Harvest-worthy Crops in July: A Guide
Garden-Fresh Harvest Treats: Preserving Your July Produce
After a long day of tending to your garden, it's a delightful treat to reap the rewards of your hard work with home-grown fruits and veggies. This July, we've rounded up five of our favorite crops to harvest during this glorious month. But, what if you find yourself swimming in a sea of produce? Fret not, we've got some savvy solutions for preserving your harvests. Here, we'll discuss ways to preserve your bountiful yields, along with those crops that don't store well.
Summer's Best Picks for Your Garden
Courgettes, Blueberries, Cherries, Shallots, and Runner Beans - Find out more about these delightful crops below.
Courgettes
Say hello to your first courgettes in July! In weather conditions that are warm and humid, they'll grow rapidly. Remember to harvest often to maintain their tender nature. Once you've gathered your courgettes, channel your inner chef at BBC Good Food for some mouthwatering ideas on how to cook them up.
Blueberries
Adore soil that's slightly acidic? These berries thrive in such conditions, producing showy bell-shaped flowers in spring followed by juicy blueberries in summer. Keeping an ericaceous garden? Check out these top 10 plants for acid soils to grow alongside your blueberries.
Cherries
While June showers strawberries, July shines with cherries! Nab ripe cherries using scissors or pick by hand, making sure to keep the stalks attached. Don't shy away from growing cherries - even if you're short on space! Discover the best fruits for container gardening so you can take advantage of these sweet summer treats.
Shallots
The arrival of your first shallots of the season will be marked by their dying foliage. Sweter and milder than onions, these gems are perfect in sauces and quiches.
Runner Beans
Runners beans are a snap to cultivate. This month, they should begin cropping, providing harvest throughout the summer months. Be sure to pick regularly to encourage continuous flowering.
Keep Your Summer Harvest Going Strong All Year
Freezing, canning, and dehydrating are your best friends when it comes to preserving July's garden bounty. Here's a quick rundown of each method:
- Freezing is perfect for home cooks who want to extend their produce's shelf life (8-12 months) while maintaining high quality. To preserve vegetables, briefly blanch them, flash-freeze them, and store in airtight containers. Fruits can often be frozen without blanching. Vacuum sealing and proper organization of your freezer helps maintain quality and prevent freezer burn.
- Canning is a method that turns fresh produce into long-lasting, shelf-stable food (1-2 years without refrigeration). There are two main methods: water bath canning (for high-acid foods like tomatoes, berries, and pickled items) and pressure canning (for low-acid vegetables). Remember to follow tested recipes and adjust for altitude to ensure safety. Canned goods should be stored in a cool, dark place, and discarded if signs of spoilage appear.
- Dehydrating is a method that removes the moisture that bacteria require to survive, resulting in preserved food that lasts 6-12 months (or more)! Dehydration is ideal for reaping the benefits of lightweight, nutrient-dense foods that can be easily stored for long-term storage and emergency preparedness.
By employing these preservation techniques, you'll be able to enjoy your summer harvest well into the colder months. Happy preserving!
- Incorporate your freshly harvested courgettes, blueberries, cherries, shallots, and runner beans into various aspects of your home-and-garden lifestyle, such as cooking, gardening, and decorating.
- Preserve your July courgettes, blueberries, cherries, shallots, and runner beans using methods like freezing, canning, or dehydrating, ensuring you can savor the taste of summer throughout the year.
