Are you growing anice in Illinois, but don’t know when the best time to harvest them is?

Harvesting anice is not as easy as it seems.

Here’s why:

• Anice have a very short window when they can be harvested and still taste great.

So if you harvest them too early they may not be ready and taste bad. And if you harvest them too late they may become infected with mold, fungus, insects, etc., and become inedible.

Today, I’m going to teach you the ideal time to harvest anice in Illinois:

• To Learn More About HOW to Grow Anice, Check Out This GUIDE!

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When Do I Harvest Anice in Illinois?

As you may have already guessed, there are two main factors that determine when you should harvest your anice: the physical features of the anice & weather (time).

Harvest Anice if They Look Like This!!!

The physical features of anice are what most gardeners commonly rely on to determine if they are ready to be picked off the plant or not.

In general, you should harvest anice if they have the following physical features:

• The entire anice is a solid red color. If the anice is a lighter shade of red, it is not ready to be harvested
• The anice is slightly soft. Too hard means it is not ready. Too soft means it is overripe (but still edible)
• Easily able to be deattached from the the plant. This means it has absorbed all the nutrients it needs and is ready.

Harvest Your Anice During THIS Time of Year!!!

In general, you should harvest anice:

• 65 to 85 days after starting anice from seed
• 40 to 50 days after planting anice in your garden
• 20 to 30 days after anice first appear

And no matter what, you should ALWAYS harvest your anice before the first frost of the year. Frost will immediately kill your anice plant and make your anice inedible.

For your reference, I have created this table for average frost dates for most major cities in Illinois. If your city is not listed below you can find its Last & First Frost Dates HERE.

Illinois Last & First Frost Dates

It should be noted that you should not overly rely on the first frost of the year. The average first frost of the year is only correct 30% of the time.

Instead, pay close attention to your local weather.

When you know a frost is coming you need to take action.

• If anice are in pots, bring them inside
• If anice are in the ground, cover them in burlap and hope they survive
• Pick all anice. If they are not ready, place them in a brown paper bag and store them for approximately 1 to 2 weeks to see if they become edible.

If you want to learn WHEN to harvest ANY Vegetable in Illinois, head over to HERE and just type in the vegetable you want to grow.