Summer is glorious in the kitchen garden, with daily harvests adding fresh flavours to meals and drinks. It feels as though this time of plenty will never end – especially those courgette harvests. Oh why did I plant so many?
Regular picking maintains plant health and helps to prolong the harvesting period, naturally maximising productivity from each plant. Harvesting cucumbers, courgettes and summer squash at a small to medium size encourages the plants to produce more fruit, rather than putting their energy into mature fruits. Removing any monster fruits lurking under foliage likewise helps to stimulate more fruit production. These are great in chutneys or stuffed and baked.
Harvesting ripe tomatoes, beans and peas when they are the right size for that variety also stimulates more fruit. For tomatoes, remove sideshoots
