BEST PLANTS FOR WINTER STORAGE
Has anyone else determined what and how much food they will have to grow and store to survive a winter without previous preps? I decided to figure this out. Of major importance is the ability to grow the “right” food. Food that will store the longest. I won’t include grains in this list because we all know how to store those for long term keeping. This is a list of valuable veggies that will keep well.
Winter Squash - of the variety out there the best are: Butternut, Acorn, kabocha, certain type pumpkins and spaghetti squash. All of these are filled with great nutrients and will keep well for around 6 months if stored properly.
Onions - all types of these are wonderful for flavor and health. Stores well for up to 8 months IF you cure them first. Keep them away from your potatoes! Some cultivars store better than others. Yellow Globe Heirloom, Red Creole Heirloom, Southport White Heirloom, Stuttgarter Heirloom and Brunswick Heirloom all do well.
Garlic - another one that is full of flavor and healthy for you! These must be hung to dry.
Potatoes - who could do without these? Mashed, baked, fried they are high in calories and so tasty.
With a storage life of up to 6 months. Leave them in the ground until the very end of Fall…unless the bed retains too much water.
Sweet Potatoes - grows well in warm climates. These are another must have! Like regular potatoes be sure and cure the, before storing. Stores best in brown paper bags. They store well for 5 months.
Carrots - those in cold areas sometimes keep them in their garden beds. That is fine IF it isn’t too cold and not too wet. Myself, we store them in boxes, not touching each other filled with sand. Be sure to cut off the leaves before storage. Used pine shavings with the potatoes last year and did well.
Beets - these do not store as long, but 3 months is still good. You can always store for long enough to get you through fall and early winter, then pickle them. They store well in sand, peat moss and pine shavings. Be care careful to put enough of one of these between each layers for protection.
Cabbage - A very valuable vegetable! Contains nutrients that prevent many diseases like cancer and heart disease. Can be wrapped in newspaper and stored on the floor of your root cellar…or store plant roots and head on shelves a few inches apart. You can also hang them by the roots from the ceiling. They will last up to 4 months. Some folks dig 2 ft pits outdoors, line them with straw, cover with straw and then a tarp. Haven't tried it yet.
These items above will go a long way to keeping you well fed and healthy during the winter!
Has anyone else determined what and how much food they will have to grow and store to survive a winter without previous preps? I decided to figure this out. Of major importance is the ability to grow the “right” food. Food that will store the longest. I won’t include grains in this list because we all know how to store those for long term keeping. This is a list of valuable veggies that will keep well.
Winter Squash - of the variety out there the best are: Butternut, Acorn, kabocha, certain type pumpkins and spaghetti squash. All of these are filled with great nutrients and will keep well for around 6 months if stored properly.
Onions - all types of these are wonderful for flavor and health. Stores well for up to 8 months IF you cure them first. Keep them away from your potatoes! Some cultivars store better than others. Yellow Globe Heirloom, Red Creole Heirloom, Southport White Heirloom, Stuttgarter Heirloom and Brunswick Heirloom all do well.
Garlic - another one that is full of flavor and healthy for you! These must be hung to dry.
Potatoes - who could do without these? Mashed, baked, fried they are high in calories and so tasty.
With a storage life of up to 6 months. Leave them in the ground until the very end of Fall…unless the bed retains too much water.
Sweet Potatoes - grows well in warm climates. These are another must have! Like regular potatoes be sure and cure the, before storing. Stores best in brown paper bags. They store well for 5 months.
Carrots - those in cold areas sometimes keep them in their garden beds. That is fine IF it isn’t too cold and not too wet. Myself, we store them in boxes, not touching each other filled with sand. Be sure to cut off the leaves before storage. Used pine shavings with the potatoes last year and did well.
Beets - these do not store as long, but 3 months is still good. You can always store for long enough to get you through fall and early winter, then pickle them. They store well in sand, peat moss and pine shavings. Be care careful to put enough of one of these between each layers for protection.
Cabbage - A very valuable vegetable! Contains nutrients that prevent many diseases like cancer and heart disease. Can be wrapped in newspaper and stored on the floor of your root cellar…or store plant roots and head on shelves a few inches apart. You can also hang them by the roots from the ceiling. They will last up to 4 months. Some folks dig 2 ft pits outdoors, line them with straw, cover with straw and then a tarp. Haven't tried it yet.
These items above will go a long way to keeping you well fed and healthy during the winter!
