Hi! I’ve recently decided to start getting into growing veg with my parents as they’re keen veg gardeners! Such a rewarding hobby! I’m 22 and most of my friends aren’t enthusiastic to say the least but I feel that if more younger people were to visit a garden stocked with veg during harvesting time they you absolutely love it!
I'm glad you are enjoying growing your own food, you're decades ahead of me, I'm 50 and second year grower. your "less than enthusiastic friends" will not get to enjoy almost free, healthy fresh food, while paying many times more for a microwave meal that will make them unwell, obese/diabetic, full of hidden sugar etc. I just ate some of my first crop of early potatoes in a potato salad, I'm amazed at the taste, my own tomatoes, onions in one soon. Walk your own path, against the crowd if you know that is the right direction for you. Had a younger friend, more friend of best mate mention an allotment, seems to have forgotten about it, I didn't, I checked for my nearest one, local growing groups etc, improving my yeild while helping food banks is my aim. Sorry to write you an essay, but we need people like you! I am trying to get everything I grow to be "heritage varieties", none of the hybrid, possibly GM (seedless tripe). Plus saving seeds is just common sense, which isn't common.
This channel has helped me a lot! I now have a few root veggies harvests - potatoes, garlic, etc. - stored in a cabinet in the mudroom (right off of the garage). I hope it is cold enough!
Alaska cold makes storage a bit tricky... but also the long winters make the storage important and necessary. We get our potatoes through the entire winter by curing and placing in bins of shredded paper. Helpful, if you have the space, to keep them separated so as not to spoil too much if one starts to rot. Beets and carrots do well in sand or peet moss... and the rest of the brassicas are good made into fermented kraut, blanched, frozen and canned. So thankful to be heading into another winter with a full freezer and stocked pantry. Thank you so much for your informative and helpful and knowledgeable ... I learn so much from you Ben! Loved your trellis videos last spring... cucumbers looked so great climbing up a trellis. 👍👍
I'd love a root cellar one day! But for now, I buried a sprinkler box. It stores potatoes beautifully, if layers are separated with straw. They will keep through the snow season, 4 months here!
I use plastic milk crates to store potatoes for optimum air circulation. I put either a brown paper bag or news paper on the bottom so nothing falls out.
@@sparkymikey25 I just chop up like a parsley and add to sauce not too much though … they have a strong flavor… so eat a small piece first and gauge from that how much to add… hope this helps😁
I tried to store carrots over winter in sand in bins in the cellar. They rotted. Zone 3. Im trying burlap sacks this winter. It worked for the potatoes.
I recently tried storing root plants in perlite -most lasted 12 mths with no sign of trouble -just put in a container that could hold the crop then layered perlite /root crop/perlite ect,ect until full sort the vegies out and leave the saddest in the last one or two top layers so you use them first..you can reuse perlite -discard any areas where vegies have gone bad(you will almost always have a dud somewhere)..PS store in cool light free area
Excellent video Ben!!! Thank you for your tips and tricks. I would like to add that Commercial potato storage (that I have seen), is usually done in large barns with air coolers that keep them at 45 degrees F and 90+% humidity. They pile the potatoes into one huge mountain up to 40+ feet high and keep them in total darkness. (I don’t know if they treat them with fungicides), but knowing this might help someone in a more humid climate to have a starting point for research/possibilities so I figured I’d mention it. -- Cheers --
THIS is crucial info and considerations, toyed with storing roots in the ground sometimes and always thought it was one of the 'holly grails' of gardening! :D Slightly similar to storing citrus fruit or avocadoes *on the tree* for months or yr round.
Of course , there are the traditional clamps you make out of straw and soil. Also heeling them in. I dug up my parsnips today, put them together under an overhanging conifer and covered them with soil. The soil under this conifer is a bit drier and finer so hopefully good for temporary storage and shelter from the elements
Thanks for this handy video! You can also make a pesto with carrot tops, Ben :) My father used to have a large pile of sandy soil in the backyard and would layer his potatoes, carrots, etc - and dig out what he wanted for use.
Zone 5b and potatoes and parsnips will survive the winter in the ground here and be quite edible if they are harvested soon after the ground thaws in spring.
So many good advice, Ben! Love your videos and I subscribed after very first one I saw. Our family have recently got hold of a small cottage here in the middle of Sweden, and this spring I plan on growing a lot more than previous seasons. Looking forward to lifting potatoes, carrots and a whole lot more, and then storing them accordingly. Many thanks from Sweden!😀
Hi Andreas, thanks so much for your support and encouraging words. Very best of luck with this year's growing season - how exciting to be expanding your growing ambitions!
Excellent tips, Ben. 👍 I wish I had a proper root cellar for winter storage, but I don't. I do have a spare old refrigerator in my shop though, which at it's highest setting runs around 46F-48F. So that's my "root cellar", lol. And +1 for routinely checking the food you've put away for winter. I sort through all of my stuff every week or two, checking for any signs of mold or rot...potatoes, onions, garlic, cabbages, squash, etc. There's nothing worse than finding one bad onion has spoiled a 30 pound bag that you worked so hard to grow.
Thanks for the suggestions Heidi. I don't really have the climate to grow sweet potatoes where I am, but may try one season in the greenhouse. And if so will discuss curing and storing them. :-)
Thanks very much Ben, lovely clear instructions. I've previously kept 50lb bought thick paper sacks of potatoes in a galvanised dustbin with lid on to keep rodents out (they've been in the brick shed, but couldn't get to the potatoes). Have now planted my own, and hope to keep them until eaten too.
Brilliant video Ben, it was timed perfectly just what I needed to know for this week end! Thank you your videos are great packed with information and easy to follow! ☘️☘️☘️☘️
Always good advice, Ben. Here in North Florida, USA, it's hot and humid for most of the year. Storing veg in my out building would only attract rats and mice, I usually opt to either can or dehydrate most of my produce.
I saw a recepie recently for carrot tops pesto. Your carrots tops look lush and vibrant.....maybe you should give it a go. I will if I get a great successful crop of them next season. Thankyou for this video. I will subscribe to yr channel. Thumbs up from me.
I’d like to try some of these ideas my storage solutions involve me using a chambered vacuum sealer where some of the vegetables will be blanched and then vacuum sealed and some of them just sealed straight away I also have a freeze dryer and sealed them up in mylar bags. I also store them in canning and sometimes pickling or fermenting. But storing them in the freezer is nice but it requires electricity and a lot of freezer space. I would like to build a Root cellar and try some of the traditional techniques too.
How well does a chamber vacuum perform.? I have just started to look into them. Does the initial price of the machine and the price of bags worth the benefits of the results?
@@MolloRelax simply from my perspective I'd say yes it's worth the money. Here are the reasons why I think it's worth the money. 1. If you were to buy a regular FoodSaver the machine is significantly cheaper however when vacuum ceiling something as simple as ground meat I use a small bag and weigh them out into about 1 lb roughly. These bags would cost me $0.68 a bag for the food savers and for the vacuum sealer it's only about $0.05 a bag. If your ceiling a lot of stuff you will be saving a lot of money. 2. Using the chambered vacuum sealer I can seal liquids and marinate. 3. I like doing pre meals and sealing them in the bag so all I have to do is drop it in a pot of water to heat it up cut it open and pour it in a bowl good to go I do it with rice in one bag for example and chili in the other the only thing I have to wash is the bowl and the fork I used to eat it very convenient. 3. With a chambered vacuum sealer people are concerned you can only seal something that will fit in the chamber however if you have a roll of FoodSaver bags and you wanted to freeze something like a whole salmon you would seal one end of the bag like you would on a food saver machine and put your fish in and then put the bag inside the vacuum chamber close the lid with the bag and the fish on the outside and it will still seal it. However it does have to be a FoodSaver bag as your ceiling it outside the vacuum sealer but yes you can vacuum seal large items. 4. You can take any jar as long as the seals on the jar are still good put it inside the vacuum sealer and reseal the jar making it airtight again. I sometimes by canning jars and I can vacuum seal dry goods preserving them which is great. 5. I also use my vacuum sealer for curing meats for example making my own streaky rashers and back bacon. I take the belly of pork or pork tenderloin rub it down with the appropriate amount of curing salt put it inside the bag add the rest of the salt seal it up put it in the drawer of the fridge flipping it daily for 5 to 6 days take it out slow cook it in the oven thinly slice it and I have bacon I then put the bacon in strips vacuum sealed them up again and put them in the freezer. You could do this product for salting other meats if you so wished. 6. You can do sous vide cooking. Buy vacuum sealing your protein with oils herbs spices salt you will infuse it into the meat . Plus this is the most tenderest way to cook any kind of protein. 7. My all-time favorite thing about it is how long it increases your food life span. Dry goods for your pantry normally last a month vacuum sealed 2 years. Cheese in the refrigerator 2 weeks vacuum sealed 8 months. Fish Frozen 6 months vacuum sealed 2 years. Cooked meat frozen 6 months vacuum sealed 2 to 3 years. Ground meat Frozen 4 months vacuum sealed 1 year. Vegetables Frozen 8 months vacuum sealed 2 to 3 years. Berries Frozen one month vacuum sealed one year . So yes I think it is a wonderful piece of kit.I believe it is worth the money and if you're using it and all these different ways it easily pays for itself. I believe it to be an essential piece of kit for basic home economics. Sorry for the long response wanted to give you as much information as possible.
@@russellwood8750 My gosh, I was not expecting this elaborate response. Thanks a lot. Although the extended shelf of all the products that this machine can accomplish; I find it a bit un-necessary to go beyond the 6 or 7 months that the growing season is not there to accommodate....In my area anyway... I would not hesitate to grab something fresh from the garden in the growing season, even if I knew that I have a good supply of well preserved items in a freezer. But ; whenever I will become incapable of sustaining a garden ; that machine shall be a strong candidate for my long term preserves plan. Again..thanks for your exquisite input.
@@MolloRelax you're very welcome no worries at all. Although having stuff in the freezer that can go beyond six seven months is a major benefit. Because you could have situation where your garden crop fails and you may wish to fall back on the food you have in your freezer and canning. I understand harvesting straight from the garden and the advantages to having the fresh produce it's nice to have but sometimes things can go wrong weather doesn't cooperate or you get an infestation of something that you weren't expecting. Sometimes life throws you a curveball it's always good to have a backup. Also preserving your meats and fish for longer period of time is good. I buy my proteins directly from Farmers I get completely organic so when I buy a side of beef for example it's good for 2 years therefore I only have to buy it once for 2 years. Like you I try to eat as fresh as possible but I also find it comforting to have a fall back position.
@@russellwood8750 all good points you make here.I guess I have been lucky so far. No major weather related crop failures.we had a good hail episode a month ago..but the damage was not too severe....but who knows what's in store I keep my fingers crossed ✌
Not a silly question at all. You shouldn't need to water the potting mix over the winter - keeping it in a dark, cool place will be enough to stop it drying out and the roots going soft.
With regard to cardboard boxes, should small holes be cut in the sides to aid ventilation? I was thinking of using bubble wrap to insulate the boxes if freezing is forecast, should we remove it in milder weather to help air circulation?
Most cardboard boxes would probably be well ventilated enough, but there's no harm in cutting a few holes in the sides to aid ventilation. You shouldn't really need to remove bubble wrap if it's not completely airtight. You may find scrunched up newspaper offers similar benefits but is more breathable.
Thank you for another informative video! In our gardening zone, we do get frost in the garage. I am thinking of storing root vegetables in sand in a broken chest freezer. Would I have to drill holes or leave the lid open to provide ventilation?
I prefer to use old compost/potting mix or sand, as the roots are less likely to dry out and shrivel. That said, some people do store their carrots in sawdust/shavings with success.
You can store root vegetables in what are called 'clamps'. More on this and other useful methods here: www.growveg.co.uk/guides/storing-root-vegetables-in-sand/
Hi Ben. I'm always watching your videos and learning more each time. However, this time I have a question. I live in South Florida (Zone 10b). Humidity is not a problem, heat is. I have no 'cool dark place' to store any root veggies. Except for a few (3 - 6) days in Dec and Jan, the temp in my garage (the only place with any storage space - no basement or root cellar) is normally 80 to 90+. Is it possible to store in that temp range? I have no problem with canning them all (just canned 25lbs of store-bought potatoes last weekend, my luck at growing them is dismal, lol.), but sometimes you just want fresh. Is there a way to do this, or do I just need to keep canning? Thank for any response. Take care and keep those videos coming.
Hi Scott. Thanks for watching. I think you would struggle to keep roots fresh in those sorts of temperatures. You could try storing modest amounts in a refrigerator, keeping the roots spaced apart so they don't touch and rot. But otherwise I think canning may be your best bet. I also like slicing and dehydrating produce.
@@GrowVeg Hi Ben, Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it. Guess I'll have to keep canning then. Although I think I'm going to try retort canning as the packages take up less space.
I would say you want to keep them above freezing - so perhaps a minimum of 2-3 Celsius (36 or so Fahrenheit). I'd work to keep to a maximum of 10 Celsius (50 F) if possible.
If they are completely dry they they would work to insulate around a box, to keep the frost off. But I wouldn't recommend them specifically for packing.
@@GrowVeg Okay thanks what were the different materials you mentioned or didn't mention that can be used for packing? I was also worried about mice too.
I've heard of people using the carrot tops as a food source. I must admit I have no scope for it but it's worth exploring. BTW Your daughter is just adorable!
I haven't eaten carrot tops except very young ones in salads. Loving all the suggestions from others here, so may give a few of them a try, thanks. Thanks for the kind comment about Isla - she is adorable some of the time!
Not with smaller radishes, no. They're just a bit too small and would likely dry out or become a bit woody. The larger winter radishes might keep that way though.
Yes, they can be stored in a very similar way - just like carrots. Leave them where they are if it's relatively mild, but bring them in to store if it's going to get freezing cold for weeks on end.
Hi can I ask you a question @growveg I ve watched your potato videos and like them all what's the best way to tell when your potatoes are ready and when storing them what would you store them in and where thanks Ben
Early potatoes are ready to start lifting when the plants begin to flower. Just harvest them as needed. They are best stored in the fridge and used fairly quickly. Maincrop potatoes are harvested later in summer as the plants themselves start to yellow/die back. These can be stored in hessian/burlap sacks, or any breatheable sack, in a cool, dark, dry place. Stored potatoes can last in store for a number of months.
Hi again Ben I follow you on UA-cam and through my subscription too the kitchen garden magazine in your wonderful greenhouse house do you have a potting table or bench I can't remember because I'm making one my self for my greenhouse and also watching your amazing videos you can sow some seeds now when would you put them out once they have germinate and what potting mix do you use many thanks nick
Shop-bought spuds could potentially be stored this way, though there's no way of telling how hold they already are, so check them regularly. Parsnips could be stored this way, and turnips too.
The type of sand doesn't really matter. It just needs to be damp & not too wet and kept in a cool dark place. If you use beach sand from a salt water source I would probably rinse it thoroughly to remove as much salt as possible...you probably don't want brined carrots, lol.
Haha yes - I guess that might be confusing. The odd frost and snow shower is fine - that's a mild winter. But weeks or months of solid freeze - like they have in parts of the US and Canada, would be intolerable for these roots.
Go to www.growveg.com and then Login in the top-right corner of the screen. You can then click on the Start the Garden Planner button immediately below the login button to access the Garden Planner. If you have any problems, please do get in touch with our team who will be able to help you: www.growveg.com/contact.aspx
Brother I have some sugarcane tree also but for some days I noticed blackish red colour spotes on some places on the tree.I am afraid seeing this.Is it a disease of sugarcane tree or it is natural.If it is a disease kindly prescribe some insecticide or pestiticide to me
I am afraid I don't have any experience of growing sugarcane, so wouldn't be able to advise. It may be worth doing further research into this though, as it does sound like a possible fungal disease such as rust. But I would ask a sugarcane expert for more on this.
When you store your carrots in a root cellar in the packing soil do you have to add a little more water throughout the winter or is it just when you first do it?
Good question. I suspect the larger types may have already been cured to some extent. I'm not really sure though. I'd suggest it might be best just to use up and buy store-bought potatoes as needed though.
I buy 50lb sacks of potatoes from my local grocer, and they come in very thick triple layered paper sacks. As long as I keep the bag tightly closed (roll top over after initial opening) they keep until we use them up (two pensioners who eat modest amounts of pots most days). Two bags normally do a winter. I also keep the paper sack in a galvanised dustbin with lid on, to prevent rodent access. The greengrocer stops selling sacks as the newbies come in, as she tells me earlies won't store. I also keep these sacks, they're ideal for loading all the freezer contents into, while defrosting the freezer, everything stays frozen until time to put back in the freezer. Demonstrates how good thick paper sacks are!
Don’t forget under a bed in an unheated bedroom folks .. if Katya Minor comes home unexpectedly from his jaunts at pastures new.. that’s why God made couches? 😂
Hi! I’ve recently decided to start getting into growing veg with my parents as they’re keen veg gardeners! Such a rewarding hobby! I’m 22 and most of my friends aren’t enthusiastic to say the least but I feel that if more younger people were to visit a garden stocked with veg during harvesting time they you absolutely love it!
I totally agree with you - and what great news to hear you're starting growing veg - you'll absolutely love it!
I think you're right, I only really got into gardening in my thirties and soon wished I'd started in earnest far earlier.
Stick at it for a lifetime of fun and satisfaction at what you manage to produce each season.
I'm glad you are enjoying growing your own food, you're decades ahead of me, I'm 50 and second year grower.
your "less than enthusiastic friends" will not get to enjoy almost free, healthy fresh food, while paying many times more for a microwave meal that will make them unwell, obese/diabetic, full of hidden sugar etc.
I just ate some of my first crop of early potatoes in a potato salad, I'm amazed at the taste, my own tomatoes, onions in one soon.
Walk your own path, against the crowd if you know that is the right direction for you.
Had a younger friend, more friend of best mate mention an allotment, seems to have forgotten about it, I didn't, I checked for my nearest one, local growing groups etc, improving my yeild while helping food banks is my aim.
Sorry to write you an essay, but we need people like you! I am trying to get everything I grow to be "heritage varieties", none of the hybrid, possibly GM (seedless tripe).
Plus saving seeds is just common sense, which isn't common.
This channel has helped me a lot! I now have a few root veggies harvests - potatoes, garlic, etc. - stored in a cabinet in the mudroom (right off of the garage). I hope it is cold enough!
I have a bucket of potatoes in my closet!
Alaska cold makes storage a bit tricky... but also the long winters make the storage important and necessary. We get our potatoes through the entire winter by curing and placing in bins of shredded paper. Helpful, if you have the space, to keep them separated so as not to spoil too much if one starts to rot.
Beets and carrots do well in sand or peet moss... and the rest of the brassicas are good made into fermented kraut, blanched, frozen and canned. So thankful to be heading into another winter with a full freezer and stocked pantry.
Thank you so much for your informative and helpful and knowledgeable ... I learn so much from you Ben! Loved your trellis videos last spring... cucumbers looked so great climbing up a trellis. 👍👍
So pleased you tried the trellis and were pleased with the result. I reckon gardening takes on a whole new level of skill up there in Alaska!
Great advise . What type of bins do u use pls metal ? And do u drill holes it then for them to breath ?
Does the peat moss need to be damp also? I saw another person recommending using dry.
Thankyou for your comment
Will shredded cardboard / newspaper or wallpaper do the trick? Have u tried other methods for potatoes plz
Your enthusiasm is infectious. Thanks bunches.
I'd love a root cellar one day! But for now, I buried a sprinkler box. It stores potatoes beautifully, if layers are separated with straw. They will keep through the snow season, 4 months here!
Carrot tops are delicious in a mixed salad and contribute a mild carrot taste.
Yes, the tops can be frozen in zip locks. Good for adding to souls, stews, etc.
I use plastic milk crates to store potatoes for optimum air circulation. I put either a brown paper bag or news paper on the bottom so nothing falls out.
😊 & where do u put all the. Lp Records in meanwhile😅
Carrot greens can be eaten as well…. Good in soups or stews or like a spaghetti sauce….. full of vitamins…😊
Great move!
How do you use them in spaghetti sauce?
@@sparkymikey25 I just chop up like a parsley and add to sauce not too much though … they have a strong flavor… so eat a small piece first and gauge from that how much to add… hope this helps😁
Ben, this was a very useful video for me. Thanks! Your daughter is a cutie.🙂
Thanks Valorie - and yes, I rather this she's adorable!
So glad I've found your channel you explain so well with such great tips 👍🥔🥕
Glad you found the channel too - a very warm welcome to you! :-)
Honestly, I think you read my mind! Thanks for this timely and helpful video. (Your daughter is darling ❤️)
Thanks for watching Deb.
This is definitely something I need to work harder at this year, making a dedicated area for storage.
Great stuff Louise - definitely worth doing. :-)
I tried to store carrots over winter in sand in bins in the cellar. They rotted. Zone 3. Im trying burlap sacks this winter. It worked for the potatoes.
Love your passion 😊
I recently tried storing root plants in perlite -most lasted 12 mths with no sign of trouble -just put in a container that could hold the crop then layered perlite /root crop/perlite ect,ect until full sort the vegies out and leave the saddest in the last one or two top layers so you use them first..you can reuse perlite -discard any areas where vegies have gone bad(you will almost always have a dud somewhere)..PS store in cool light free area
Brilliant advice, thanks so much John. :-)
Excellent video Ben!!! Thank you for your tips and tricks. I would like to add that Commercial potato storage (that I have seen), is usually done in large barns with air coolers that keep them at 45 degrees F and 90+% humidity. They pile the potatoes into one huge mountain up to 40+ feet high and keep them in total darkness. (I don’t know if they treat them with fungicides), but knowing this might help someone in a more humid climate to have a starting point for research/possibilities so I figured I’d mention it. -- Cheers --
Worth a mention Tim, thank you. Humidity seems to be the key to keep them from shrivelling, and that cool-but-not-too-cold temperature ideal.
Ferment instead of canning! Veg is delicious fermented and has a wonderful probiotic benefit.
THIS is crucial info and considerations, toyed with storing roots in the ground sometimes and always thought it was one of the 'holly grails' of gardening! :D
Slightly similar to storing citrus fruit or avocadoes *on the tree* for months or yr round.
Rock Star Ben at it again! Very good information, especially in my Canadian Winters!!
Cheers Alexander! Thanks for watching.
Of course , there are the traditional clamps you make out of straw and soil. Also heeling them in. I dug up my parsnips today, put them together under an overhanging conifer and covered them with soil. The soil under this conifer is a bit drier and finer so hopefully good for temporary storage and shelter from the elements
That sounds like a great place to keep them ticking over.
Thanks for this handy video!
You can also make a pesto with carrot tops, Ben :)
My father used to have a large pile of sandy soil in the backyard and would layer his potatoes, carrots, etc - and dig out what he wanted for use.
Will have to give carrot top pesto a go. :-)
Please don't throw the carrot tops away! Chop them up and use in salads etc. They are also a highly nutritious food. Great information. Thank you.
I give mine to my chickens!
My goats adore them
Zone 5b and potatoes and parsnips will survive the winter in the ground here and be quite edible if they are harvested soon after the ground thaws in spring.
Thank you… great harvesting and storage tips! 🥕🥕🥕
So many good advice, Ben! Love your videos and I subscribed after very first one I saw. Our family have recently got hold of a small cottage here in the middle of Sweden, and this spring I plan on growing a lot more than previous seasons. Looking forward to lifting potatoes, carrots and a whole lot more, and then storing them accordingly. Many thanks from Sweden!😀
Hi Andreas, thanks so much for your support and encouraging words. Very best of luck with this year's growing season - how exciting to be expanding your growing ambitions!
We use Genesis Biochar. It is an absorbent and can be used repeatedly or put into your soil
Great tips & just in time!!! Thank you Ben
Thanks once again
Excellent tips, Ben. 👍
I wish I had a proper root cellar for winter storage, but I don't. I do have a spare old refrigerator in my shop though, which at it's highest setting runs around 46F-48F. So that's my "root cellar", lol.
And +1 for routinely checking the food you've put away for winter. I sort through all of my stuff every week or two, checking for any signs of mold or rot...potatoes, onions, garlic, cabbages, squash, etc. There's nothing worse than finding one bad onion has spoiled a 30 pound bag that you worked so hard to grow.
I best having one onion spoil a whole bag must be an incredible heart-stopping moment!
This is great. Thank you! Will you produce a video on how to store sweet potatoes and the curing process they need first?
Thanks for the suggestions Heidi. I don't really have the climate to grow sweet potatoes where I am, but may try one season in the greenhouse. And if so will discuss curing and storing them. :-)
That storage looks great for mushrooms....
Hmmm - interesting....
Thanks very much Ben, lovely clear instructions. I've previously kept 50lb bought thick paper sacks of potatoes in a galvanised dustbin with lid on to keep rodents out (they've been in the brick shed, but couldn't get to the potatoes). Have now planted my own, and hope to keep them until eaten too.
Fingers crossed they grow and store well for you Jessica.
@@GrowVeg Thank you, and I noticed this morning, some missed potatoes are coming up from 2 or 3 years ago too! :)
Thanks 🥰
This is perfect! Thank you
Great video Ben.
Excellent tips on how to store veg over winter, especially useful when there’s lots of things ready all at the same time
Thanks Mark. It's very satisfying to be able to lay something down for the winter.
For storage, I heard certain kinds of moss are suitable for people with access to it. Bearmoss I believe it was.
I’m having such a hard time storing these foods because of the high humidity in my region 😩 thank you for this video!
You might like to try dehydrating or freezing your root veg instead.
Brilliant video Ben, it was timed perfectly just what I needed to know for this week end! Thank you your videos are great packed with information and easy to follow! ☘️☘️☘️☘️
And thanks again for watching Fiona, glad you found this one handy.
Always good advice, Ben. Here in North Florida, USA, it's hot and humid for most of the year. Storing veg in my out building would only attract rats and mice, I usually opt to either can or dehydrate most of my produce.
That's a smart move for such a humid climate. Canning is so satisfying!
Thanks Ben, great video! Now I know how to store the sweet potatoes we just dug up this weekend.
Perfect timing!
Great information! Good ideas as well!
You are amazing- thank you!❤
thank you so much for this
Awesome info. Thank you! God bless!
Thank you so much for the great info!
Thank you : )
I saw a recepie recently for carrot tops pesto. Your carrots tops look lush and vibrant.....maybe you should give it a go. I will if I get a great successful crop of them next season.
Thankyou for this video. I will subscribe to yr channel. Thumbs up from me.
Thanks, I should definitely try that. Thanks so much for the sub! :-)
Vaccum sealing for a few weeks keeps them hard, in the crisper or fermenting them, is another way.
I’d like to try some of these ideas my storage solutions involve me using a chambered vacuum sealer where some of the vegetables will be blanched and then vacuum sealed and some of them just sealed straight away I also have a freeze dryer and sealed them up in mylar bags. I also store them in canning and sometimes pickling or fermenting. But storing them in the freezer is nice but it requires electricity and a lot of freezer space. I would like to build a Root cellar and try some of the traditional techniques too.
How well does a chamber vacuum perform.? I have just started to look into them. Does the initial price of the machine and the price of bags worth the benefits of the results?
@@MolloRelax simply from my perspective I'd say yes it's worth the money. Here are the reasons why I think it's worth the money.
1. If you were to buy a regular FoodSaver the machine is significantly cheaper however when vacuum ceiling something as simple as ground meat I use a small bag and weigh them out into about 1 lb roughly. These bags would cost me $0.68 a bag for the food savers and for the vacuum sealer it's only about $0.05 a bag. If your ceiling a lot of stuff you will be saving a lot of money.
2. Using the chambered vacuum sealer I can seal liquids and marinate.
3. I like doing pre meals and sealing them in the bag so all I have to do is drop it in a pot of water to heat it up cut it open and pour it in a bowl good to go I do it with rice in one bag for example and chili in the other the only thing I have to wash is the bowl and the fork I used to eat it very convenient.
3. With a chambered vacuum sealer people are concerned you can only seal something that will fit in the chamber however if you have a roll of FoodSaver bags and you wanted to freeze something like a whole salmon you would seal one end of the bag like you would on a food saver machine and put your fish in and then put the bag inside the vacuum chamber close the lid with the bag and the fish on the outside and it will still seal it. However it does have to be a FoodSaver bag as your ceiling it outside the vacuum sealer but yes you can vacuum seal large items.
4. You can take any jar as long as the seals on the jar are still good put it inside the vacuum sealer and reseal the jar making it airtight again. I sometimes by canning jars and I can vacuum seal dry goods preserving them which is great.
5. I also use my vacuum sealer for curing meats for example making my own streaky rashers and back bacon. I take the belly of pork or pork tenderloin rub it down with the appropriate amount of curing salt put it inside the bag add the rest of the salt seal it up put it in the drawer of the fridge flipping it daily for 5 to 6 days take it out slow cook it in the oven thinly slice it and I have bacon I then put the bacon in strips vacuum sealed them up again and put them in the freezer. You could do this product for salting other meats if you so wished.
6. You can do sous vide cooking. Buy vacuum sealing your protein with oils herbs spices salt you will infuse it into the meat . Plus this is the most tenderest way to cook any kind of protein.
7. My all-time favorite thing about it is how long it increases your food life span.
Dry goods for your pantry normally last a month vacuum sealed 2 years.
Cheese in the refrigerator 2 weeks vacuum sealed 8 months.
Fish Frozen 6 months vacuum sealed 2 years.
Cooked meat frozen 6 months vacuum sealed 2 to 3 years.
Ground meat Frozen 4 months vacuum sealed 1 year.
Vegetables Frozen 8 months vacuum sealed 2 to 3 years.
Berries Frozen one month vacuum sealed one year .
So yes I think it is a wonderful piece of kit.I believe it is worth the money and if you're using it and all these different ways it easily pays for itself. I believe it to be an essential piece of kit for basic home economics.
Sorry for the long response wanted to give you as much information as possible.
@@russellwood8750 My gosh, I was not expecting this elaborate response. Thanks a lot.
Although the extended shelf of all the products that this machine can accomplish; I find it a bit un-necessary to go beyond the 6 or 7 months that the growing season is not there to accommodate....In my area anyway... I would not hesitate to grab something fresh from the garden in the growing season, even if I knew that I have a good supply of well preserved items in a freezer. But ; whenever I will become incapable of sustaining a garden ; that machine shall be a strong candidate for my long term preserves plan. Again..thanks for your exquisite input.
@@MolloRelax you're very welcome no worries at all. Although having stuff in the freezer that can go beyond six seven months is a major benefit. Because you could have situation where your garden crop fails and you may wish to fall back on the food you have in your freezer and canning. I understand harvesting straight from the garden and the advantages to having the fresh produce it's nice to have but sometimes things can go wrong weather doesn't cooperate or you get an infestation of something that you weren't expecting. Sometimes life throws you a curveball it's always good to have a backup. Also preserving your meats and fish for longer period of time is good. I buy my proteins directly from Farmers I get completely organic so when I buy a side of beef for example it's good for 2 years therefore I only have to buy it once for 2 years. Like you I try to eat as fresh as possible but I also find it comforting to have a fall back position.
@@russellwood8750 all good points you make here.I guess I have been lucky so far. No major weather related crop failures.we had a good hail episode a month ago..but the damage was not too severe....but who knows what's in store
I keep my fingers crossed ✌
The best way to store root vegetables
I always enjoy your videos!
You can do a carrot top pesto instead if composting them.
What a great idea. :-)
xem b thu hoạch cà rốt thích quá ạ
Cà rốt rất thú vị để trồng
What an informative video 👍👍
Thank you, which kind of carrot seeds were you using there? great video thank you
From memory 'Autumn King', which is a great variety for storing.
I needed this!
I need a rethink. I don't think there's enough air circulation in the 4' crawlspace under our house where they're stored.
Air circulation is important Laurie I'm afraid. Thanks for watching. :-)
Hope this isn't a silly question. But, do you need to "water" the potting mix to keep it moist throughout the winter? Thanks
Not a silly question at all. You shouldn't need to water the potting mix over the winter - keeping it in a dark, cool place will be enough to stop it drying out and the roots going soft.
With regard to cardboard boxes, should small holes be cut in the sides to aid ventilation? I was thinking of using bubble wrap to insulate the boxes if freezing is forecast, should we remove it in milder weather to help air circulation?
Most cardboard boxes would probably be well ventilated enough, but there's no harm in cutting a few holes in the sides to aid ventilation. You shouldn't really need to remove bubble wrap if it's not completely airtight. You may find scrunched up newspaper offers similar benefits but is more breathable.
Thank you for another informative video! In our gardening zone, we do get frost in the garage. I am thinking of storing root vegetables in sand in a broken chest freezer. Would I have to drill holes or leave the lid open to provide ventilation?
That could work, yes. I might perhaps prop open the lid of the chest freezer on all but the very coldest nights to get some air in there.
Cheers from wet B.C. 🎉
Love your videos, share them with friends. This video you are using soil/potting soil with the carrots. Would sawdust or wood shavings work as well?
I prefer to use old compost/potting mix or sand, as the roots are less likely to dry out and shrivel. That said, some people do store their carrots in sawdust/shavings with success.
I have used slightly damp sawdust with success
Can you store vegetables in a con5in the ground? If so how or what would I need? I dont have a shed or storage area.
You can store root vegetables in what are called 'clamps'. More on this and other useful methods here: www.growveg.co.uk/guides/storing-root-vegetables-in-sand/
Nice pilant tips
Carrot tops are edible!
Thanks for the video it was informative. However, will the cold storage in the basement work. It's not insulated in winter?
It should do. I imagine it will be nice and cool down there, but not too cold (frosty).
Hi Ben. I'm always watching your videos and learning more each time. However, this time I have a question. I live in South Florida (Zone 10b). Humidity is not a problem, heat is. I have no 'cool dark place' to store any root veggies. Except for a few (3 - 6) days in Dec and Jan, the temp in my garage (the only place with any storage space - no basement or root cellar) is normally 80 to 90+. Is it possible to store in that temp range? I have no problem with canning them all (just canned 25lbs of store-bought potatoes last weekend, my luck at growing them is dismal, lol.), but sometimes you just want fresh. Is there a way to do this, or do I just need to keep canning? Thank for any response. Take care and keep those videos coming.
Hi Scott. Thanks for watching. I think you would struggle to keep roots fresh in those sorts of temperatures. You could try storing modest amounts in a refrigerator, keeping the roots spaced apart so they don't touch and rot. But otherwise I think canning may be your best bet. I also like slicing and dehydrating produce.
@@GrowVeg Hi Ben, Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it. Guess I'll have to keep canning then. Although I think I'm going to try retort canning as the packages take up less space.
What's the minimum and maximum temp that's acceptable?
I would say you want to keep them above freezing - so perhaps a minimum of 2-3 Celsius (36 or so Fahrenheit). I'd work to keep to a maximum of 10 Celsius (50 F) if possible.
Would leaves work well as packing medium?
If they are completely dry they they would work to insulate around a box, to keep the frost off. But I wouldn't recommend them specifically for packing.
@@GrowVeg Okay thanks what were the different materials you mentioned or didn't mention that can be used for packing? I was also worried about mice too.
I've heard of people using the carrot tops as a food source. I must admit I have no scope for it but it's worth exploring. BTW Your daughter is just adorable!
Carrot tops are awesome! I love to make a Cashew and Carrot top Pesto. If your into that type of thing of course.
I make carrot top soup with them.
I have also made carrot top pesto & dehydrated tops to use as aromatics for soup
I haven't eaten carrot tops except very young ones in salads. Loving all the suggestions from others here, so may give a few of them a try, thanks. Thanks for the kind comment about Isla - she is adorable some of the time!
I like to dry them and use them exactly as I would parsley.
Hello, it is working with sawdust also?
Apparently, yes. I've never tried this though - I just use old potting mix, which I have in abundance.
Can I do the same with radishes? I would love to keep them longer than the typical way to do so in the fridge with damp paper towels.
Not with smaller radishes, no. They're just a bit too small and would likely dry out or become a bit woody. The larger winter radishes might keep that way though.
@@GrowVeg Thank you!
What about rudabagas? First year growing.
Yes, they can be stored in a very similar way - just like carrots. Leave them where they are if it's relatively mild, but bring them in to store if it's going to get freezing cold for weeks on end.
Great video - do you blanch carrots before freezing?
They are best blanched for up to four minutes before freezing, yes.
Hi can I ask you a question @growveg I ve watched your potato videos and like them all what's the best way to tell when your potatoes are ready and when storing them what would you store them in and where thanks Ben
Early potatoes are ready to start lifting when the plants begin to flower. Just harvest them as needed. They are best stored in the fridge and used fairly quickly. Maincrop potatoes are harvested later in summer as the plants themselves start to yellow/die back. These can be stored in hessian/burlap sacks, or any breatheable sack, in a cool, dark, dry place. Stored potatoes can last in store for a number of months.
Hi again Ben I follow you on UA-cam and through my subscription too the kitchen garden magazine in your wonderful greenhouse house do you have a potting table or bench I can't remember because I'm making one my self for my greenhouse and also watching your amazing videos you can sow some seeds now when would you put them out once they have germinate and what potting mix do you use many thanks nick
Could I store shop bought spuds, Swedes, parsnips and turnips this way?
Shop-bought spuds could potentially be stored this way, though there's no way of telling how hold they already are, so check them regularly. Parsnips could be stored this way, and turnips too.
@@GrowVeg Many thanks and best wishes.
Do you have a video on storing onions?
Yes indeed we do. Here you go: ua-cam.com/video/U62EwNoP2og/v-deo.html
@@GrowVeg Splendid!! Thank you!
Nice
Would the carrots survive in the ground in snow like that? I grow an early variety.
Yes, when the snow and frost is only brief. I'm in quite a mild climate, so days and days of frozen soil is rare.
can I use beach sand or only horticulture or builders sand
The type of sand doesn't really matter. It just needs to be damp & not too wet and kept in a cool dark place. If you use beach sand from a salt water source I would probably rinse it thoroughly to remove as much salt as possible...you probably don't want brined carrots, lol.
Yes, exactly what Jeff says!
Video: ... these can be left in the ground during a mild winter! *shows snow on the ground*
Australian watching: *confusion intensifies*
Haha yes - I guess that might be confusing. The odd frost and snow shower is fine - that's a mild winter. But weeks or months of solid freeze - like they have in parts of the US and Canada, would be intolerable for these roots.
@@GrowVeg There is so much relativity in describing the weather to people not in your region 😁
does this work on store bought potatoes
If they were relatively freshly harvested then yes, this method would also work well.
@@GrowVeg Thank you!
Can we do beets as well ?
Yes, you can store beets in much the same way as carrots.
😊
Your carrot 🥕 leaves is 100% edible for salads 🥗 or flavor in dishes .
Good point Antoinette - nothing need go to waste. :-)
lol my plan was to mass plant potatoes over the winter, sadly none of my potatoes sprouted any shoots in time.
Sorry to hear that Jacob. They're best planted once it's getting a little warmer - around early April here in the UK.
I purchased the garden planner. How do I access it?
Go to www.growveg.com and then Login in the top-right corner of the screen. You can then click on the Start the Garden Planner button immediately below the login button to access the Garden Planner. If you have any problems, please do get in touch with our team who will be able to help you: www.growveg.com/contact.aspx
@@GrowVeg Thanks
great vid Ben!
Brother I have some sugarcane tree also but for some days I noticed blackish red colour spotes on some places on the tree.I am afraid seeing this.Is it a disease of sugarcane tree or it is natural.If it is a disease kindly prescribe some insecticide or pestiticide to me
I am afraid I don't have any experience of growing sugarcane, so wouldn't be able to advise. It may be worth doing further research into this though, as it does sound like a possible fungal disease such as rust. But I would ask a sugarcane expert for more on this.
When you store your carrots in a root cellar in the packing soil do you have to add a little more water throughout the winter or is it just when you first do it?
Just right at the start is usually enough if the storage area is cool.
Can I cure store bought potatoes?
Good question. I suspect the larger types may have already been cured to some extent. I'm not really sure though. I'd suggest it might be best just to use up and buy store-bought potatoes as needed though.
I buy 50lb sacks of potatoes from my local grocer, and they come in very thick triple layered paper sacks. As long as I keep the bag tightly closed (roll top over after initial opening) they keep until we use them up (two pensioners who eat modest amounts of pots most days). Two bags normally do a winter. I also keep the paper sack in a galvanised dustbin with lid on, to prevent rodent access. The greengrocer stops selling sacks as the newbies come in, as she tells me earlies won't store. I also keep these sacks, they're ideal for loading all the freezer contents into, while defrosting the freezer, everything stays frozen until time to put back in the freezer. Demonstrates how good thick paper sacks are!
So informative and helpful video.
Supporting you.Stay connected🙏🙏
Don’t forget under a bed in an unheated bedroom folks .. if Katya Minor comes home unexpectedly from his jaunts at pastures new.. that’s why God made couches? 😂
carrot tops can be eaten, don't just compost them!
Acknowledge me
Hey Danny - great to see you here! Hope you enjoyed the video. :-)
@@GrowVeg yes I did