However, green bell peppers may still be a bit immature for harvest. The recent warm temperatures, coupled with more than adequate moisture in most areas, are really pushing warm-weather crops along rapidly. Believe it or not, there are still pockets in the state where moisture is slightly limiting, that is, too little, not too much. As recently as Sunday, western Kankakee County was pretty dry, with just a dust-settling shower on Friday night to break the spell. Most other areas are wondering when the never-ending sogginess will finally depart so that field work can begin again.
Garlic harvest is about at the midway point, well ahead of last year.
Yields are looking pretty good, but not as outstanding as the early spring growth of the crop might have predicted. Harvest should continue, as soon as the plants reach the four surviving green leaf stage, so that the bulb wrappers are maintained in good shape for market. Some early sweet onion varieties are also ready for harvest. With wet soil conditions, watch for bulb rots to develop quickly if harvest is delayed too long. Long-day varieties, better suited to our northern latitudes, are still growing, or just beginning to show signs of bending over.