Contender peaches are ready to pick when they slip easily from the branch with a slight twist and the flesh gives just a little under gentle pressure.   If you’ve been asking yourself when are contender peaches ready to pick, the answer is all about timing and feel, not just the calendar.   This freestone … Read more

Cauliflowers are ready to pick when the heads are firm, compact, and have reached a desirable size of about six to eight inches in diameter.   Knowing exactly when are cauliflowers ready to pick is the difference between enjoying a crisp, sweet harvest and ending up with a bitter, over-mature mess in your garden.   … Read more

Conference pears are ready to pick when they reach maturity on the tree, but they still need a period of cold storage before they are ready to eat.   Knowing exactly when to harvest conference pears is a bit of a balancing act, but it’s a skill you can nail with a few simple checks. … Read more

Cantaloupes are ready to be picked when the stem slips easily from the vine with gentle pressure.   This is the most reliable sign that your cantaloupes are ready to be picked, and it’s a trick that gardeners have trusted for generations.   But timing matters, and knowing exactly when cantaloupes are ready to be … Read more

Carrots are ready to be picked when their shoulders push up above the soil line and reach a diameter of about ¾ to 1 inch, which usually happens 50 to 80 days after planting.   If you’ve been peeking at those feathery green tops and wondering exactly when are carrots ready to be picked, you’re … Read more

Canning pears are ready to pick when they reach full maturity on the tree but are still firm, since this is the perfect stage for preserving their texture and flavor. Pears are one of the few fruits that ripen best off the tree, so knowing when to harvest them for canning requires a bit of … Read more