Question
Hi,
I planted some tomatoes and cucumbers in late april. The cucumbers are florishing but I wanted to know how you know they are ready to pick? Also, the tomatoes are growing as well, but they are very awkward in shape, almost like they are rotting in some places. Some are red and some are still green.  How do you know they are ready to be picked? My dad told me that when he used to grow tomatoes, they would rot before he could pick them. I just want some help, this is my first vegetable garden. Oh, one more thing, I also planted some Habenero peppers and I don't see any growth on them, what do they look like when they bloom and how do you know they are ready? Thanks for the help!!
Anne

Answer
Dear Anne,
Cucumbers are ready at varying sizes, depending upon what you want to do with them.  For eating, we let them get about 8 or 9 inches long, then pick them.  For pickles I pick them as small as 4 or 5 inches.  Cucumbers will produce for about a month or 6 weeks, then the vines will begin to dry and wither.  We are picking our cucumbers about 3 times a week right now.  Tomatoes are a different story.  Pick the red ones as they ripen.  Tomatoes should produce until frost.  I recommend picking tomatoes before they get completely red, as they ripen beautifully in the window sill. If you are concerned about rotting, when they are bright red-orange, pick them.  Just gauge your produce by what you have purchased in the store.  When it looks like that, pick it.
I've not raised habanero peppers, but I presume they are like other peppers.  I think they flower and produce a small pepper.  I do know, the pepper changes color when they are ripe.
I hope some of this is helpful.
Kind Regards,
Kindred
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