| Vegetable | Days to Maturity | Size | Color | Comment |
BEET |
50-70 | 2-3″ in diameter | red (varies) | Up to 1/3 of foliage can be harvested when plant is young for greens without damaging root. |
BROCCOLI |
50-60 | 6-7″ across | blue green | Harvest before yellow flower buds start to open, side shoots can be harvested after main head is removed. |
CABBAGE |
60-90 | varies with cultivar | green,red,varies | Harvest when heads are large and solid. |
CARROT |
60-80 | 3/4 – 1″ in diameter | orange, white, yellow, purple | Harvest when shoulder pushes through the soil. |
CAULIFLOWER |
55-80 | 6-8″ across | creamy white | Blanch heads when 2-3″ across by carefully tying leaves over heads. |
CUCUMBER (pickling) |
55-65 | 2 – 4″ long | dark green | Harvest plants every 2 to 3 days, leave small piece of stem attached to fruit. |
CUCUMBER (slicing) |
55-65 | 6 – 8″ long | dark green | 1 to 2″ diameter, harvest plants every 2 to 3 days |
EGGPLANT |
75-90 | varies with cultivar | purple,white,green | Fruit should have shiny finish, about 4-6 in in diameter. |
GARLIC |
90 | 2 – 3″ | dark green | Harvest when foliage topples over and dries or just before first frost. |
KOHLRABI |
55-70 | 2-3″ in diameter | green | Store with leaves and roots removed. |
LETTUCE (leaf) |
45-60 | 4 – 6″ long | dark green | Harvest (cut) young outer leaves at any age leaving inner whorl for continued harvest, or shear off the entire leaf mass an inch or so above the crown of the plant. The plant will continue to grow. Hot weather causes bitterness, and the plant to bolt – flower and go to seed. |
MUSKMELON CANTALOUPE |
75-100 | 5-10″ in diameter | yellow-tan between netting | When mature, stem separates easily from melon. |
OKRA |
50-65 | 3″ long | bright green | Harvest frequently to maintain productivity, (4-6 days after flower wilts) |
ONION |
100- 120;90-100 | varies with cultivar | white, yellow,red | Harvest when tops fall over and begin to dry. Dig bulbs and dry for several days. Cut off tops and roots and store in a cool, dry place. |
PARSNIP |
110-130 | 8-18″ long | white,cream | Can be overwintered in the ground, mulch and dig before new growth starts in spring. |
| PEAS (snow/sugar)  |
55-85 | 3″ long pods | bright green | Harvest when pods are long and thin, just as the seeds begin to develop. |
| PEAS (snap)  |
55-85 | 3″ long pods | bright green | Pick when seeds are nearly full size. |
| PEAS (garden/shell)  |
55-85 | 3″ long pods | bright green | Harvest when peas are full size. |
PEPPERS (hot) |
60-90 | 1-3″ long | red,purple, yellow,green |
Use gloves when harvesting. |
PEPPERS (sweet) |
70-90 | 2-4″ long | green,red,yellow, purple,orange | Usually harvested when green, but can be left on plant until red, orange, yellow or purple. |
POTATO |
90-120 | varies with cultivar | varies with cultivar | Dig when tops turn brown and die. Dust off the soil, but do not wash until ready to cook. |
PUMPKIN |
85-120 | varies with cultivar | orange | Harvest when uniformly orange, leave 3-4 of stem. |
RADISH (spring) |
25-40 | 1/2-2″ in diameter | red,white,varies | Radishes larger than 2 in diameter are often pithy and unusable. |
RADISH (winter) |
45-70 | 6-12″ long | white,varies | Can be left in the ground until frost. |
| SNAP BEAN (green bean)  |
50-70 | 4-6″ long | green,yellow, purple | Harvest when pods are pencil size in thickness, before seeds inside swell pod. |
SPINACH |
45-60 | 6-8″ tall | green | Harvest the entire crop when plants begin to show signs of bolting. Can harvest older leaves to allow new growth when plants are young. |
SUMMER SQUASH (scallop) |
50-60 | 3-5″ diameter | yellow,green | Harvest when skin is soft. |
SUMMER SQUASH (zucchini) |
50-60 | 6-12″ long | green,yellow | Harvest every 2 to 3 days when fruit are 2 in diameter. |
SWEET CORN |
70-105 | 5-10″ (ears), varies | yellow,white,bi-color | Mature kernels exude milky sap when punctured. |
SWEET POTATO |
100-125 | varies with cultivar | gold,orange | Harvest just before or after a vine killing frost. |
TOMATO |
70-90 | varies with cultivar | red,orange,yellow | Harvest fully ripe for best flavor. |
TURNIP |
45-70 | 2-3″ diameter | white, reddish purple | Foliage can be harvested for greens. |
WATERMELON |
80-100 | varies with cultivar | light to dark green, striped | Harvest when ‘belly’ turns from white to creamy yellow. |
WINTER SQUASH |
85-120 | varies with cultivar | varies with cultivar | Rind should be hard and difficult to puncture with fingernail. |