Show Harvest vegetables at proper time pact and smooth The immature buds should not be allowed to separate CHARD — Harvest can begin anytime the plant develops four to five leaves The leaves should be removed about one to 15 inches above the ground to protect the growing point in the center of the plant This will ensure a continual production of leaves The older leaves become tough and stringy Always leave a few leaves on the plant to manufacture food for the rest of the season CORN — Sweet corn can be harvested about three By GRANT P TAYLOR Special to r Standard-Examine- First of two parts Harvesting vegetables at the proper stage of maturity will give you better tasting vegetables and will encourage more vegetables to set giving you a greater harvest Produce left in the garden will become fibrous and tough and will rot Vegetables picked at their they are allowed to become too large the stem becomes tough and woody LETTUCE — Head lettuce is ready when the head is firm Butter crunch and leaf lettuce are harvested when the leaves get large enough to eat For longer production of leaf lettuce remove the outer leaves for use letting the plant continue to produce leaves ONIONS — Green onions can be harvested anytime you think they are big enough They should be refrigerated or consumed immediately for increased quality Onions to be stored should not be pulled until they are mature Maturity is indicated by the tops of the tops have fallen falling over When one-habreak over the remaining tops to hasten maturity In a few days dig the onions and leave them to cure in the sun for two to three days They should be covered if rains threaten This allows the outer skin to dry thoroughly After the tops have dried out cut off the stems one to 15 inches above the bulb Large necked and bruised bulbs do not store well Use them first Place the quality bulbs in a mesh sack or crates for storage in a cool dry place Sprouted roots and stems indicate the temperature and moisture are lf weeks after the pollen falls or when the silk is dry and brown The corn should be harvested when the proper stage of maturity will be of superior quality and also more nutritious Here are some tips that can serve as a guide to harvesting your vegetables ASPARAGUS — Harvest should begin the second year after planting Then pick for only two to three weeks but from then on harvest can last for as much as eight weeks Harvest the spears when they are six to eight inches tall but before the tips begin to separate Snapping the spears off at the soil level will avoid damage to the crown and cutting young spears coming up BEANS — You may start to harvest beans when the pods get about three inches long or when the seeds inside the pods begin to bulge A snap bean ready for harvest should break off with a snap You must be faithful about keeping the mature pods picked off the plant for continual production Beans have a tendency to cling to the plant therefore use two hands one to hold the plant and the other to remove the fruit It takes about 10 to 14 days from fruit set to the harvest of the pods BEETS — Beets can be harvested anytime when they are from one inch to 15 inches in diameter At this stage of growth both the beet greens and the roots can be cooked together Beets should never be allowed to get any larger than three inches in diameter because they become woody and less palatable BROCCOLI — Broccoli should be harvested anytime when the buds begin to separate and start to color The center head should be cut while the buds are still tight After the center head is cut smaller side shoots will continue to develop into the season CABBAGE — The cabbage is useable as soon as the head becomes firm The heads will split if they become overmature When harvesting the cabbage cut just under the head leaving some leaves Small heads similar to brussel sprouts will form giving you a bonus for your work CANTALOUPES — The netting on the cantaloupe will be very pronounced The background behind the netting will go from a green to a beige color The stem where the fruit attaches to the plant will slip off very easily when fully ripe CARROTS — Carrots can be harvested from the time they are the thickness of your finger and continue through the end of the season By removing the smaller carrots the remaining carrots will have more space to mature and increase in size Use a spade to remove the carrots from hard soils CAULIFLOWER — For the pure white cauliflower the outer leaves of the cauliflower plants need to be pulled lip over and tied together as soon as the head reaches the size of two to three inches Examine the head often to determine when the tying should be done Harvest the heads when they are still com- - kernels are plump and in the milk stage Use your thumbnail to determine the milk stage Clear juice too high El indicates not ready milky juice is ready a toothtoo it’s late The cobs paste consistency tells you should be firm and filled out Corn should be cooked immediately to prevent the sugars from going to starch PORTABLE CUCUMBERS — Cucumbers should be harvested when the fruits are young and the seeds are still soft A yellowish color on the fruit skin indicates it is overmature and should be removed Picking should be done every other day Cukes for picking should be two to four inches long slices six to eight inches and dills five to six inches long Handle the vines with care for continual production CRENSHAW — The crenshaw will go from a green to yellow color The yellow indictes maturity When the fruit takes on a golden color the fruit is overripe You can also check the blossom end If it s is soft the fruit is ripe EGGPLANT — Harvest eggplants when they are one-haof normal size or when the to fruit is still glossy You can press your thumb into the fruit and if there is no springback the fruit is ready to eat Use a knife when picking the fruit to prevent damage to the plant GARLIC — Garlic is handled the same as onions with the exception that you braid the stems of the plant and store in a cool (32 to 35 degrees) dry place 800 WALL AVE KOHLRABI — Kohlrabi is harvested when the enlarged stem is two to three inches in diameter If lf two-thir- ds 4x40$1f®00 ACME FENCE CO PRIME RATE SO WHAT!! 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