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Is it ripe? Can I pick it now?


Watermelon in field
Is that watermelon ready to be picked? Some investigative work would be necessary to answer that. (Photos: Kathy Morrison)

It depends on what it is and sometimes why it's being grown


The first vegetable garden I remember is the patch my mother planted when I was in kindergarten. I don't recall much about it other than the carrots: My 3-year-old sister and I were so excited about growing carrots that we kept pulling them up to see how big they were -- and then putting them back in the ground.

So much for the carrot harvest.

It can be tough even for adult vegetable gardeners to determine when the crop is ready to harvest. Is that melon ripe? Will those beans get any bigger, or should they be picked now?

Experience is the best teacher here, but if you're a first-timer -- or growing a certain crop for the first time -- these tips might come in handy:

green tomatoes
The bottom tomato will be the first to ripen -- notice
the slight change in color.

-- Tomatoes. They generally acquire color as they ripen, turning just a bit soft near the stem end. And they should come off the vine easily; if you have to tug, wait another day or so. But what if they get knocked off the plant while they're still green? The tomatoes can be salvaged by placing them in a single layer in a paper box and covered with newspaper, or they can be enclosed in a paper bag. A ripe banana or apple in there with the tomatoes will help, too. The ethylene gas that the tomatoes and fruit release helps speed up the ripening process. Keep the box or bag in a warm, dry spot and check on it occasionally.

-- Melons and watermelons. This may be the toughest category for determining ripeness. It's heartbreaking to grow a full-size watermelon, only to discover you've picked it too soon, since melons won't ripen further after picking. (Been there!) Muskmelons are the easiest to tell, since they develop a tan color under their netting and they smell amazing. They also start to "slip" (develop a slight crack) at the point where they're attached to the vine. For honeydew melons, which don't "slip," look for the blossom end to soften and start to turn yellow.

Watermelons give off more subtle signals: The skin tends to become rough as they mature, and the "ground spot" underneath turns slightly yellow. The tendrils closest to the fruit dry up. Another test: In the early morning, rap the side of the fruit with your knuckles. A light or metallic sound means it's still green; a dull sound means it's ripe. (This test isn't as effective in the heat of the day.)

-- Cucumbers. They can picked when at least 2 inches long or any time after that until they turn yellow, but it will depend on the variety. Armenian cucumbers are long and skinny well before they're ready to be picked. If you're going to pickle your cucumbers whole, figure out what size you want and watch the crop closely.

Pole bean
That bean looks perfect for picking.

-- Beans, peppers and summer squash. I put these together because you can pick and enjoy them at any stage of growth. It just depends on how you intend to use them. Tiny pattypan squash are perfect for steaming, but let them grow to 4 or more inches across if you want to make a meal out of one. (Remember: A big squash means big seeds.) Green beans are at their peak when they're 3 inches or more long and still slender, but the mature "bumpy" ones can be roasted successfully. When tiny, hot peppers make great appetizers, but they can be left on the plant to turn red. Bell peppers are typically green before turning red or orange or yellow or purple.

When in doubt, check the seed package or an online listing for the variety of vegetable. These usually list average harvest times; factor in Sacramento's temperature spikes. (Oh, and carrots take about 90 days to grow to harvest size. If only we'd known.)

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Flowers in My Back Yard Series

Sept. 15: Plant seeds soon for fragrant spring blooms (sweet peas) 

Sept. 8: A must for fall gardens, asters are little powerhouses

Sept. 1: Yarrow an easy-care, sturdy flowering plant

Aug. 25: Crape myrtles, Sacramento's unofficial tree of summer

Aug. 18: Pollinators adore scabiosa, aka pincushion flower

Aug. 11: Hardy hibiscus adds big tropical impact

Aug. 4: Dianthus a deceptively hardy flower

July 28: Naked Ladies put on summer show

July 21: Thank Luther Burbank for these long-lasting beauties (Shasta daisies)

July 14: How to keep hydrangeas happy

July 7: Grow these bright cosmos for bees and butterflies

June 30: Agapanthus adds blue fireworks to the garden

June 23: Easy-care gazanias fill those hot corners

June 16: Daylilies are perfect for water-wise gardens (and a lot more)

June 9: Grow coneflowers for pollinators -- and yourself

June 2: Sunflowers capture Sacramento's summer attitude

May 29: Are your roses going 'blind'?

May 26: Zinnias are the summer flowers every garden needs

May 19: Plant dahlias now for late-summer flower power

May 12: Know your coreopsis from your bidens

May 5: Mums the word on Mother's Day weekend

April 28: Majestic Matilija poppy is worth a look

April 21: Celebrate roses, America's favorite flower

April 14: Small flowers with outsized impact

April 7: Calendulas do double duty

April 3: Make Easter lilies last for years to come

March 31: In praise of a pollinator magnet (small-leaf salvias)

March 24: Azaleas brighten shady spots

March 17: The perfect flower for beginners? Try zonal geraniums

March 10: Keep camellias happy for years to come

March 3: Fruit tree blossoms are a fleeting joy

Feb. 27: Are your roses looking rusty?

Feb. 24: Treasure spring daffodils now and for years to come

Feb. 17: How and why to grow wildflowers

Feb. 10: Let's talk Valentine's Day roses

Feb. 3: Why grow flowers?

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Taste Summer! E-cookbook

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Find our summer recipes here!

Garden checklist for week of Sept. 13

Now is the time to plant for fall. The warm soil will get these veggies off to a fast start.

* Keep harvesting tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons and eggplant.

* Compost annuals and vegetable crops that have finished producing.

* Cultivate and add compost to the soil to replenish its nutrients for fall and winter vegetables and flowers.

* Fertilize deciduous fruit trees. Make sure to deep water before and after feeding.

* Plant onions, lettuce, peas, radishes, turnips, beets, carrots, bok choy, spinach and potatoes directly into the vegetable beds.

* Transplant cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower as well as lettuce seedlings.

* Sow seeds of California poppies, clarkia and African daisies.

* Transplant cool-weather annuals such as pansies, violas, fairy primroses, calendulas, stocks and snapdragons.

* Divide and replant bulbs, rhizomes and perennials.

* Dig up and divide daylilies as they complete their bloom cycle.

* Divide and transplant peonies that have become overcrowded. Replant with “eyes” about an inch below the soil surface.

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Taste Spring! E-cookbook

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Taste Winter! E-cookbook

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Food in My Back Yard (FIMBY) Series

Lessons learned during a year of edible gardening

WINTER

Is edible gardening possible indoors?

Hints for choosing tomato seeds

Starting in seed starting

Why winter is the perfect time to plant fruit trees

When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants

How to squeeze more food into less space

Potatoes from the garden

Plant a fruit tree now -- for later

Win the weed war by tackling them in winter

Tips for planting bare-root trees, shrubs and vegetables

Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space

Ways to win the fight against weeds

FALL

Add asparagus to your edible garden

Soggy soil and what to do about it

Plant artichokes now; enjoy for years to come

It's late November, and your peach tree needs spraying

What to do with all those fallen leaves?

Prepare now for colder weather in the edible garden

Plant a pea patch for you and your garden

As citrus season begins, advice for backyard growers

Change is in the autumn air 

We don't talk (enough) about beets

Fava beans do double duty

Seeds or transplants for cool-season veggies?

How to prolong the fall tomato harvest 

SUMMER

Time to shut it down? 

How to get the most out of your pumpkin patch

Summer-to-fall transition time for evaluation, planning

To pick or not to pick those tomatoes?

: Put worms to work for you

Grow food while saving water

Enhance your food with edible flowers

Why won't my tomatoes turn red?

A squash plant has mosaic virus, and it's not pretty

Does this plant need water?

 Tear out that sad plant or baby it? Midsummer decisions

How to grow summer salad greens

 Weird stuff that's perfectly normal

SPRING

Help pollinators help your garden

Battling early-season tomato pests

Make your own compost

Where are the bees when you need them?

How to help tomatoes thrive on hot days

Your plants can tell you more than any calendar can

Maintain soil moisture with mulch for garden success

What's (already) wrong with my tomato plants?

Should you stock up on fertilizer? (Yes!)

Grow culinary herbs in containers

When to plant summer vegetables

Don't be fooled by these garden myths

Fertilizer tips: How to 'feed' your vegetables for healthy growth