Contest: Harvest Season in My Area

Assalamualaikum to all Steemians!!

I hope everyone will be good and fine..I am @sakeenazaffar from Pakistan. I am glad to participate in this beautiful and amazing contest Harvest Season in my Area. This contest is organised by @edgargonzalez I am going to share informatios regarding the contest. I hope everyone like my post!!

^{Captured by me}

Lady Finger Harvest in Pakistan
In my area of Pakistan, lady finger (which we call bhindi in Urdu) is one of the most popular vegetables being harvested these days. This vegetable grows very well in our hot summer weather. The best time to pick lady finger is when the pods are still young, abt 3-4 inches long nd bright green in color. If we wait too long the pods become tough nd fibrous, making them less tasty.

I recently visited some local farms nd took pictures of fresh lady finger ready for sale. The farmers carefully select only the tender pods as these are the most valuable in the market. In Pakistani cooking, lady finger is used in many delicious dishes like bhindi masala (spicy stir-fried lady finger) nd salan (curry). It's not just tasty but also very healthy full of vitamins nd fiber.

Answers to Contest Questions

1. How do you know when a product is in harvest season?

There are several ways to know when crops are ready for harvest:

First, we can look at the appearance of the fruits or vegetables. For example mangoes change color from green to yellow when they're ripe nd they develop a sweet smell. Similarly, lady finger pods should be green nd snap easily when bent this shows they're fresh nd tender.

Second we can check the time of year. Different crops have different seasons. In Pakistan, mango season is from May to July, while wheat is harvested in April-May. Farmers have traditional knowledge passed down through generations abt when each crop is ready.

Third we can observe the markets. When a particular fruit or vegetable becomes widely available at low prices this means it's harvest season. For example when you see many stalls selling cheap mangoes, you know it's peak mango season!

2. What factors can influence harvest time?

Many things can affect when crops are ready to harvest:

Weather is the most important factor. If the summer is too hot nd dry, crops may ripen faster. Too much rain can delay harvesting nd even damage crops. Unexpected cold weather can also affect growth.

Water supply is crucial. Crops need regular watering, especially in our hot climate. Areas with good irrigation systems can grow crops year-round while places dependent on rain may have only one harvest season.

Soil quality matters a lot. Rich nd fertile soil helps plants grow faster and healthier. Farmers often add natural fertilizers to improve their soil.

Pests and diseases can force farmers to harvest early. If insects attack a crop, farmers might pick whatever is ready to save some of their produce.

Farming methods also make a difference. Farmers using modern techniques nd good quality seeds often get better yields at the right time.

3. What fruits and vegetables are currently being harvested in your community?

Right now in Pakistan we're harvesting many delicious summer fruits nd vegetables:

Mangoes Called the "king of fruits," mangoes are everywhere in summer! The most popular varieties are:

• Sindhri Large, sweet mangoes from Sindh
• Chaunsa Juicy nd fiberless, from Punjab
• Langra Green outside but sweet inside 🥭

Watermelons These grow well in Punjab nd Sindh during the hot months. They're perfect for staying cool nd hydrated. Farmers know watermelons are ripe when they sound hollow when tapped.🍉

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Peaches From the beautiful Swat valley, these soft, fragrant fruits are at their best in June-July. 🍑

Apples While most apples are autumn fruits, some early varieties are already being picked in northern areas like Murree. 🍎🍏

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Lady Finger This summer vegetable grows in almost every home garden nd farm. It's quick to grow nd very productive in our climate.

4. Can harvested products be sold at the same price when not in season?

No, prices change dramatically btwn seasons. Here's why:

During harvest season when fruits nd vegetables are plentiful, prices are low. For example:

• Mangoes sell for Rs. 50-100 per kg
  (1.25 -2.5 steems) in season
• Lady finger costs about Rs. 30-50 per kg (1-2 steems) in summer

But in off-season when the same items become scarce, prices can triple or more:

• Winter mangoes (imported or stored) may cost Rs. 300-500 per kg (7-12 steems)
• Lady finger in cold months can be Rs. 150-200 per kg (3-5 steems)

This happens because:

1. Supply drops Fewer farmers grow these crops off-season
2. Storage costs money Keeping fruits fresh requires special facilities
3. Transport increases price Off-season produce often comes from far away

That's why people try to buy nd preserve seasonal foods when they're cheap nd plentiful!

That's it from today's blog. I hope you liked it.I truly hope that in the future, there will be more contests like this. I'll be excited to participate again, learn more about different crops nd connect with others!!

With best wishes. Now I would like to invite: @muhammadalizeb, @mustafa001 and @mairarizwan to participate in this amazing contest.

Thanks a lot for reading !!