[phoebe]

I just received this from a gardening newsletter:

Harvest Early in the Day

"Harvest fruits and vegetables as early in the day as possible, especially if they are not to be eaten that day or will be refrigerated. Research at the University of California, Davis, has found that the six hours before sunrise is the best time to harvest. As soon as the sun hits the fruits or vegetables, the pulp temperature begins to rise, and even shading them will not delay the temperature rise for long. Each five degrees lower temperature when the fruit is picked will extend shelf-life for another three days. Tomatoes, in particular, develop more chilling injury -- that telltale graininess and mushiness--when they are cooled after being harvested warm."



Makes sense, but I'd be harvesting at midnight or 1 a.m.!
I think I'll stick to 6 a.m. . . . or 7.

[Pinot]

You do hear these things from time to time. I grow alot of salad greens and lettuces and I have read that the best harvest time is early morning as the "sugar levels are highest"
I am not sure why that is good , but because I don't tend to eat lettuce for breakfast and I don't think that far ahead , I only pick mine a few minutes before dinner time.
At least its fresh !

[Tropicalgal]

I guess this makes sense...
I've always gone out early in the a.m. to harvest my flowers for indoor arrangements...