Storing vegetables for the winter

We've just bought a house, and included in this lovely, new home is an under-porch root cellar. I've always wanted one, and I even bought books to teach myself how to use one (when I didn't have one and there wasn't even one in my near future- yes, I'm a bit obsessed). They use no electricity, but they can require a bit of attention and maintenance. Most storage-worthy fruits and veggies will keep for 3-6 months tops, depending on the variety and conditions.

Some veggies need a moist environment, and others need a dry one, and some need cooler and others warmer. It can be difficult to provide all conditions in one room. However, the one most important thing that needs to be provided is ventilation. Without that it won't matter if you have everything else perfect.



One of the reasons to provide ventilation is that apples and pears give off something called ethylene gas, which causes other fruit and veggies to ripen too quickly and spoil. The other problem is moisture accumulation and mold. Storing apples and pears in the same area with your veggies pretty much guarantees spoilage.

In a regular root cellar this requires two pipes that are vented to the outside- one which reaches the top of the room and the other which reaches the bottom of the room. This will provide a bit of passive air flow and vent any unwanted gas or moisture. Make sure that the ends of the pipes/tubes are not going to be covered by snow and don't face directly into the wind.

Another way to do it if you don't have space inside the house to build a root cellar is to bury barrels in your back yard. It's a bit more work, and you'll freeze your bum off in January digging up veggies, but if you need more storage space it's a time-honoured way of keeping root veggies. Here in the frozen north you'll need to make sure that the barrel is well-buried and has lots of straw on top for insulation. Or, there's always keeping squash in a cardboard box in an unheated bedroom. Works like a charm, actually.

Now is a good time to go to your local farmer's market and pick up big, cheap bags of carrots, apples, onions, garlic, and winter squash. Try it and see what works for you.



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How to make a root cellar in your basement
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Five ways to preserve carrots
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Video- Barrel root cellar