“How to Store Vegetables So They Last All Winter”

Here’s your December guide to keeping your harvest crisp, flavorful, and fresh all winter long.

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🥔 1. Potatoes: Stop Sprouting and Softening

   •   Temperature: 4–7°C (40–45°F)

   •   Humidity: High

   •   Light: As dark as possible

Tips:  •   Store in a cardboard box or breathable paper bag — never plastic.

   •   Keep them far away from onions (they make each other spoil faster!).

   •   Check weekly and remove any that feel soft.

Bonus: Add a few sheets of newspaper to absorb excess moisture.

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🧅 2. Onions & Garlic: Keep Them Firm and Mold-Free

   •   Temperature: 0–4°C (32–40°F)

   •   Humidity: Low

   •   Ventilation: Excellent

Tips:

   •   Use mesh bags, old onion sacks, or hang in pantyhose “chains.”

   •   Avoid storing in sealed containers.

   •   Keep them away from potatoes and apples.

If you see one soft onion, remove it immediately — it will spread quickly.

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🥕 3. Carrots and Beets: How to Keep Them Crisp

Ideal conditions:

   •   Temperature: 0–1°C (32–34°F)    •   Humidity: Very high

Storage method:

   •   Trim greens (they pull moisture from the roots).

   •   Store in a bin filled with damp sand, peat moss, or sawdust.

   •   Keep in a cold garage, mudroom, or fridge drawer.

If they get rubbery → soak in cold water for 2 hours to rehydrate.

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🎃 4. Winter Squash: Prevent Mold and Rot

   •   Temperature: 10–15°C (50–60°F)

   •   Humidity: Low

   •   Airflow: Good

Tips:

   •   Cure for 10–14 days before storing (if not already cured).

   •   Store on a single layer — never stacked.

   •   Wipe with a 10% vinegar solution to slow mold.

Butternut stores longest (up to 6 months), while acorn and spaghetti squash store the shortest (6–8 weeks). I grated my summer squash and put it in the freezer for soups and veggie patties.

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🥬 5. Cabbage: The Surprising Winter Champion

How to store:

   •   Leave the outer leaves on — they protect the head.

   •   Wrap in paper towel and place in the crisper drawer.

   •   Or hang whole heads by the stalk in a cool basement.

Remove outer leaves as they wilt; the inside stays perfect.

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🧺 6. A Simple Step Most People Forget: Airflow!

Use:

   •   Plastic totes with holes drilled in

   •   Mesh bags

   •   Slatted boxes

   •   Crate shelving

And always leave a bit of space between bins.

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❄️ 7. What to Do With Veggies That Won’t Last

   •   Soft onions: chop + freeze

   •   Sprouting potatoes: cook and freeze mashed

   •   Carrots getting soft: make soup packs for the freezer

   •   Squash with spots: roast and freeze the purée

   •   Beets: boil, peel, freeze in cubes

Nothing goes to waste.

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📌 December Checklist for Your Stored Vegetables

✔ Check every 1–2 weeks

✔ Remove anything soft or moldy

✔ Keep onions and potatoes apart

✔ Rotate bins so oldest gets used first

✔ Add/remove moisture as needed

✔ Make notes for next year’s harvest

Print this and keep it in your storage area — it’s a lifesaver.

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Happy Holidays to all my readers!

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