Harvest regularly

Timely, regular harvesting of homegrown produce is essential to guarantee that you pick fruit and veggies at their peak. Many items, such as tomatoes, strawberries and peaches, are at their best for a short period of time. Once fruits and veggies pass their prime, they start to rot. Stop this from happening by checking the garden daily for ripe produce. Harvesting regularly can also improve the yield of some crops, and not harvesting enough can cause a plant to stop producing.

Pick produce with care

Many homegrown produce items bruise easily, which leads to rotting, so it’s important to be gentle when harvesting. Pulling on fruits and veggies can damage the produce and the plant, so use pruners when harvesting. Bring along a basket into which you can gently set the fruit and veggies, and avoid leaving the basket in direct sunlight for more than a few minutes.

Choose a storing method

How you store your produce depends on the item. Some fruits and veggies should be stored at room temperature, such as tomatoes and watermelons, while other produce items like potatoes can be stored in a cellar. Retain the integrity of many fruits and vegetables by putting them in the refrigerator. These includes apples, corn, radishes, grapes and strawberries. When storing produce in the refrigerator, it is best to put it in the crisper, which is generally more humid and will keep the items from drying out and shriveling up. To get the most health and taste benefits from your homegrown produce, eat it as soon as possible after harvest, or try preserving it.

Preserve fruits and vegetables at home

When you have an abundance of tasty fruit and vegetables from your garden, you can choose one of a variety of methods to preserve them and enjoy at a later date. Preservation methods include canning, blanching and freezing, drying/dehydrating, and pickling as well as making jams and jellies.