Harvesting vegetables

Freshly picked vegetables are full of goodness and are the most nutritious vegetables to eat. So only pick those vegetables that you can use or sell immediately. If you are storing vegetables, then keep them in a cool place so that they stay fresh longer.

Some vegetables produce more when you harvest them, for example, beans and peas. However, others like carrots do not regrow.

Beans
Pick beans seven to 10 weeks after healthy planting before they become hard and leathery. Pick twice a week. The more you pick, the more beans your plants will produce.

Peas
Pick peas 10 to 12 weeks after planting when the pea pods are full and dark green. Don't wait until they get hard and leathery. Pick twice a week.

Carrots
Harvest nine to 12 weeks after planting when leaves are 15 cm to 20 cm high.

Beetroot
Pick eight to nine weeks after planting when the roots are 5 cm across or bigger. Beetroot leaves can be eaten like spinach.

Turnips
Pick seven to nine weeks after planting when the roots are 5 cm across or bigger. Turnip leaves can be eaten like spinach.

Mealies
Pick 10 to 12 weeks after planting when the cobs are full and the hairs on the end are brown and dry.

Potatoes
Pick three months after planting when the leaves and stems have dried. Dig out the potatoes carefully with a fork, so you don't damage the crop.

Onions
These vegetables take up to five months to be ready. Wait until the leaves are dry and brown. Pull the onions out and dry them in the shade.

Tomatoes
Pick carefully eight to 10 weeks after planting when they are almost red. Be careful not to break the branches. Leave a short green stem on the tomatoes, so that they stay fresh longer.

Green peppers
Pick 10 to 12 weeks after planting when they are firm. The peppers should be 8 cm to 12 cm long. Do not let them get soft.

Egg plants
Pick 12 weeks after planting when they are firm and shiny, and 12 cm to 20 cm in size.

Spinach
Only cut two or three leaves on the outside of each plant. The inside leaves will continue to grow. Feed your plants well so that you can keep picking them for up to nine months.

Lettuce
Pick eight to 10 weeks after planting when the head is getting firm and before it starts to get brown or bursts.

Cauliflower
Pick 10 to 12 weeks after planting when the heads are firm and measure 10 to 15 cm. Break the outer leaves of the cauliflower and fold them over the cauliflower head to protect it from the sun. This will stop the heads from turning brown.

Broccoli
Pick eight to 10 weeks after planting the heads and before the little yellow flowers appear.

Cabbage
Pick 10 to 12 weeks after planting when the heads are firm (20cm to 30cm across) and before they start to split open.

*Extract taken from How to start a garden with only a few cents , Abalimi Bezekhaya's DIY guide to growing and harvesting your own vegetables. For your copy, place an order at info@abalimi.org.za. Payment up front and payment details on order. The book costs R24, plus handling and postage of R10.00 anywhere in SA.