What's the best time of day to harvest broccoli?

Morning harvest brings broccoli to its peak in terms of flavor and nutrition. Plants take in sugars through respiration overnight, resulting in a sweet head. I harvest by 8 AM in the summer. Their sugars are stripped away by the afternoon sun, and the flavor diminishes. Cool temperatures will keep the head crispier than warm temperatures.

Sugar content peaks within 3 hours of dawn to 9 AM, pausing before noting depletion due to daytime temps. Using Brix, we find morning-harvested heads are 15-20% sugar higher. This occurs naturally, resulting in heads that are noticeably sweeter. When I taste-test, the morning harvests take less seasoning as needed. This difference can be absolutely recognized in raw preparations.

After the harvesting process is finished, Temperature control continues. Heads harvested after 10 AM maintain field heat, which speeds up quality loss. I use insulated baskets for transportation. Cooling immediately protects cellular structure. According to my notes, waiting one hour before refrigeration results in a 30% reduction in shelf life.

Heat effects can be significant above 75°F. If harvested at midday in summer, the greens wilt quickly and are bitter. I do not bring greens in at all during heat waves. I sometimes bring them in under cloud cover. I always prefer morning harvests in the summer when the temperature is above 70°F.

Scheduling modifications reflect shifting seasons. In the spring, I typically finish harvesting by 10 AM; during moderately cool fall months, I may extend the harvest to noon. To estimate plant turgor pressure, bend stems. If stems bend easily, I am probably harvesting at the right time. If stems are rigid, I may have missed an optimal timeframe. Your harvesting schedule will adjust according to the conditions.

Read the full article: When to Harvest Broccoli: Essential Guide