Eating seasonally in our region doesn’t have to mean going without nutritious organic vegetables during the winter months. It takes a little more planning ahead, but fresh greens and hearty fall vegetables can last for many months when stored properly. As your CSA boxes fill with hearty storage vegetables like cabbage, carrots, beets, and potatoes this month, check out these tips and tricks for storage success:
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Almost all storage crops want to be just above freezing, but below 40°F. Winter squash, onions, garlic, and potatoes are the exceptions - they like to be a bit warmer, but make sure to keep them in a dark space so they don't sprout.
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Go through your storage areas once a week to determine which items may be showing signs of deterioration (nicks, bruises, etc.) and use them first.
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Possible storage locations include a basement, an unheated room of your house, or an insulated garage, but keep a close eye on them when the outside temps dip below zero to make sure these spaces don't get below freezing.
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Don't forget that our searchable A-Z Vegetable Index has storage tips and fun recipe ideas for all of the veggies we grow!
