It is not always easy to find the right harvest time for the countless types of vegetables. Some varieties are ready to harvest early in the year, while other types take time to ripen. The time of day also plays a role.
When is the optimal harvest time for vegetables?
The optimal harvest time for vegetables varies depending on the type and time of day. Early vegetables such as eggplant, peas and kohlrabi should not be harvested too late, while late vegetables such as leeks, Brussels sprouts and parsnips become more aromatic with the first frosts. Herbs and lettuce taste more intense in the morning, while spinach and rocket are better harvested in the evening.
Time of day
If you eat the harvested vegetables directly from the balcony, the timing plays a minor role. Lettuce and herbs taste more intense at certain times of the day. Other types of vegetables should be harvested within a defined period of time due to certain ingredients.
Morning Harvest
On hot days, morning harvest is recommended. Over the course of the day, the parts of the plant lose water, causing the cells to shrink and the shelf life of the yields to decrease. Herbs are more aromatic and fresher in the morning than in the evening. If you water herbs and lettuce the evening before harvest, they taste even better.
What is harvested in the morning:
- Peppers, onions and cucurbits
- Beans, lentils, peas and lupins
- Mediterranean herbs and lettuce
Harvest in the evening
You should not harvest certain vegetables in the morning. These include spinach and arugula, because these plants absorb nitrate from the soil overnight. The substance is broken down during the day when exposed to sunlight, so the concentration is lower in the evening than in the morning. Root, tuber and cabbage vegetables are full of vitamins in the late afternoon. Early risers will have to be patient for the harvest.
Season
In which season you should harvest your vegetables depends on the type. Each variety has its own preferences, so the harvest lasts from June to winter.
Early vegetables
For many vegetables, harvesting them too late has a negative effect on the aroma. Eggplants and peas develop dry and mealy flesh if left in the ground for too long. Kohlrabi quickly takes on a woody consistency. For cucumbers and zucchini, the shine and color of the peel reveal when the optimal harvest time has come. If the outer skin turns yellow, it is usually too late.
late vegetables
Root vegetables grow in the protection of the soil and develop a more intense flavor over time. Many types of leeks, Brussels sprouts as well as parsnips and salsify have specialized in the cold. They become more aromatic when the first frosts arrive.
