Fruit Vegetable

Best Color

Best Growing Season

Care

Tips

Apples

Bright color means more flavor

October to April

Bruise easily

Asparagus

Bright green

March to June

Always steam for flavor – not boil

Bananas

Slightly green as they will ripen quickly in Texas

Year round due to importing

Bruise easily

Freeze over-ripened bananas in their skins for banana breads or smoothies later

Beets

Red with bright red stems and green tops. Older beets lose their stems

June to October

Blackberries

Dark black and firm

June to September

Fragile

Avoid mold on berries at all cost as it will make you very sick. Freeze easily--just add a touch of brown sugar and toss in a freezer bag. Enjoy all year round.

Blueberries

Dark blue but firm

June through August

Freezing blueberries is easy
and wonderful for treats in
non-available months

Broccoli

Dark green with tight firm heads

July to October

Quick freeze - but do not keep too long as it dehydrates

Carrots

Bright orange with smooth tender skins and bright green tops

July to September

Remove tops before storing as they dry out the carrot by taking the nutrients from the root

Thicker carrots are usually tougher ones – not bad for carrot cake or muffins though!

Cucumbers

Dark green and firm

June to September

Smaller cukes are more tender and tasty – especially right out of the garden!

Eggplant

Dark purple with smooth, shiny skins

August to September

Garlic

White or creamy, plump and firm bulbs

August to October

Should be covered with their paper-like covering. Check to be sure no sprouts.

Grapes

Firm and vibrant greens, reds, blacks and ruby

August to September

Taste one to choose properly!

Imported year around

Avocados Haas

Rough texture and dark skins that give slightly to pressure

February to October

Mushroom

Creamy white to tan

October to November

Bruise easily

Use only those free from blemishes, not wrinkled or slimy

Raspberries

Bright red

July to September

Very delicate

Check carefully for any molds. Once one berry is moldy – all the berries will be – so be very careful not to eat from moldy berries – they will make you very sick!

Spinach

Dark green, not slimy or wilting

June to October

Great in salads and steamed!

Strawberries

Bright red, plump, firm and bruise free

Look for a good strawberry smell

Tomatoes

Bright red, firm and bruise free

August to September

Bruise easily

Look for good tomato smell

Watermelon

Dark green rind, firm

May to August

The slight hollow sound is a sign of a juicy melon

Yams

Golden with no cracks or bruising

October to March

Split easily when not young and fresh

Zucchini

Firm dark green skins

July to September

Bruise easily

Old zukes are wrinkled and tend to be soft.