You’ve been working hard this growing season, and soon it’ll be time to treat yourself to fresh, flavourful vegetables picked from your very own garden!

How can you tell precisely when to harvest vegetables? Since your growing zone and the weather both play a role in how fast your veggies ripen, you can’t rely on a calendar to tell when they’re ready.

Follow the link to use these tips to know when and how to harvest vegetables, then keep them fresher, longer, by storing in your fridge or pantry as suggested—and don’t wash them until just before use.