How to store Potatoes, Onions, Garlic & other veg over the autumn/winter?

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

I was wondering how to store veg so that I can use it over winter? I know that a lot of stuff will have to be blanched/prepared then frozen, but wondered if other stuff could be stored without it growing or going manky?

Thanks all.

roosterpotatoes

I have wrapped my beetroot individually in newspaper and put them in a corner of my shed where its cool.
I suspect you could do this will most root veg
Try googling or try this website.. https://www.growveg.info Its a really good site and has taught me everything i know

NeverInDebt

Keep potatoes out of the light when taken up. I picked some up and left in a small bucket for use and some of them when green

elsien

My garlic, I leave the stem on and tie them together ( a la french garlic seller!) then hang them up in my outhouse which is cool, dark and dry, and just cut the bulbs off one at a time as I use them. I think it depends on which type it is as to how long it lasts though - some are better storers than others. My last years lot survived the winter without going manky.
I don't grow enough potatoes to have lots to store, but I've got some in a potato bag (poundland) and some in a cotton bag, both stored in a cool dark (mouse free) place.
Mangetout I've frozen, not grown enough of anything else to make it worthwhile storing. Except courgettes, and my soup was disgusting, so not even going to try - any surplus is now going to the neighbours.

NeverInDebt

I remember some guy last year on GW said he stored his vegetables in straw and earth even in mid of winter in ground

rhiwfield

The guy from the IOW garlic company told me that garlic should not be stored in a cold place as it spurred growth. So mine stays in the utility room and lasts well until early summer.

Maincrop onions I leave in the garage after drying, which also has racks for apples (ever the optimist!), but the welsh onions will crop until the really bad weather and be ready again in the spring.

Come December I may buy some veg in bulk (especially spuds) and the cool temps in the garage keep these fresh for much longer and saves supermarket trips. Ate the last of my new spuds this week, only grow enough to last 2-3 months

Brassicas, carrots and swedes will be left in the ground until used, and leaf beet/swiss chard will be kept under cloches.

Everything else is jammed, bottled, frozen or chutneyed, though we've been lent a food dryer so may try that on the apples

lolly5648

I will have a surplus of French and runner beans. Can I just open freeze them or do I have to blanch them first?

rhiwfield

FWIW we always blanch them. I'd guess that they will keep longer that way and stops bacteria spoiling the flavour if not used quickly.

GreenFly_2

NeverInDebt wrote: »

I remember some guy last year on GW said he stored his vegetables in straw and earth even in mid of winter in ground

This is called a clamp. I havn't used one myself but I have seen one and they work well on root veg such as swede. They are kept quite dry, my worry though is mice etc. I prefer to put in boxes of damp sand.

I put my carrots in wooden boxes of damp sand, just ensure the carrots are not touching and they will last 3-6 months no problem.

Pea's beans etc are blanched and frozen as soon as possible after picking.

Onions are dried and tied together using raffier or put in old tights as long as air can circulate.

Potatoes in sacks that exclude light and kept cool and dry.

some veg can be left in the ground where frost can enhance the flavour on parsnips, sprouts etc.

Other methods are also preserving, pickling, drying and canning

I hope this helps

GF

paulrn_2

Last year I put my potatoes in hessian sacks and stored them off the ground in my shed, they were as good by march as they were when I dug them up.