harvest

Picking fruit in your garden could end with a hefty state fine

Harvesting fruit from branches that overhang your garden can land you in a legal dispute with your neighbour. In some cases, taking a few apples without permission may even be treated as theft.

5 min read

Harvest Sweetcorn at the Right Time for Best Flavour

Garden sweetcorn tastes best when it’s picked at the milky stage. Use a simple thumbnail test to hit the perfect harvest day, then handle and freeze it properly to keep it sweet and tender.

5 min read

How to Tell When Carrots Are Truly Ripe and Ready to Harvest

Carrots can look lush above ground long before the roots are ready. Use a few clear signs—especially the often-missed clue at the crown—to harvest at peak sweetness and crunch.

5 min read

Green tomatoes will turn red in a few days with a simple trick

Cool nights slow tomato ripening just when late-season blight risk rises. A controlled root cut, paired with a few smart pruning steps, can push mature green fruit to colour up faster.

5 min read

The More Often You Harvest, the Longer Plants Keep Cropping

With fruiting vegetables, frequent picking keeps plants flowering and producing for longer. A few crops, such as aubergines, are tastiest when harvested slightly earlier rather than fully mature.

5 min read

September Isn’t the End, It’s the Start of the Final Garden Sprint

September is one of the busiest months in the garden, when harvesting overlaps with sowing and planting for next year. A little planning now brings earlier flowers, healthier beds, and less work in spring.

5 min read

How to store garden vegetables properly so they last all winter

Cool temperatures and the right humidity make all the difference when storing home-grown vegetables. Learn how to handle, cure and store each crop so your harvest lasts for weeks or even months.

5 min read

When to Pull Carrots So They Stay Juicy, Tender and Sweet

Carrots taste best when you harvest at the right moment—not too early and not too late. Learn the key signs of maturity and how to lift roots cleanly for longer, safer storage.

5 min read

When to Harvest Potatoes and Why You Should Never Dig Them in Wet Soil

Potato tubers mature out of sight, so timing the harvest is all about the haulm and soil conditions. Here’s how to dig at the right moment, avoid losses, and store your crop so it lasts.

5 min read

How to Harvest, Cure, and Store Onions So They Last All Winter

Long-lasting onions are all about timing, gentle handling, thorough curing, and the right storage conditions. Follow these steps to keep homegrown onions sound and usable right through winter.

5 min read

Picking Fruit in the Garden Has Rules and Can Lead to Hefty Fines

A fruit tree heavy with apples or plums is a joy—until branches overhang the fence and questions arise about who may harvest. In some cases, picking without permission can be treated as an offence and result in a substantial fine.

5 min read