September: harvest time. Mistakes can ruin the crop

September is one of the most bountiful months in the garden, particularly when it comes to harvesting fruit and vegetables. We are now harvesting tomatoes and peppers in abundance, as well as courgettes, pattypan squash and other vegetables. From the trees, we can pick apples, pears, plums and many other delicious sweet fruits. For many crops, harvesting is very important, as it is only by choosing the right time and method that we can enjoy a perfect harvest. Unnecessary mistakes can ruin it for us. We will therefore take a closer look at the most common ones.

Don’t harvest just by following the calendar

Some people harvest by simply glancing at the calendar and getting on with it. In other words, it’s September now, so we should be harvesting certain crops. However, every year is different, and the harvest time depends on how ripe the produce is. The risks of harvesting too early or too late are significant and very unpleasant.

Tip: This years sweet potato harvest. A poorly yield.

Harvesting too early

What happens if we harvest crops too early? First and foremost, it’s important to note the lack of proper flavour.Furthermore, the fruit tends to be very watery and doesn’t store well. Unripe fruit harvested prematurely softens quickly and starts to rot. You won’t achieve that proper flavour.

Late harvesting

When fruit becomes overripe, this is, of course, also a problem. Its flavour often changes. It becomes soft. Naturally, it also attracts wasps and other insects. It spoils very quickly and isn’t even worth storing. Ideally, it should be processed straight away.

Photo: Pixabay

Beware of rough handling during harvesting

This, too, can be the reason why our stored harvest simply starts to go off. Classic examples include bruises and torn stalks. Simply throwing a pear or an apple like that into a bin is enough. It will undoubtedly affect the condition of the fruit.

Insufficient drying of the harvest

In the case of onions and garlic, this is a classic mistake that happens quite often. The same applies to pumpkins. These crops simply need enough time, dry conditions and plenty of air.

Do not harvest in wet conditions

It is not recommended to harvest when it is raining, when there is dew or when it is foggy outside. This is because dampness encourages mould and shortens the shelf life of stored crops.

Sources: Author – grower

Photo: Pixabay