Harvest time: Now it's getting delicious
Harvesting eggplants
When the eggplant's skin is shiny and feels slightly greasy, it's time to harvest. The flesh should be whitish and the seeds a pale green. It's best to use them fresh or store them in a cool, airy place to ensure they last longer.
Collect onions and garlic
When the leaves are dry and shriveled, it's time to harvest the onions and garlic. After digging them up, let them dry in a shady, airy place. When properly dried, they'll keep for many months.
Harvesting and storing potatoes
Early and mid-season potato varieties can be harvested in August. Once the foliage has died back, you can carefully remove the tubers from the soil with a digging fork. It's important to let them dry in the shade for a few hours before storing them. Store only healthy, undamaged tubers – ideally in a cool, dark, and dry place.
Check apples for ripeness
Early apple varieties such as 'Delbarestivale' or 'James Grieve' are often ready for harvest as early as mid-August. Ripe apples are easy to peel from the tree and reveal brown cores when cut open. Remove damaged or diseased fruit regularly. Gentle summer pruning can help the remaining fruit ripen better.
Ripening melons
Cantaloupes and watermelons reach their ripeness in August. With cantaloupes, an intense aroma and cracked fruit indicate ripeness. With watermelons, a dull sound when tapped indicates they're ready to harvest. Don't leave the fruit on the vine too long to maintain optimal flavor and texture.
