Tips for maximising freshness

The time of day that you harvest your vegies is important to consider. Early morning or late afternoon is usually best, especially in hotter months when precious plant moisture is directed from the leaves to the roots, leaving the edible part a bit wilted. If you don’t plan to use what you’ve picked for a few hours or until the next day, then the storage method used can help to keep them fresher longer. For leafy greens (eg lettuce, endive, rocket, spinach etc) and other veg (eg broccoli, zucchini, celery etc) keeping them airtight in a plastic bag or lidded container in the fridge works well. Some produce may do better if left to ripen at room temperature, such as tomatoes.