Storing vegetables correctly
After a rich harvest the question arises: where to put all the vegetables? Stored correctly, much stays fresh for weeks to months – stored wrongly it spoils quickly. The key is the right conditions: temperature, humidity and the right place.
Basic rule: most storage vegetables like it cool, dark and airy – but not every vegetable belongs in the fridge.
In short
- Cool, dark and airy keeps storage vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and cabbage fresh for a long time.
- Not everything belongs in the fridge – tomatoes, potatoes and pumpkin do not.
- Do not wash vegetables before storing and sort them out regularly.
- Store ripe fruit (ethylene) separately – it makes vegetables spoil faster.
Cool, dark and airy
Root and storage vegetables such as carrots, beetroot, celeriac, potatoes and cabbage feel most comfortable in a cool, dark cellar, an earth clamp or a sand box. Carrots and beetroot keep for months in moist sand. Pumpkin, on the other hand, likes it dry and a little warmer (10–15 °C).
Storage places and shelf life
| Vegetable | Storage place | Shelf life |
|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | cool, dark, airy (cellar) | months |
| Carrots/beetroot | moist sand, cellar | months |
| Pumpkin | dry, 10–15 °C | months |
| Onions/garlic | dry, airy | months |
| Tomatoes | room temperature, not fridge | days |
| Lettuce/leafy veg | fridge, moist | days |
Tips for a long shelf life
- Do not wash: only brush off storage vegetables – moisture encourages rot.
- Sort out: only store flawless produce and check regularly ("one bad apple …").
- Store separately: apples and tomatoes give off ethylene and make neighbours ripen faster.
- Airy: boxes with air holes or sand rather than airtight bags.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my potatoes sprout?
Stored too warm and too bright. Cool (4–8 °C) and dark they stay firm longer.
Why do tomatoes go mealy in the fridge?
Cold destroys flavour and texture – tomatoes belong at room temperature.
Tip
Store carrots and beetroot in a box with slightly moist sand in the cellar – this keeps them crisp and fresh all winter.
Caution
Never store potatoes next to onions or apples – the mutual emanation makes both sprout or spoil faster.
So there is plenty left to store, it all starts with strong young plants. We raise ours robust.