1. Cut Lettuce
Harvest : hack early in the dawn when dew is still on . Always employ a discriminating tongue to avoid bruising parting . billet in bin , and wash in cold water system to remove sand and field heating , and softly spin juiceless .
packet : After spinning , packlettuceinto vented plastic grip or dollar bill racing shell , or leave it sluttish for free - selection . Add your farm logo to the package at the end for a nice selling touch .
Storage : Keep refrigerate at temperatures of around 32 degrees F. If it ’s too cold , it will freeze , which damages the parting ; too strong , and it will begin to moulder . It should be full cover to keep from drying outor wilting . Shutterstock
Other Considerations : At market , ensure cabbage does n’t sit around in verbatim sunshine . If loose , keep it out of the wind to stave off wilt .
2. Sweet Corn
Harvest : Pull ripe ears straight down to divulge away cleanly from stalk . rend off excess radical to reduce barren and weight , then position ears face down in binful or basket .
Package : If planning to box corn in any certain container , check that it ’s amply cool down . Zea mays suspire heavily in first few hours and will start to decompose speedily .
Storage : As quickly as possible , store in a cooler of around 32 degree F. Hotter temperature can make the corn whisky slimy .
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Other Considerations : Becausesweet corndiminishes in pleasantness chop-chop , blame your corn no more than one day before market ; the twenty-four hours of is idealistic .
3. Heirloom Tomatoes
Harvest : Gently veer or pull advanced love apple from the vine . Place tomatoes in bins no more than two bed high — one layer , if tender . transportation to a cooler for at least one 60 minutes to speedily slay sphere heat .
software : Heirloom tomatoesare generally sell by the hammering , individually , in containers or in boxes . Handle fruits gently , and do n’t stack too high in boxes .
Storage : After remove the field heat , keep your tomato in the cooler , though temperatures between 37 to 55 degree F — aka cellar temperatures — are prefer .
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Other consideration : If fruits are dusty or lousy , pass over them down . Do n’t wash them or the skin may separate . Also consider sell any damage fruits as seconds or canning Lycopersicon esculentum .
4. Broccoli & Cauliflower
Harvest : Cut heads too soon in the morning while still cool . Leave at least a 2 - column inch stem . seat in bank identification number , and plunge in frosting water supply for one minute to preserve .
Package : Don’t put either in plastic base . Band them together , if small , but leave behind mostly whole and receptive .
Storage : These cropsdeteriorate fast in heat , so refrigerate at 32 degrees F but not below : freeze will damage the harvest .
Other retainer : These crops are very prostrate to pests , so if you have issues with cabbage moths or harlequin mallet , check that to good inspect each head .
5. Garlic
Harvest : Pullgarlicwhen plant is 50 percentage dark-brown . Be gentle as contusion to cloves will turn into rot . switch off in theater of operations if hard - cervix , and spread out in a single level . Cure in dingy way at way temperature with low humidity to increase longevity and nullify rot .
Package : Soft - neck garlic can be tied into slub and sold as wreaths . Otherwise , ail is mostly sold in individual lightbulb or by the pound .
Storage : cure ail should be sustain at cellar temperature in a dry , dismal way to fend off germination , fungus or rotting .
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Other consideration : Garlic can be sold in many ways : as baby garlic , green garlic , garlic shaft ( the flower stem off hard - neck ) and heal ail ; experimentation with all of them to get the most out of your craw .
6. Radishes & Turnips
harvest home : glean several plants at a time , pick off risky leaf and bunch them with golosh bands in the field . Dunk bunches in a bucket of piss , and stack in bins .
Package : Don’t packageradishesorturnipsbeyond bunches , but make certain each caboodle is clean , which may expect a 2nd rinse .
Storage : Store at 32 degrees F before grocery store for long shelf life .
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Other consideration : observe these crops moist at marketplace is the key to trade them . It ’s overnice to land a food - safe tub of ice water system to periodically refresh them .
7. Peas
Harvest : Early in the good morning whenpeasare still cool , harvest ripe pods into baskets or ABA transit number . To preserve sweetness and remove theatre of operations heat , grade peas right away into cold H2O .
Package : Peas can be sold in majority or in old bag . If prebagging , rapidly ironic peas and place in cup of tea of equal exercising weight . They can also be sold in pints or quart at market .
Storage : Peas respire hard and should be hold back at temperatures of 32 level F as long as possible . Bring a cooler to market , and restock as needed . Keep bags out of sun .
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Other thoughtfulness : For highest - quality peas , reap as close to market as possible ; the day of is ideal .
8. Potatoes
Harvest : They should be plowed or separate up out of rowing . Brush shite off , but do n’t scavenge . seat in handbasket / bins . Cure in cool ( 55 to 60 stage F ) , dark , humid plaza for two weeks or trade as novel potatoes .
parcel : Potatoesare more often than not sold by the Syrian pound , but smaller white potato can be sell in berry containers . All potatoes can be sold in small burlap sacking .
Storage : Once cure , store in cellar temperature of 50 to 55 degrees F. check that no sparkle can get to them . Though many variety will last several months in these status , check weekly for rotting Tuber .
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Other consideration : If selling at a market place , turn a change of fingerling and large spud nominate for a overnice market display . check that to saddle appropriately for specialness potato to check a profit .
9. Melons
Harvest : When the tendril adjacent to the stem is ironic , harvest melonsinto bins or basket . Do n’t pile too in high spirits , and place in a cooler to slay field heat .
Package : Melons are sold in bulk , generally by the pound or as individual fruit . Some write the weight and price on the melon vine rind , though a sticker or ticket may be more appealing .
Storage : melon will keep for several daysin a cooler around 27 to 32 grade F. If space is not useable , keep them as confining to cellar temperature as potential .
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Other Considerations : Because they ’re both space- and prison term - intensive , melons are not a gamy - net item . It ’s worth own an outlet for all melons before growing , such as a CSA , restaurant or retail shop .
10. Cucumbers
Harvest : Clip ripecucumbersfrom vine , and place in BIN or baskets . freestanding damaged cucs for home exercise . laundry , then immediately cool to remove field heat .
Package : Cucs are typically sold by the pound sterling , individually or in container as specialty crops . If selling in pint or quart , package at market to redeem space .
Storage : After bailiwick oestrus is off — store in a cooler for a minimum of one hour — keep at cellar temporary above 50 degrees F for longest spirit .
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Other consideration : Cucs look best when moist . Spritz them with a spray bottleful at the market . turn over contribute a mixed bag of size .
This story originally appeared in the July / August issue ofHobby Farmsmagazine .
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