Dumb gardening question but , when a veggie is ready to b picked, how long can you wait until you DO actually pick it?

For example, you don't need any more xyz veggie right now.
Can you wait til next week to harvest it, or will it rot while still in the ground/on the vine?

I've never planted anything before.
I want to get started.

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cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

Some things can wait awhile but others might get tough like green onions and others go to seed. Tomatoes need to be picked when vine ripe. Black eyed peas will dry out if you wait too long, they can still be used but it will take a lot longer to cook them. Zucchini’s will continue to grow and eventually get hard seeds in the middle