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Common Ground Grow Co.

§ Crop Guides

Pick it right. Keep it well. Cook it tonight.

Plain-spoken guides to 75 crops that actually grow here in Central Massachusetts.

Vegetables

ArugulaMay-JunCut outer leaves youngHow to harvest it
AsparagusMay-JunSnap spears ~7-9in, spring only yr3+How to harvest it
BeetJul-SepPull at 1.5-3in; greens edibleHow to harvest it
Bok ChoyMay-JunCut whole head youngHow to harvest it
BroccoliJun-JulCut central head before buds open; side shoots afterHow to harvest it
Brussels SproutsSep-NovPick sprouts bottom-up; sweeter after frostHow to harvest it
CabbageJul-OctCut firm headsHow to harvest it
CantaloupeAug-SepPick at full slip & aromaHow to harvest it
CarrotJun-AugPull at ~3/4in shoulders; sweeter after frostHow to harvest it
CauliflowerJun-OctCut tight heads; blanch if neededHow to harvest it
CeleryAug-OctCut outer stalks or wholeHow to harvest it
CollardsJun-NovPick outer leaves; sweeter after frostHow to harvest it
CucumberJul-AugPick young & firm, oftenHow to harvest it
EggplantAug-SepCut glossy fruit youngHow to harvest it
GarlicJulLift when lower leaves brown (Jul); cure 2-3 wkHow to harvest it
Green BeansJul-AugPick young pods oftenHow to harvest it
HorseradishOct-NovDig roots in fall after frostHow to harvest it
KaleJun-OctPick outer leaves bottom-up; sweeter after frostHow to harvest it
KohlrabiJun-OctHarvest bulb ~2-3inHow to harvest it
LeekSep-NovLift when shaft ~1in; hardy lateHow to harvest it
LettuceMay-JunCut outer leaves or whole headHow to harvest it
Mustard GreensMay-JunCut young leavesHow to harvest it
OkraAug-SepPick pods young ~3in, oftenHow to harvest it
OnionAug-SepLift when tops fall (Aug-Sep); cureHow to harvest it
PeaJun-JulPick pods young & oftenHow to harvest it
PepperJul-SepCut green or fully coloredHow to harvest it
PotatoAug-SepDig after tops die; cure 1-2 wkHow to harvest it
PumpkinSep-OctCut when rind hard, stem corky; cureHow to harvest it
RadishMay-JunPull at ~1in (~25-30 days)How to harvest it
RhubarbMay-JunPull stalks; never eat leaves (toxic)How to harvest it
ScallionMay-OctPull/snip as neededHow to harvest it
ShallotJul-AugLift when tops fall; cureHow to harvest it
SorrelApr-OctPick young leavesHow to harvest it
SpinachMay-JunCut outer leaves or wholeHow to harvest it
Summer SquashJul-AugPick young ~6-8in oftenHow to harvest it
Sweet CornAug-SepPick when silks brown & kernels milkyHow to harvest it
Sweet PotatoSep-OctDig before frost; cure warm 1-2 wkHow to harvest it
Swiss ChardJun-OctCut outer leaves; regrowsHow to harvest it
TomatoJul-SepPick fully colored; ripen off-vine if frost loomsHow to harvest it
TurnipJun-OctPull ~2-3in; greens edibleHow to harvest it
WatermelonAug-SepPick when tendril dries & ground spot yellowsHow to harvest it
Winter SquashSep-OctCut when rind hard, stem corky; cureHow to harvest it
ZucchiniJul-AugPick young ~6-8in oftenHow to harvest it

Herbs

BasilJun-SepPinch tops above a leaf pairHow to harvest it
ChamomileJun-AugPick fully open flowersHow to harvest it
ChivesMay-OctSnip leaves to baseHow to harvest it
CilantroJun-SepCut outer stems before boltHow to harvest it
DillJun-SepSnip foliage; seed heads laterHow to harvest it
FennelJul-OctHarvest bulb when fist-sizedHow to harvest it
HopsAug-SepPick cones when papery & aromaticHow to harvest it
Lemon BalmJun-SepSnip sprigs before floweringHow to harvest it
MarigoldJun-SepDeadhead (companion plant)How to harvest it
MintJun-SepSnip sprigs (contain roots!)How to harvest it
NasturtiumJul-SepPick young leaves/flowersHow to harvest it
OreganoJun-SepSnip sprigs before floweringHow to harvest it
ParsleyJun-OctCut outer stemsHow to harvest it
RosemaryJun-OctSnip sprigs anytimeHow to harvest it
SageJun-SepSnip leaves/sprigsHow to harvest it
SunflowerSep-OctHarvest heads when back yellowsHow to harvest it
TarragonJun-SepSnip sprigsHow to harvest it
ThymeJun-SepSnip sprigs anytimeHow to harvest it

Fruit

AppleSep-OctPick when color set & stem releasesHow to harvest it
CherryJun-JulPick fully colored with stemHow to harvest it
FigAug-OctPick when soft & droopingHow to harvest it
GrapesSepCut clusters when fully sweetHow to harvest it
Hardy KiwiSep-OctPick firm, ripen off-vineHow to harvest it
PawpawSepPick when soft & aromaticHow to harvest it
PearSep-OctPick mature-hard; ripen off-treeHow to harvest it

Berries

BlueberryJul-AugPick fully blue, easy releaseHow to harvest it
CurrantJulPick whole strigs when coloredHow to harvest it
ElderberryAug-SepCut umbels when berries dark (cook before eating)How to harvest it
GooseberryJulPick firm berries (gloves)How to harvest it
HoneyberryJunPick when fully blue insideHow to harvest it
RaspberryJul-SepPick when berry slips freeHow to harvest it
StrawberryJunPick fully red with capHow to harvest it

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