I just keep pinching off the outer leaves. They will keep growing from the inside and keep producing. DTM with greens is really subjective..some people like the tender new shoots at about 3-4 inches...so I guess in a couple of weeks they're mature?

Yes, the word "maturity" doesn't really apply to greens. "Maturity" means, "I'm all done growing!", but that's not the case for plants where the "fruit" is the leaves.

As we often discuss here whenever this question comes up, DTM is basically a useless bit of information to be ignored completely for all practical purposes. It may have a smidge more applicability to a few crops - leafy greens isn't one of them as others have said - but even then the info can freely be ignored.

Dave

Over the years I thought about this - occasionally. Then this came to me. Under the same conditions a short date will probably mature faster than a long date. So, if instead of looking at the absolute numbers one considers the relative numbers then the DTMs might be meaningful.

But someone up-thread must have already explained that.

Yes, Albert, that was my point. If you want to get to harvest fast, get a plant that has a smaller DTM. That is, a longer DTM plant planted next to a shorter DTM plant wlll probably take longer to produce. But if you want tomatoes on July 15, and you have a plant with a DTM of 90 days, planting on April 15 may or may not do it for you.

Given variability of weather, climate, and planting dates, as well as soil nutrients, you decide when to harvest by looking at the stuff and seeing if it is ready to harvest. Not by when the calendar and the DTM tells you it is ready to harvest.

So calendar-wise, DTM is indeed a pretty useless bit of information.

I agree with everything everyone stated above, but I do admit, that I still add it to my planting calendar for my root crops and corn, just so I know when to start checking.

I'm w/plantetjeff. Dates are not written in blood but they do make a good reference. I'd rather have the data than not.

I guess if you haven't gardened before, DTM can give you a clue about timescales. That is, it'll sorta take half the time to get to harvestable radishes than it will take to get to harvestable cherry tomatoes.

Learn to read the plants rather than the calendar. Plants are constantly sending out signals to the gardener as to what they need, what you need to be checking, and when they are ready to be harvested. And their signals are much more accurate than any calendar crutch. If we don't learn to read those signals or choose to ignore them then the DTM on the calendar makes no difference.

Dave

On the other hand, DTM is useful when deciding on a new plant. There may not be much difference timewise between a 60 day vs a 68 day cultivar, but a lot of difference between it and a 90 day cultivar. I can grow 140 day cultivar but there are lots of areas that cant. I have to be very careful with brassicas like cauliflower, because my cool periods are not long enough for the long season varieties.