If you have your own organic vegetable garden, you want to enjoy the fresh and tasty vegetables you have worked hard to produce. If you aren’t using any pesticides or sprays, your vegetables may be a little more sensitive. But don’t worry; with a few little precautions you should have no problem being able to eat your vegetables now or later.
1) Try to avoid moisture – Don’t rinse your veggies before you store them. You want to keep as much extra moisture as possible. This means do not pick your veggies if they are damp, wait until things dry off, and then store your vegetable as you see fit.
2) Refrigerate leafy greens – You can always pick your lettuce and greens before you need to use them. If you leave your greens out, they will dry out quickly. If you store them in the fridge you will get more life out of them and be able to use them for weeks at a time. You can store your leafy greens in a glass container or in a small plastic bag.
3) Cure your potatoes – Your potatoes will need a bit more time before you can enjoy them. Put them into a brown paper bag and let them sit in a warm, and preferably humid place. This will give your potatoes a consistency you are used to. You should leave your potatoes to cure for approximately two weeks. This process works for sweet potatoes as well. After your potatoes are cured, you can store them in a cooler space until you want to consume them.
4) Storage temperature – The key to your success is going to mean maintaining an accurate temperature for your stored veggies. Each vegetable is different. Make sure you look up each item and try to find a way to meet its temperature needs. You may need a few extra supplies, but with many refrigerators and freezers, you can adjust the temperature, even within specific drawers, so you don’t need to invest in a new unit. Check out different storage containers as well for added flexibility.
5) Moisture levels – Different vegetables need different amounts of moisture. This is why your leafy greens will thrive in your refrigerator, but your squash need another environment. Make sure you take a look at the amount of moisture your newly picked vegetables need to have around and plan accordingly. Usually this is just a matter of choosing a good location to store your veggies.