Harvesting vegetables at the right stage of maturity ensures the best taste and quality.

Many vegetables should be picked throughout the summer to maintain plant productivity. The time, frequency, and method of harvesting vary depending on species. Vegetables, such as standard sweet corn, have a very small harvest period. Others, such as many of the root crops, can remain in the garden for several weeks with little effect on their taste. Some vegetables, have to be harvested almost daily and other plants, can be harvested on a weekly basis.

Use the table below to determine the optimal time to pick and enjoy your favorite vegetables.

Download this guide from The Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation (BAIC): https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/ 

Time Limits 

Once you think about harvesting it is important to remember not to spray any later than 5 days before harvest. 

 Planting  

Vegetable beds may be direct seeded or transplanted. Direct seeding often gives earlier harvest, but transplanting allows the selection of healthy seedlings for use in the beds. Always plant in neat straight rows (use a piece of string) at the spacing given in the table. 

Depth of seed planting is variable but usually larger seeds such as beans, peas should be planted about 11/2” deep; medium size seeds such as okra and beets about ¾” deep; and smaller seeds such as tomatoes and onions about ¼” deep. Cover seed with fine soil, firm down soil gently with foot and water well with a fine spray and not too much pressure. 

Garden equipment 

There are many types of tools and power tools available to the home garden but the bare essentials would include the following. 

• Grub hoe 

• Cutlass 

• heavy rake 

• grass rake  

• shovel 

• hand fork 

• towel  

• bucket/ pail and or wheelbarrow 

• pressure pump or sprayer 

• watering  equipment such as hose, sprinkler, or watering can 

The Compost Pile 

Kitchen scraps, vegetable residues, trimmings, seaweed, grass clipping, and others can all be used to make a compost pile. 

The easiest method of making one is to use chicken wire to fence off an area approximately 3 feet square and line the bottom with sand and/or soil. Then build up a layer of raw vegetable matter approximately 6” thick. Sprinkle some chemical fertilizer over the top surface. Then add soil and/or sand to a depth of about 4-6” and then another layer of raw vegetable matter. 

By keeping the compost pile moist rotting and decomposition will occur mush more quickly than if allowed to continuously dry out. 

Weed Control  

Weeds not only look unsightly in the garden; but harbour insects and diseases, and steal light, water, and other nutrients from the vegetables. 

Mulches 

The use of grass clippings, well washed seaweed and plastic tend to keep down weeds and help retain soil moisture; but with plastic mulches especially soil temperatures tend to become quite high, possibly resulting in root damage to certain crops. 

Vegetable Period Planting Guide