VEGETABLE HARVEST GUIDE

by Aaron Steil, Department of Horticulture

Harvesting vegetables at the right stage of maturity ensures the best taste and quality. Many
vegetables should be picked throughout the summer to maintain plant productivity. The time,
frequency, and method of harvesting vary depending on species. Vegetables, such as standard
sweet corn, have a very small harvest period. Others, such as many of the root crops, can remain
in the garden for several weeks with little effect on their taste. Some vegetables, like summer
squash, have to be harvested almost daily. Other plants, such as tomatoes, can be harvested on a
weekly basis. Use the table below to determine the optimal time to pick and enjoy your favorite
vegetables.

Harvest Guide

Days to
Vegetable Size Color Comment
Maturity
Up to 1/3 of the beet foliage can be
2-3 in red, varies with
Beet 50-70 harvested for greens without harming
diameter cultivar
the root.
Harvest before yellow flower buds start
6 to 7
Broccoli 50-65* blue-green to open, side shoots can be harvested
across
after main head is removed.
varies
Cabbage 60-90* with green, red Harvest when heads are large and solid.
cultivar
3/4 in Harvest when orange shoulder pushes
Carrot 60-80 orange
diameter through the soil.
6 to 8 Blanch heads when 2-3 across by
Cauliflower 55-80* creamy white
across carefully tying leaves over heads.
Cucumber
Harvest plants every 2 to 3 days, leave
Pickling 55-65 2-4 long dark green
small piece of stem attached to fruit.
1 to 2 diameter, harvest plants every 2 to
Slicing 55-65 6-8 long dark green
3 days.
varies
purple, white,
Eggplant 75-90* with Fruit should have shiny finish.
green
cultivar
white, reddish Harvest when foliage topples over and
Garlic 90** 2-3
purple dries or just before first frost.
2-3
Kohlrabi 55-70 green Store with leaves and roots removed.
diameter
Harvest outer leaves, hot weather causes
Lettuce (leaf) 45-60 4-6 long green
bitterness.
Muskmelon 5-10 in yellow-tan When mature, stem separates easily
75-100
Cantaloupe diameter between netting from melon.
Harvest frequently to maintain
Okra 50-65 3 long bright green
productivity.
100-120 varies
white, yellow, Harvest when tops fall over and begin to
Onion 90- with
red dry.
100** cultivar
Can be overwintered in the ground,
8-18"
Parsnip 110-130 white or cream mulch and dig before new growth starts
long
in spring.
Peas
 3 long Harvest when pods are long and thin,
Snow (Sugar) 55-85 bright green
pods just as the seeds begin to develop.
3 long
Snap 55-85 bright green Pick when seeds are nearly full size.
pods
3 long
Garden (Shell) 55-85 bright green Harvest when peas are full size.
pods
Pepper
1 to 3 red, purple,
Hot 60-90* Use gloves when harvesting.
long yellow, green
green, red, Usually harvested when green, but can
2 to 4 in
Sweet 70-90* yellow, purple, be left on plant until red, orange, yellow
diameter
orange or purple.
varies
varies with
Potato 90-120 with Dig when tops turn brown and die.
cultivar
cultivar
varies
Harvest when uniformly orange, leave
Pumpkin 85-120 with orange
3-4 of stem.
cultivar
Radish
1/2 to 2 in red, white, Radishes larger than 2 in diameter are
Spring 25-40
diameter varies often pithy and unusable.
Winter 45-70 6-12 long white, varies Can be left in the ground until frost.
Snap Bean (Green 4 to 6 green, yellow, Harvest when pods are pencil size in
50-70
Bean) long purple thickness.
Harvest the entire crop when plants
Spinach 45-60 6-8 tall green
begin to show signs of bolting.
Summer squash
3 to 5 in
Scallop 50-60 yellow, green Harvest when skin is soft.
diameter
6 to 12 Harvest every 2 to 3 days when fruit are
Zucchini 50-60 green, yellow
long 2 in diameter.
5 to 10 ,
varies yellow, white, Mature kernels exude milky sap when
Sweet Corn 70-105
with bicolor punctured.
cultivar
varies
Harvest just before or after a vine killing
Sweet Potato 100-125 with Gold or orange
frost.
cultivar
varies
red, orange,
Tomato 70-90* with Harvest fully ripe for best flavor.
yellow
cultivar
2-3 in white, reddish
Turnip 45-70 Foliage can be harvested for greens.
diameter purple
varies
light to dark Harvest when 'belly' turns from white to
Watermelon 80-100 with
green, striped creamy yellow.
cultivar
varies
varies with Rind should be hard and difficult to
Winter Squash 85-120 with
cultivar puncture with fingernail.
cultivar