How to tell when your garden veggies are ripe for harvesting

It's time — or getting to be time — for us gardeners to reap what we've sown.

Although it's fairly evident when some edibles, like tomatoes, are ripe for the picking (uniform red, yellow or orange color), that isn't the case with every crop.

Popular crops' telltale signs of deliciousness

This July 3, 2024, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a zucchini maturing on the vine on Long Island, N.Y. Zucchini are at their most tender when they are 6-8 inches long. Jessica Damiano

Zucchini, for instance, doesn't change color. Although it might be tempting to grow a 15-inch-long squash, it will likely be tough. For optimal tenderness, pick individual fruits when they're 6-8 inches (15-20 centimeters) long.

All varieties of green beans should be harvested when they are about as thick as a