HARVEST TIME!

Niki's tips for picking vegetables at their peak

- NIKI JABBOUR

TO BE SURE YOU ENJOY your homegrown vegetables at peak quality and flavor, you must know when to harvest them. Plus, regular harvesting of crops like peas and beans increases yield, with the plants producing new flowers and pods for a longer period of time.

There are several indications that it's time to harvest crops. These include the size and color of the plant, fruit or pod, and the nearing of the crop's "days to maturity." Listed on the seed packet, days to maturity is the average time needed for a vegetable to go from seed to harvest. The seed packet or transplant tag should also describe the visual clues that suggest the crop is ready to pick.

While precise details can vary between varieties, there are also commonalities. Here are my guidelines and advice for harvesting 18 favorite homegrown vegetables:

SNAP BEANS 

Snap beans, both bush and pole varieties, are ready to pick when the pods measure between four and six inches long. For the highest quality pods, harvest before the interior seeds start to swell. Pick every day or two to promote maximum production.

BEETS 

Tender baby beets are ready when the roots reach the size of a golf ball. Gently brush soil away from the top of the root to gauge its size. If it’s one-and-a-half to two inches across, harvest. If you intend to store your beets for winter meals, wait until they reach maturity. The roots of most beet varieties mature at three to four inches in diameter.

BROCCOLI