Ten Vegetables to Grow at Home for Winter Storage
There’s no better feeling than eating out of the garden all summer long. However, with a little planning beforehand, you can extend the benefits far into the winter as well.
Many vegetables are durable enough to stay fresh for months after harvesting, and others are easy to can, freeze, and otherwise preserve. Not only will extending their shelf life help you reduce waste, but it guarantees that you have an abundance of healthy produce accessible long after the garden has given up for the season.
Which vegetables make sense for winter storage? Some will last far longer than others. This article shares details about ten vegetables you can grow in the garden and store through the winter months. Whether you choose to grow just one or almost all of them, they make it easier to maintain a healthy diet long after the gardening season is over.
Paradise apple is the most widely cultivated tree fruit around the globe. The three top apple-producing countries are China, the United States, and Poland with an economic impact of $3.55 billion in 2017. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples throughout the world.
The Common pear is a tree whose fruit is widely popular and grown all over the world. One way this fruit is unique is that it contains hard particles (called stone cells) within in its flesh that provides a gritty feel when eating. Common pear, when properly cared for, can have a life span of 50-75 years.
Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) is the domestic version of its wild relative. This ubiquitous vegetable is closely related to parsley, fennel, and dill. The orange root can be eaten cooked or raw. The Carrot is self-fertile and is pollinated by flies and beetles, who use its flowers as a food source.
The Potato is native to North America and in the United States. Potato products are the second most consumed food. This starchy tuber is a staple in diets around the world and is considered the fourth most important worldwide crop.
The Beet (Beta vulgaris) provides a variety of uses for food products and garden growth. The roots are commonly consumed as nutrient-rich vegetables, the body of the sugar beet is used to make table sugar, and the leaves are harvested as a separate vegetable: chard. In 18th-Century Silesia, an area that is now part of Poland, the first-ever beet sugar extraction plant was created by a royal decree from the king.
Onion (Allium cepa) is an onion species commonly known for its ubiquitous culinary applications. The Onion is toxic to a variety of animals. Aside from its many culinary uses, the Onion is often used to teach students how to use a microscope because its cells are very large and easy to visualize.
Garlic (Allium sativum) is an extremely popular garden plant because of its use for flavoring dishes, as well as its ease of care and growth. It is traditionally planted in autumn and harvested in mid-summer. This plant is also called the stinking rose, and it is useful as an insect repellent in gardens. Garlic is important to Korean creation myths, and is believed to ward off vampires and other spirits in European folklore.
Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) is cultivated for its onion-flavored leaves, which are used like scallions. Originally from Asia, it was brought to Europe in the 17th century and has now naturalized in various parts of North America, including Canada, Alaska and areas of the northern United States.
Crookneck squash (Cucurbita moschata) is a plant species also known as Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck Squash. This species is considered easy to grow in winter. Crookneck squash is edible, sweet, flavorful and used for soups, stews, and pies. It will keep well if stored properly.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is an edible plant species that is often considered a ‘superfood’ due to its high content of vitamins, folate, fiber, iron, magnesium, and other nutrients. Spinach is grown in gardens around the world and provides an important food source.