Transcript
Tips on Storing Your Winter Box The crops in your box should keep anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. It is highly unlikely that you have a root cellar, if you do this would be ideal for all of your storage crops. In the absence of a root cellar we must find the next best thing. The vital requirements of this place are that it be as dark as possible, cool as possible and that it doesn’t freeze. For some it may be an attic space that stays cool and dark or a basement can provide a great place to store vegetables. Perhaps a mudroom or utility room near the entrance to your home that stays cool but not freezing in the winter, the same goes for a garage. Keeping light off the crops is important, you can use a sheet or blanket to shade the crops provided you can maintain air circulation to some degree. The ideal temperature range is from 32° 50°. This may not be possible for all of you but you will get weeks more out of your box if you have a place even in the 60° area. What is most important is temperature consistency, frequent shifts up or down in temperature will shorten shelf life. Other possibilities to consider are canning, freezing and pickling all of which are viable for most storage crops. Information is readily available online about a variety of storage techniques. It is advisable to keep your storage crops, especially carrots and parsnips away from fruit like, bananas, apples, peaces and strawberries. These fruits produce ethylene gas as they age that will cause your other vegetable to go soft, take on a bitter flavor and drastically shorten their shelf life. You may find that some of your crops are dirty. Trust us, it’s not because we are lazy. This is because in general, certain crops like potatoes, carrots and parsnips will store longer if left dirty until ready for use. You may notice some slight staining after washing this is normal and won’t affect the quality of produce. Beet Storage Tips ● Twist off tops & refrigerate beets in a plastic bag. ● For longterm storage, pack beets with moist sand, peat moss, saw dust or newspapers in a cardboard box. ● Store in a cool (but not freezing) location. Carrot Storage Tips ● Twist off tops & refrigerate carrots in a plastic bag. ● Store separate from apples. The ethylene from apples will cause rapid spoilage. ● For longterm storage, pack carrots with moist sand, peat moss, saw dust or newspapers in a cardboard box. ● Store in a cool (but not freezing) location as per potatoes and beets.
Continued on Next Page……... Celeriac
● It will keep a while on a shelf in the cellar; for storage longer than 23 months, layer in moist sand, moss, or sawdust. Keep at 32° to 40° F ● Celeriac will keep reasonably well in a plastic bag in your vegetable drawer. Garlic Storage Tips ● Garlic bulbs should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place for quite a few months. ● Do not store bulbs in the refrigerator. Onion Storage Tips ● Ideal conditions for storage onions are 4050F and low humidity, otherwise, if onions are stored with warmth or moisture they will tend to sprout. ● Onions are best stored in a mesh bag of some kind allowing for good airflow around them. ● Frequently check the onions for sprouting or going soft and remove them. ● Store as far as reasonably possible from your potatoes. Parsnips ● Treat identically to carrots as outlined above. Potato Storage Tips ● Most potatoes will hold at room temperature for up to two weeks. ● Store potatoes out of the light or skin will turn green. ● For long storage, keep potatoes at 4550 degrees F in a dark, humid place. Rutabaga ● Rutabagas store well in the refrigerator, as this can often provide the most optimal temperature and humidity conditions, preferring to stay around 32°F. ● They can also be stored in a root cellar and can be expecting to store from 1 to 4 months Sweet Potato Storage Tips ● Store in a cool dark place for about a month. Winter Squash Storage Tips ● Winter squash will store at room temperature for at least a month ● Every degree cooler down to about 40° or so will gain you more time up to several months.
