Harvesting is the really fun part of growing a garden. This is the time that you can congratulate yourself for a job well done. Obviously some vegetables will be ready for harvest before others, so timing is important. The longer a ripe veggie sits in the garden, the less fresh it is, and the more nutrients it loses.
Once your garden comes into season, it critical to check it daily. If you pick your vegetables at the peak of their maturity, chilling them will prolong their freshness. Carefully pick the vegetables and place them gently in a bowl or a basket so not to bruise. Once you begin harvesting, you will enjoy all of the health benefits associated with your vegetable garden for many months to come.