Storing Your Crops
Many gardeners harvest bumper crops and find that at the end of the growing season they are left with a glut that they cannot use up fast enough. Follow our top tips for storing some popular fruit and veg effectively and helping your extend your season of home grown produce;
With all crops only attempt to store those that are in prime condition. Any damaged crops can easily spread disease to others, ruining an entire harvest.
Apples; Wrap in tissue paper and store in crate or on shelves allowing the air to circulate. Store in a cool and dark place.
Borlotti & French Beans; When the wet weather sets in cut plants and hang upside down somewhere dry until pods and beans have dried. Collect beans and store in a dry container
Carrots; Store unwashed carrots in crates of damp sand or in paper sacks to keep the light out.
Chilli Peppers; Pick any chillis left on the plant and dry in the oven on the lowest setting possible overnight
Garlic; Pull up bulbs and dry for a couple of days in sun before storing in a cool and dry place. Bulbs should remain in good condition for up to four months
Onions; Pull up bulbs and dry for a couple of days in sun. Onions can be stored in pairs of old tights knotted between bulbs
Pears; Wrap in tissue paper and store in crate or on shelves allowing the air to circulate. Store in a cool and dark place.
Maincrop Potatoes; Allow potatoes to dry for a couple of days in an airy but shady place before storing in Hessian or paper sacks in a cool and dry place. It is important to remove all trace of potatoes from the ground to prevent blight from occurring in subsequent years.
Shallots; Lift bulbs and dry for a couple of days in sun before storing in nets
Squash, Pumpkins and Gourds; Pick at first frost leaves fruits with short stalks to help prevent rot. If fruits are not ripe place in a light place for a few days to allow them to continue to ripen. After this store in a cool and dry place. Squash, pumpkins and gourds should store well throughout the winter months
