to Preserve

• cabbage

Recipes; Sauerkraut

• carrots

Recipes; Fermented Carrots

• hot peppers

Recipes; Fermenting Peppers, Fermented Hot Sauce

• radishes

Recipes; Fermented Radishes

Harvesting the Garden – Pickling Vegetables to Preserve

• cabbage

Recipes; Sauerkraut

• carrots

Recipes; Pickled Carrots

• cucumbers

Recipes; Sweet Pickles, Dill Pickles

• hot peppers

Recipes; Pickled Peppers, Candied Jalapeños

• radishes

Recipes; Pickled Radishes

• onions

Recipes; Pickled Red Onion

Making Relishes to Preserve Garden Vegetables

• cucumber

Recipes; Sweet Pickle Relish, Dill Pickle Relish

• peppers

Recipes; Hot Pepper Relish, Sweet pepper Relish

• Tomatoes

Recipes; Oscar Relish

• Zucchini

Recipes; Zucchini Relish

• Peaches

Recipes; Oscar Relish

Canning; Making Jams, Jellies, Preserves, BBQ Sauce, Salsas, Pie Fillings, Chutneys and Syrups

Water Bath Canning Pot is sufficient to can jams, jellies, etc., due to the acid content.

• Apple

Recipes; Apple Jelly, Apple Butter

• Apricot

Recipes; Apricot Jam without Pectin

• Blackberries

Recipes; Blackberry Jam, Blackberry Syrup

• Blueberries

Recipes; Blueberry BBQ Sauce, Blueberry Jam

• Cherries

Recipes; Cherry BBQ Sauce, Cherry Jam

• Peaches

Recipes; Peach Jam, Peach Bourbon BBQ Sauce, Peach Salsa

• Raspberries

Recipes; Raspberry Jam

• Onions

Recipes; Onion Jam, Onion Marmalade

• Tomatoes

Recipes; Chipotle Salsa, How to Can Salsa with Roasted Garlic, Green Tomato Salsa

Harvesting the Garden – Canning; Whole or Sliced Vegetables

Pressure Canner is required for canning all fruits and vegetables whole or sliced.

• Apple
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Peaches
• Raspberries
• beans
• beets
• Carrots
• corn
• peas
• Tomatoes

Other Recipes Using Produce From Your Garden

Vegetables

• Asparagus

Recipes; Asparagus & Shallots, Spring Starter with Wild Aspargus, Asparagus Soup, Shrimp and Asparagus Quiche, Asparagus Orzotto with Pancetta, Smoked Salmon Salad with Asparagus, Halloumi Asparagus Quiche

• Beans

Recipes; Green Beans Almondine with Bacon and Garlic, Italian Potato Salad with Beans, Beans Curry, Grilled Shrimp Pasta Salad with Cherries and Beans, Dragon Tongue Beans with Pancetta, Air Fryer Green Beans, BBQ Red Cabbage and Yellow Beans

• Beets

Recipes; Thyme Roasted Baby Beets, Beet Salad, French Lentil Salad with Fennel and Beets, Beet Crust Pizza, Beetroot Energy Balls, Radichio and Beet Salad, Beet and Arugula Salad, Beet Pizza with Beet Leaf Pesto

• Brassicas – Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Romanesco

Recipes; Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli Jicama Salad, Parmesan, Garlic Mashed Cauliflower ,Maple Roased Brussels Sprouts & Sweet Potatoes, Cheesy Cauliflower Soup, Cauliflower au Gratin, GF & DF, White Lasagna with Romanesco, Orecchiette Pasta with Romanesco, Romanesco Curry Maple Roased Brussels Sprouts

• Cabbage

Recipes; Cream of Cabbage Soup without Cream, Eggroll in a Bowl, Baked Cabbage, Dried Cherry and Apple Coleslaw, Colcannon, Cabbage Rice Recipe, Simple Cabbage Salad

• Carrots

Recipes; Cinnamon Maple Glazed Carrots, Black Rice, Carrot Cake with Walnuts, Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots, Carrot Soup with Toasted Pecans, Curried Carrot Soup, Broccoli, Carrot, Potato Coconut Curry

• Corn

Recipes; Corn and Black Bean Salsa, Mexican Street Corn, Sweet and Spicy Grilled Corn, Corn Salad, Dominican Corn Pudding, Easy Summer Corn Salad, Oven Roasted Corn with herb chili butter

• Cucumber

Recipes; 10 Minute Cucumber Tomato Salad, Cucumber Sandwiches, Lemon & Cucumber Cake with Gin Icing, Cucumber Mojito, German Cucmber Dill Salad, Tomato Consomme Tortellini, Grilled Goat Cheese Bruschetta, Creamy Cucumber, Radish Salad

• Eggplant

Recipes; Simple Italian Fried Eggplant, Baked Eggplant Parmesan, Baked Eggplant Pasta, Aubergine Caviar, Vegan Eggplant Sandwich, Sweet & Tangy Grilled Eggplant, Chinese Eggplant, Eggplant Fritters

• Peas

Recipes; Sauteed Green Beans & Peas with Basil, Braised Beef with Asparagus and Peas, Asparagus Salad with Pea shoots, Creamy Pea Salad, Pea Bruschetta, Green Peas Halwa

• Radishes

Recipes; Summer Slaw with Peanut Dressing, Garlic Roasted Radishes, Turnip & Radish Greens Saute, Russian Radish Salad, Quick Pickled Radishes

• Rhubarb

Recipes; Rhubarb Dump Cake, Gluten Free Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, Rhubarb Strawberry Apple Salad, Straight-up Rhubarb Pie, Rhubarb Pudding, Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler, Mom’s Vintage Rhubarb Pie, GF & DF Rhubarb Crisp

• Squash – Summer Squash

Recipes; Garlic Thyme Squash Noodles, Zucchini Noodles Ground Beef Stir Fry, Summer Harvest Pasta, Grilled Summer Squash, Zucchini Crust Tomato Spinach Feta Pie, Sauteed Shrimp with Zucchini, Squash Risotto with Thyme, Summer Squash Casserole, Ravioli with Buffalo Mozzarella Summer Squash Sauce

• Squash- Winter Squash

Recipes; Spaghetti Squash Boats with Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan Bacon Spinach Spaghetti Squash Boats, Roasted Squash with Herb Oil, Butternut Squash Soup with Apples and Coconut

• Tomatoes

Recipes; Seafood Fra Diavolo, Chicken Stuffed Tomato Bites, 10 Minute Cucumber Tomato Salad, How to Make Tomato Juice, Summer Tomato Garden Sauce Pasta, Bruschetta Chicken

Fruits

• Apricot

Salmon with Tomato Apricot Relish, Apricot Chicken in the Slow Cooker, Apricot and Vanilla Pastries, Apricot Panna Cotta, Apricot Jam Cake

• Blackberries, Raspberries

Recipes; Venison with Blackberry Sauce, Grilled Peach with Wine Blackberry Sauce, Blackberry Peach Galette, Mini Peach and Berry Tarts, Vanilla Layer Cake with Blackberry Buttercream, Blackberry Cupcakes, Raspberry Syrup, White Chocolate Raspberry Pie, Blackberry Pear Traybake

• Blueberries

Recipes; Roasted Blueberry & Goat Cheese Crostini, Blueberry Banana Bread, Vegan Blueberry Smoothie, Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake, Vegan Lemon Blueberry Bread, Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies

• Cherries

Recipes; Cherry Crumble Pie, Cherry Brie & Bacon Quesadilla, Cherry Camambert Grilled Cheese, Chocolate Covered Cherry Shot, Vegan Cranberry Cherry Crisp, Cherry Coconut Almond Crisp

• Peaches

Recipes; Grilled Peach with Blackberry Wine Sauce, Blackberry Peach Galette, Peach Chocolate Galette, Roasted Peach, Feta, Pistachio Salad, Peach Iced Tea, Peach Sorbet

• Plums

Recipes; Spiced Poached Plums, Plum Vanilla Custard Tart, Stone Fruit Salad Burrata, Chicken with Plum Sauce and Grilled Plums, Yellow Plum Sorbet, Plum Pie, Mirabella plum Tart, Red Plum Pie

• Strawberries

Recipes; Strawberry Salsa, Vegan Strawberry Cake, Sparkling Ginger Strawberry Lemonade, Spinach, Pecan Strawberry Salad, Strawberry Vinaigrette, No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake



There are, indeed, thousands of ways to preserve your precious crops, so that you can enjoy them throughout the year! So why not get started? Take that first step and plant a little garden this year, so that you can reap the benefits this summer!!

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If you have any questions about Harvesting the Garden, or any other garden topic, let me know in the comments below! I would love to hear from you and be happy to help!

If you missed the rest of the series, start with Planning Your Garden, one of the most important steps!

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Tools I Use to When Harvesting the Garden

Contains affiliate links, for full disclosure, see FTC Disclosure, here.

• carrot picking tool
• harvesting basket

I hope you have enjoyed this series on How to Start a Garden, and that it is, and will be, helpful to you, now and in the future! Thanks for stopping by today!

Enjoy! And have fun cooking!

Xoxo,

Recipe

See Step by Step Photos Above!Most of our recipes have step by step photos and videos! Also helpful tips so that you can make it perfectly the first time and every time! Scroll up to see them!

Print Pin

5 from 3 votes

Harvesting the Garden and Preserving the Harvest

The last, in our 5 part series, How to Start a Garden! This will teach you the proper way to harvest those crops, that you have worked so hard on! We also have over 100 FREE recipes for you to see, so that you can find new inspiration for ways to preserve the fresh crops, at the peak of freshness!

Keyword harvesting a garden, Preserve food from the garden, Preserving crops

Cook Time 10 hours

Total Time 10 hours

Servings 1 garden 10' x 10'

Author Beth Neels

Ingredients

• 1 baskets for gathering
• 1 any other ingredients needed for recipes chosen

Instructions

• See post for tips on harvesting individual crops.
• Post also contains over 100 recipe links for many different garden crops.

Notes

Numbers for time and cost are an average for a 10'x 10' (3 meters x 3 meters) garden. 

 

 

 

See How to Start a Garden, Step 1; Planning for help planning your garden

 

 

 

See Vegetable Garden Preparation for help with setting up the garden

 

 

 

See Choosing Plants and Planting your Garden for tips on proper plant installation 

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you click the link and purchase something, at no additional cost to you. See FTC Disclosure, here.

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