Walking outdoors is a healthy way to enjoy nature. Planting a vegetable garden is also a healthy move, whether you’re interested in saving money or want more control over how your favorite produce is grown. But the horticultural hobby isn’t without its challenges. Knowing how and when to harvest your crop can be a challenge. Follow these tips to get the most out of the seeds you’ve sown.

• Tomatoes ought to linger on the vine until their full color comes in. If needed, you can pick large green tomatoes before a frost and allow them to ripen in a warm space.

• Carrots and beets can typically ride out a light frost before needing to be plucked. Once they crown at the soil line, it’s up to you to decide if the width meets your preference.

• Asparagus spears snap off at the base once they are roughly the width of your pinky finger or have reached about 6 to 8 inches in length.

• Any leafy, green plant signals its maturity by the length of its outer leaves — aim for 8 to 10 inches for chard, and 4 to 6 inches for spinach and lettuce.

Get more harvesting tips here and find some recipe inspiration here.