By Debbie Post, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
The best time to pick your garden bounty is in the early morning. Produce harvested early tends to stay crisp and fresh, while veggies picked in the heat of the day tend to wilt. Some plants, like tomatoes and peas, should be picked before completely ripe, while many others need to stay on the vine until it dries up. Proper storage once your produce is picked is essential – some need room temperature storage, others somewhere cool and dark, while many taste best in the cold crisper drawer of the fridge.Â