What To Do Now - Enjoy the Harvest

In this September episode of the BBC Gardener's World Magazine Podcast, host Kevin Smith discusses the joys of enjoying the autumn harvest from your garden, vegetable plot, or allotment. He emphasizes the satisfaction that comes from picking, preparing, and eating homegrown produce, highlighting how it often tastes better due to the care taken in growing it.

Smith gives detailed advice on how to properly harvest different types of produce. He recommends using clean and sharp tools and harvesting during cool morning hours to maintain the freshness of flowers and greens. Specific tips include ensuring that fruits are placed carefully in containers to avoid bruising and letting squash cure for a few weeks to enhance storage longevity.

The episode also lists the variety of produce ready for harvest in September, including tomatoes, beans, courgettes, sweet corn, and various herbs and fruits. Smith suggests ways to preserve the bounty, such as drying, pickling, and cooking fresh ingredients. An important point made is the practice of collecting and saving seeds from plants for future planting, while also noting which varieties are not suitable for seed saving.

In addition to practical gardening advice, Smith encourages listeners to appreciate their harvest and share the bounty with family, friends, or community gardens. He suggests reflecting on the year's gardening successes and making notes to help plan for the next planting season, marking a fulfilling end to the growing year.