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Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or a newbie just dipping your toes into the soil, there’s nothing quite like enjoying the fruits (or rather, veggies) of your labor. But once you’ve harvested your delicious bounty, the next big question is: how do you keep all those fresh, vibrant vegetables from wilting away before you can enjoy them?
From crunchy carrots to luscious tomatoes, our comprehensive guide will walk you through the best ways to store each of your garden-grown goodies, ensuring they stay fresh and tasty for as long as possible. We’ve included both short- and long-term storage options to enable you to make the most of every single mouthful you harvest.
1. Arugula
Short-term: When washed and wrapped in a damp paper towel, arugula can be kept in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Long-term: Excess arugula can be blended into pesto and frozen for several months.
2. Asparagus
Short-term: Wrap the bottom of asparagus stalks in a damp paper towel and place in a plastic bag to keep this gourmet vegetable fresh for 4-7 days.
Long-term: Blanch asparagus and freeze it in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 8 months.
3. Brassicas
Short-term: Unwashed brassica crops like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower can be stored in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
Long-term: Brassicas can be blanched and frozen in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 12 months.
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4. Celery
Short-term: Store celery in the refrigerator, wrapped in aluminum foil or a plastic bag for up to 3 weeks.
Long-term: Surplus celery can be chopped and frozen – it may lose its crispness but is ideal for soups and casseroles.
5. Corn
Short-term: The sugars in corn start to turn to starch immediately after harvest, so eat as soon as possible. Store harvested cobs in their husks in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Long-term: Blanch and freeze corn on the cob or cut off for up to 8 months.
6. Cucumbers
Short-term: Store freshly picked cucumbers in the refrigerator, unwashed, in a plastic bag for up to 1 week.
Long-term: Cucumbers can be pickled and stored in jars for several months, but make sure to follow recommended canning safety protocols.
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7. Eggplant
Short-term: Ripe eggplants can be stored in a cool place, out of direct sunlight, for about 4-5 days.
Long-term: Frozen eggplant becomes mushy when thawed, so the best option is to add your surplus to dishes like ratatouille, which can be frozen for several months.
8. Fennel
Short-term: Store freshly harvested bulb fennel in the refrigerator, unwashed, in a plastic bag. It will keep for about one week.
Long-term: Sliced bulb fennel can be blanched and frozen for up to 6 months.
9. Garlic
Short-term: Mature garlic bulbs can be hung for several months in a cool, dry, dark place with good air circulation.
Long-term: Peeled garlic cloves can be frozen for up to a year or dehydrated to make garlic powder.
10. Green Beans
Short-term: Place unwashed green beans in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Long-term: Blanch and freeze green beans in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 12 months.
11. Kohlrabi
Short-term: Store kohlrabi in the refrigerator, unwashed, in a plastic bag for up to 2 weeks.
Long-term: Sliced or chopped kohlrabi can be blanched and frozen for up to 12 months.
12. Leafy Greens
Short-term: Leafy greens such as Collard Greens, Kale, Mustard Greens, Spinach, and Swiss Chard can be wrapped in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week,
Long-term: Blanch and freeze leafy greens in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 12 months.
13. Leeks
Short-term: Store leeks in the refrigerator, unwashed, in a plastic bag for up to 2 weeks.
Long-term: Leeks can be chopped and frozen for up to 12 months.
14. Lettuce
Short-term: Store lettuce in the refrigerator, wrapped in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag or container. It will keep for about one week but loses crispness after a few days.
Long-term: Lettuce has no good long-term storage options, so eat those leaves while they’re fresh! It is a good idea to only pick lettuce leaves from the outside of the plant, leaving the remainder of the plant in the ground.
15. Okra
Short-term: Store okra in the refrigerator, unwashed, in a perforated plastic bag. It will be kept for about 2-3 days.
Long-term: Blanch and freeze okra in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 12 months.
16. Onions
Short-term: Store onions in a cool, dry, and dark place with good air circulation. Once the outer skin has hardened, they can last for several months.
Long-term: Onions can be frozen (chopped or whole) for up to 12 months.
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17. Peas
Short-term: For maximum freshness, store peas in their pods, unwashed, in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag. Consume as soon as possible, ideally within 2-3 days.
Long-term: Podded peas can be frozen in airtight freezer bags for up to 12 months.
18. Peppers
Short-term: Store whole peppers in the refrigerator in a mesh bag for 1-2 weeks.
Long-term: Peppers can be chopped and frozen for up to 12 months but lose their crispness when thawed.
19. Potatoes
Store potatoes in a cool, dry, dark place with good air circulation. Under the right conditions, they can last for several months.
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20. Pumpkins & Winter Squash
If left on the plant until the stem is hard, pumpkins and winter squash can be stored in a cool, dry place for several months.
21. Radishes
Short-term: Unwashed radishes should be stored in a mesh bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Long-term: Surplus radishes can be pickled and stored in jars for several months.
22. Root Vegetables
Short-term: Allow freshly harvested root vegetables like carrots to dry, then gently brush off excess dirt. Store unwashed root vegetables in a mesh bag in the crisper drawer for up to one month.
Long-term: Root vegetables can be stored for longer in a root cellar containing damp sand. Alternatively, chopped root vegetables can be blanched and frozen for up to one year.
23. Tomatoes
Short-term: Store tomatoes at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, for up to 1 week. Never store home-grown tomatoes in the refrigerator as the taste will deteriorate.
Long-term: Tomatoes are incredibly versatile – they can be blanched and frozen, canned, or made into sauce and frozen for up to 12 months.
24. Zucchini
Short-term: Freshly picked zucchini will be kept for around one week in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Long-term: Frozen zucchini may become mushy when thawed, so freeze in cooked dishes such as ratatouille instead. Excess zucchini can also be used to make bread, which freezes well for several months.
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