Herbs for cooking are plants whose leaves, seeds, fruits, flowers, or other parts are used fresh or dried for flavoring food. (A spice–broadly speaking–denotes a flavoring derived from the seed, fruit, bark, or other parts of a plant grown in warm, tropical regions.) A “potherb” is a plant you cook in a pot. Herbs generally
Harvest artichokes when the buds are tight and firm and about 3 inches (8 cm) in diameter. Harvest buds before the petals begin to open. If you wait until the bud opens, the petals will no longer be tender. When to Harvest Artichokes Artichoke plants live for about 5 years. Production starts about a year
Arugula leaves large enough to harvest Harvest arugula when the leaves are big enough to eat. Harvest leaves one at a time cut and come again or cut off the entire head. Arugula is a fast-growing cool-season salad green. It is ready for harvest 30 to 40 days after sowing. Arugula leaves are tangy and
Harvest asparagus when spears are 6 to 9 inches (15-23 cm) long, about the thickness of your index finger, and before the tips begin to separate. When to Harvest Asparagus Asparagus is one of the first crops to come to harvest each spring. Early in the season when the weather is cool (less than 70°F/
Harvest beets when root tops are 1 to 1½ inches in diameter but not more than 3 inches in diameter. Beets that are allowed to get much bigger than 3 inches (7 cm) across often become tough and fibrous. When to Harvest Beets Beets mature 45 to 60 days after sowing.Beets are cool-season plants that
Harvest broccoli when the heads are green and firm and before the florets have begun to open. Broccoli heads are clusters of flowers. The florets are ready for harvest 10 to 13 weeks after sowing and plants produce buds for 6 to 8 weeks. When to Harvest Broccoli Time broccoli planting so harvest happens in
Harvest Brussels sprouts when they are ½ to 1¾ inches (1-4 cm) in diameter, green, and firm. Brussels sprouts are ready for harvest 90 to 110 days after sowing. When to Harvest Brussels Sprouts Start picking after the first frost and continue into early winter in cold-winter regions. Sprouts become sweeter and more flavorful after
Harvest cabbage at any size after the head becomes firm and before it splits. Leave two to four wrapper leaves around the head to keep it from drying. Heading cabbage can be harvested when the head is about the size of a softball—5 inches (12 cm) or more across, squeeze it to test firmness.Elongated Chinese
Harvest carrots when they develop their color and the tops are 1 inch in diameter or smaller. Carrots can be lifted as soon as they are a usable size. Carrots are ready for harvest 60 to 90 days after sowing depending upon the variety; they will continue to grow and enlarge if you leave them
Cauliflower is ready to harvest 70 to 90 days after sowing seed. Plant cauliflower so it comes to harvest in a cool part of the year; the optimal growing temperatures for cauliflower are the mid 60°sF (15°+C). Plant cauliflower in early spring for harvest before summer heat or plant in late summer for fall harvest.
