Activities, Parenting & Kids

Tips for Harvesting Your Garden this Summer

Posted by The Dream Dinners Team on

It’s hard to find a vegetable that tastes quite as good as the one you grow on your own!

Growing vegetables in your garden is a fun summer activity that the entire family can enjoy. Not only do you have a full view of the growing process, but you can eat the veggies together by adding them to your favorite Dream Dinners dish when they are ready to be picked. To help you maximize your vegetable garden, we’ve created a quick list of helpful tips!

  • Be Gentle

If you accidentally bruise your vegetables, they will be more likely to rot. It’s so essential to handle your veggies with care! If the vegetable is hard to remove, don’t tug too hard; instead, try cutting it with a knife. Try to avoid puncturing the vegetable when you pick it to ensure it stays at its highest quality.

  • Daily Garden Checks

It is vital to check your vegetable garden daily so you know when the vegetables are beginning to ripen! You don’t want to miss a ripe vegetable, or it will likely go rotten in your garden. Plants can surprise us with how speedy they grow! By keeping a close eye on your vegetables, you will be able to properly harvest them at the exact moment they are ready.

  • Track Progress

In addition to checking your garden daily, you should check the progress of your vegetables. This will be especially helpful if you have a large garden this year. With more extensive gardens, it can be challenging to keep up with what you’ve planted, where, and how long it takes for them to harvest. Keep track of all this information so you know how to properly care for your garden, and you know where to check for harvested veggies.

  • Pick Then When They’re Dry

It’s best to harvest your vegetables when they are dry to avoid spreading any plant diseases. Try to steer clear of your garden on rainy days to keep it as clean and fresh as possible. Wait until a sunny summer day when the vegetables are dry to begin your harvesting.

  • Watch Your Step

Sometimes accidents can’t be avoided, but we can do our best to avoid them! When you’re harvesting your garden, always watch where you are stepping to make sure you don’t damage any plants. Tight gardens can be hard to maneuver, making sure you have walkways or always watch where you are placing your feet.

  • Use the Right Tools

While not all vegetables need tools, some may require a garden fork or knife. Using the right tools to harvest your vegetables will ensure they don’t become damaged. Always do your research before you gather to understand when you might need to break out the garden fork!

  • Have Fun!

This is the most important step of them all! At the end of the day, most of us harvesting vegetables aren’t professionals. Growing vegetables can be a fun summer activity for the entire family. Still, it’s always important to remember why you started. If your vegetables become bruised or don’t turn out the way you expected them to, don’t let that ruin your gardening experience! Learn from your mistakes and try again next year. Also, remember that your vegetables probably won’t look like what you’re used to seeing in the store. Expect your home-grown veggies to look slightly less perfect than those found in the produce aisle.

Has your family enjoyed gardening this summer? We’d love to see pictures of your harvest! Comment on this post or send us a message on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.