This July 3, 2024, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a zucchini maturing on the vine on Long Island, N.Y. Zucchini are at their most tender when they are 6-8 inches long.
This undated image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a green bean ready for harvest on Long Island, N.Y. Beans should be picked when they are roughly the thickness of a pencil.
This July 9, 2025, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a patch of mature garlic plants on Long Island, N.Y. Garlic bulbs are ready to harvest when all but 5 leaves at the top of the plant have turned yellow or brown.
Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.
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Armed with these recipes, any complaints about a bounty of zucchini rapidly disappear. So does the food.
This undated image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a green bean ready for harvest on Long Island, N.Y. Beans should be picked when they are roughly the thickness of a pencil.
This July 3, 2024, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a zucchini maturing on the vine on Long Island, N.Y. Zucchini are at their most tender when they are 6-8 inches long.
This July 9, 2025, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a patch of mature garlic plants on Long Island, N.Y. Garlic bulbs are ready to harvest when all but 5 leaves at the top of the plant have turned yellow or brown.