Vegetable Storage for the Home Gardener
Many vegetables grown in home gardens can be stored fresh by placing them in an environment where the respiration and water loss are kept at low levels. Here are some general facts about respiration and water loss to help us keep our veggies fresher longer:
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Homeowners most commonly store vegetables in a refrigerator. While many vegetables can be stored well in the refrigerator for a week or longer, there are certain storage precautions to be observed. For instance, many ripening fruits (such as pears, plums, apples, cantaloupes, and peaches) should not be stored together with vegetables. These fruits give off ethylene gas, which causes yellowing of green vegetables, russet spotting on lettuce, toughening of asparagus spears, sprouting of potatoes and bitterness in carrots.
You can find a great, very detailed list of storage requirements for specific vegetables in UT Publication SP291 here: SP291: Fresh Vegetable Storage for the Homeowner. For more information about various different ways to store and preserve food visit our UT Extension Office or Ask a Master Gardener. |