Harvest notes: early spring

Here’s a few notes on what’s ready to harvest in early spring and how to harvest correctly:

Banana

When young bananas form, remove the flower bell to boost fruit development. As fruit swell and start to yellow, cut the plant stem to lower the fruit to the ground then remove the bunch. Hang the bunch in a garage or pergola, removing hands as they ripen. Place some in a paper bag to speed ripening.

Try this recipe.

Coriander

To harvest fresh leaves, snip outer leaves from the base, leaving the inner ones to grow. For roots, loosen the surrounding soil and gently pull up the entire plant, ensuring roots remain intact. To collect coriander seeds, let the plant flower and produce seeds, then cut the seed heads and hang to dry. 

Make your own coriander pesto.

English spinach

Begin harvesting leaves 4–6 weeks after planting. Snip outer leaves as needed, leaving a minimum of 5 leaves on the plants for it to continue photosynthesising. Avoid pulling leaves to prevent root damage. Feed plants weekly with liquid fertiliser to maintain productivity and keep the soil well-mulched. 

To get more practical tips and ideas for growing and harvesting your own food, subscribe to ABC Organic Gardener magazine.