Cold Snap: Harvest Time

 

 

Some of the quick-growing fall plantings are nicely mature now, like these radishes.  But this is also the time to make a final harvest of peppers and other highly sensitive garden crops.  Tomatoes may need protection outdoors or to finish ripening indoors as the chance of a hard frost increases over the next few weeks.

Hardy crops like carrots, leeks and the like can be left as-is in the garden for a while yet.  If you've got sweet potatoes growing, be sure to harvest them as soon as frost kills off the leaves if not sooner.

If your tomatoes are still green when hard frost threatens, consider keeping them individually wrapped in newspaper in a warm, dry place in your home.  They will slowly ripen and you can enjoy them for months.  Some varieties keep better than other, always be sure to regularly inspect and EAT your stored home-grown food.