Make Sure to Harvest String Beans When Ready

Image: Gibby's Garden

Though it may be a little early for those of us in the north to be out harvesting our string beans, it’s important to do so when they’re ready. This helps extend the harvest season and fill our freezers and pantries with plenty of crisp, tasty beans for the winter to come. So, why is picking all mature string beans a must?

String beans need to be harvested when mature in order for the plants to produce more - plain and simple. This may be annoying to some, but to me, it sounds like a good idea. Why should the plant waste it’s energy on producing a crop of beans if no one is there to harvest them?

String beans are typically ready for harvest when the seeds inside begin to swell. Of course harvest time differs depending on the variety, but on average, go ahead and pick them while the pods are still tender and check the back of your seed packet for the average bean length when ready for harvest.

You may think that waiting to harvest string beans when they’re several inches long and busting with ripe seeds will get you more bean for your buck - but you’re going to miss out on great taste and texture. Fat string beans become stringy, take on a woody texture and really lose a lot of that fresh, crisp flavor they’re known for straight from the garden.

I do lots of sampling to make sure my beans are ready before setting out to harvest - yum! I planted two varieties of string beans this year, Imperial Golden Wax ready for harvest at about 4-5 inches long, and Blue Lake pole beans ready around 6 inches or so.

Unfortunately due to the weather, I’ve had to replant many of my beans and will not be harvesting until later in the season. String beans are one of my favorite vegetables to eat and grow and I can’t wait for the sampling to begin!

What are some of your favorite vegetables?

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The Vegetable Harvesting Guide: When & How to Harvest in the North

You put a lot of work into your vegetable garden and it’s only natural to want to reap the rewards - after all, you deserve it. To get the best tasting vegetables and encourage plants to keep producing, keep track of days to maturity and consult the following guide to know when and how to harvest vegetables in the north.

Chart of When & How to Harvest Vegetables

Asparagus	When: Spears reach 6 - 10" tall
	How: Use a sharp knife & cut spears at ground level
Beans, Lima	When: Pods have filled out & before they yellow *
	How: Twist & snap pods from plant
Beans, Snap	When: Pods have small seeds, about 1/4 the size of plant seed
	How: Twist & snap pods from plant
Beets	When: Bulbs reach 2 - 3" in diameter **
	How: Pull from base of plant
Broccoli	When: Terminal heads have tight, dark green florets
	How: Cleanly slice heads 4- 5" below florets
Brussels Sprouts	When: Harvest when sprouts are small & firm
	How: Twist sprouts off starting at bottom of plant & working up
Cabbage	When: Heads are firm and before they split
	How: Cleanly slice heads from plant
Cantaloupe	When: Fruit is beige, blossom end is soft & stem easily slips off vine
	How: Twist & pull from vine
Carrots	When: Roots reach 1 - 2" in diameter ***
	How: Twist & pull at base of plant
Cauliflower	When: Heads reach 1-2" in diameter, tie outer leaves over head. Harvest 1 -2 weeks later before heads yellow
	How: Cleanly slice heads from plant
Chard, Swiss	When: Early summer to first moderate frost
	How: Break off outer leaves of plant
Corn, Sweet	When: Tips fill out husk, silks are dry & kernels full. Peel back top of husk & press fingernail into a kernel, if it gives a milk-like sap, it’s ready for harvest
	How: Twist & pull ears from stalks
Cucumbers	When: Diameter reaches 1 ½ - 2 ½", spines soften & before cucumbers turn yellow
	How: Twist and pull from vine
Eggplant	When: Almost full-grown & bright & shiny in color
	How: Twist & pull from plant
Kale	When: Leaves & stems reach size of hand
	How: Snip handful at a time leaving terminal bud on plant
Kohlrabi	When: Stems reach 2 - 3" in diameter
	How: Pull plants from ground, cut tops
Lettuce, Heads	When: Head is firm & before bolting
	How: Pull entire plant from ground & slice off head
Lettuce, Leaf	When: Leaves reach desired size
	How: Snip outer leaves, working inward as leaves mature
Okra	When: Pods reach 2 - 3" long
	How: Snap pods from plant
Onions, Bulb	When: Tops have browned and fallen over
	How: Pull on dry, windy day, let rest in garden for 1day, cure in dry, well-ventilated area for 2 weeks
Onions, Green	When: 5” tall or when desired size is reached
	How: Pull or snip greens to allow for mature harvest later
Parsnips	When: Late fall after a few moderate freezes
	How: Twist & pull at base of plant
Peas, Shelling	When: Peas begin to fill pods, pods begin to swell
	How: Twist and pull from plant
Peas, Snow	When: Pods reach desired length & before they fill out
	How: Twist & snap from plant
Pepper, Sweet	When: Fruits are thick, firm, full-sized & desired color
	How: Cleanly slice stem from plant
Potatoes, New	When: 2 weeks after blooming
	How: Dig up
Potatoes, Main	When: Tops have died down & ground is dry
	How: Dig up, cure in dry, well-ventilated area for 10-14 days
Pumpkins	When: Thumbnail cannot penetrate skin, stem browns & dries
	How: Cut from vine leaving 1-2" of stem attached to pumpkin
Radish	When: Bulb reaches ½-1" in diameter ****
	How: Pull from base of plant
Rhubarb	When: Stalks are ½-1" in diameter, & 10-12" tall (leaves are poisonous)
	How: Twist & pull stalks at bases
Spinach	When: Leaves reach desired size
	How: Snip or pinch leaves working from outside of plant inwards
Squash, Summer	When: Young & tender, skin is penetrable by thumbnail
	How: Twist & pull from vine leaving ½" stem attached to squash
Squash, Winter	When: Thumbnail cannot penetrate skin, stem browns & dries
	How: Cut from vine leaving 1-2" of stem attached to squash, cure for 10 days in well-ventilated, dry area
Sweet Potato	When: In fall, before first major frost
	How: Dig up, cure 1 week in well-ventilated, dry area
Tomato	When: Firm & uniformly red
	How: Twist & pull from plant
Turnip	When: Bulbs are 1" + in diameter & before first major frost
	How: Twist & pull at base
Watermelon	When: Sounds dull & hollow when thumped, bottom yellows & tendrils brown & die
	How: Snip stem from vine

* Beans, Lima: For tender lima beans, harvest right before beans mature. For meatier beans, harvest when fully mature.

** Beets: Harvest beet greens when beets are about 1" in diameter. Spring planted beets should be harvested by July while fall planted beets should be harvested before the ground freezes.

*** Carrots: Harvest carrots planted in spring by July and carrots planted in fall before the ground freezes.

**** Radishes: Harvest radishes planted in spring by July and radishes planted in fall before ground freezes.

Reference: De Long, Eric. "Guidelines for Harvesting Vegetables." Cornell.edu. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Chemung County, Oct. 2001. Web. Aug. 2012. <http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/factsheets/vegetables/harvestguide.pdf >.

Facts about Finding and Harvesting Maine Fiddleheads

It’s that time of year when the picking is ripe for Maine fiddleheads. If you’re lucky enough to have your own plot of land where fiddleheads grow, then now is the time to head outdoors for harvest.

Quick Maine Fiddlehead Facts

If you’ve never harvested, eaten or preserved fiddleheads, it’s best to read up on the subject.

When are Fiddleheads in Season?

Fiddleheads are in season from late April until early June.

Where do Fiddleheads Grow?

Fiddleheads prefer growing near moving water along Maine’s rivers, streams and brooks.

Which Type is Best for Eating?

In Maine, the ostrich fern is the most popular for eating. In spring, the fern produce small coils which are harvested before blooming.

How to Identify Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads

The small coils, about an inch in diameter, are found in clusters ranging from 3 to 12 heads. The stems are smooth and U-shaped. Identify ostrich fern fiddleheads by the brown paper-like covering on the head. Find pictures for easier identification here.

How to Harvest Fiddleheads

Ostrich fern fiddleheads should be harvested when the coils have grown to 1 to 2 inches above the ground. Remove the delicate brown covering.

How to Clean Fiddleheads

Rinse fiddleheads under cold water to remove dirt and debris. Submerge fiddleheads in a bowl of clean, cold water. Repeat steps as necessary until all dirt and brown coverings are removed.

Warning

Please make sure you are harvesting and eating ostrich fern fiddleheads. Some types of fiddleheads can make you sick. More info

Additional Reading

Fiddlehead Recipes

Preserving Fiddleheads

Reference: Universityof Maine Cooperative Extension Website *

* The U-Maine Cooperative Extension website has lots of great information for the Maine gardener. The information is tailored to our region and submitted by trusted professionals. 

Image: vår resa, on Flickr