Harvesting Zukes

[sunnychooks]

Here's another silly question from a complete veggie garden beginner. How do you harvest zucchini? Do you cut it off the vine or pull it or twist it??? The stem seems a little thick to just pluck it off. If you cut it, where do you make the cut? Do you cut at the base of the stem or do you cut the whole stem off? Or doesn't it matter?

 

[blurose]

I think you can twist it, but I don't remember. My dad and I usually cut it with a small knife, leaving just about a 1/2 inch of stem attached.

 

[Tutter]

We do the same.

 

[theOEGBman]

I've always twisted them off, but for some reason I've been cutting them this year. I just cut them where I can reach em,lol.

 

[OaklandCityFarmer]

Cutting will help reduce the risk of shock which can leave the plant open to disease.

Try to cut most of the stem off without injuring the main plant.

 

[Grow 4 Food]

IMO always cut. Saves you from breaking a stem or anything on the plant. The fresh cut seems to last a little longer than then a riped free veg.

 

[bills]

I just run the combine over them....

 

[Gloria]

I'm a twister myself!

 

[silkiechicken]

I usually cut in the middle of the stem, but if I find one that I missed during picking, I just twist. On a large older plant or a big missed zucchini though, twisting does risk you twisting off the plant itself.