Sometimes picking fruits and vegetables in Kansas can be a fun game.
According to Ward Upham, a gardener at Kansas State University, gardeners often need to look for key indicators to see if they are tolerant and ready to harvest some of the most popular fruits and vegetables.
Opham’s share of some ideas on what to look for is the key to happiness later.
According to Upham, apples ripen longer depending on the variety. “Some species, such as Lodi, can ripen in July, while others ripen until October or November,” he said.
Some tips for choosing an apple include:
From flower days. For some common species, the number of days after the tree has sprouted must be apple-ready – Jonathan, 135; Sweet, 145; Golden sweet, 145; And Winesap, 155. Weather conditions may influence those guidelines.
Flesh color. When apples ripen and starch turns into sugar, the flesh changes from light green to white. Cut a thin piece to see if the flesh is white and hold it lightly.
Race color. Most apples change from light green to brown when ripe. This indicator must be combined with other changes.
Color change. As apples grow, the skin on the trunk and lower part of the apple changes from immature green to light yellow. Some apples turn red on most fruits before ripening, so this is not a sure sign of ripeness.
Taste. Sample a few pieces and decide if they taste good. If they are not ready to be harvested, they will have a spicy or unripe taste. If apples fall off before they ripen, store them for a while to see if they are sweeter.
Most pear species are not allowed to ripen on the tree, but instead mature after being hardened. “Waiting for the outside to ripen completely, the inside of the fruit is often rotten and brown,” said Upham Pear.
Home gardeners can look for these signs to determine if pearls are ready to be picked:
Color. The background color of the fruit – known as the “ground” color – changes from dark green to light or yellow to green when ripe.
Stick to a tree. When the fruit is picked up and twisted, it should be easily separated from the branch.
Scratching on the poor, breathing holes in the fruit. Initially, they are white to greenish-white, but as the fruit matures, they turn brown. When the lentils ripen, they look like brown spots on the fruit.
Smell and taste. When peas ripen, you need to be able to smell the aroma.
Upham: Summer squash is harvested while immature, but winter squash (including acorns, Hubbard, and Butter) are harvested at the ripening stage when the bark is hard and seeds grow.
“We usually think September is the time for winter pumpkins to be harvested, but early harvest leads to baptism and rotten fruit,” said Upham.
He notes that the two most important characteristics of a winter pumpkin are color and skin firmness.
“As the winter squash matures, it changes color,” said Booth. Acon begins deep green but when ripe it forms an orange-colored surface; And when Hubbard ripens, it is gray or orange.
According to Upham, winter squash should also have a hard, hard shell. “This can be easily verified by trying to punish the basket with your fingernails or nails. If easily absorbed into the skin, the pumpkin is immature and loses water through the skin, causing the fruit to dry out. ”
Upham and the K-State Department of Gardening and Natural Resources produce weekly tips on gardening and landscaping. The newsletter is available online or by email.
People can also send garden and backyard questions to Upham at wupham@ksu.edu or contact your local K-State Extension Office.
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