Allotments/fresh fruit/veg storage

[AlohaMolly]

I am terrified of the price hikes. I won’t be able to cover them really. Thanks to these threads I was well prepared for covid and I’m coming back to ask for more help!

I have got a small allotment and am currently cultivating lots of seedlings, but I’m not sure how to store some things. For example, I’ve got lots of courgette seeds but I’m not sure how to store them for over the winter, if I end up with a glut?

Courgettes won't store over winter. I make soup with them, onions, garlic and Courgettes, fry first in chilli oil, add creme fraiche and stock. When cooked blitz and freeze. Potatoes can be stored in a cool shed. Squash and onions store well.

Yes sorry, I know I can’t just throw courgettes in the shed and keep the over winter, I meant more what would you do with them? I grate them and stir them in to bolognese etc so I suppose I could do that and freeze.

ive got room to store potatoes, I’ll see if I can get some squash seeds!

so far, I’ve got herbs on the go. Onions, pak choi, cauliflower, two types of cabbage. My Apple tree has had lots of blossom so I’m hoping for apples this year! Should have raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackcurrants.

I'm not sure I'd take up valuable freezer space with them - they not very filling or high in calories. Could you look up jam or chutney recipes? That way you preserve them but they're not taking up space in your freezer.

Herbs can be dried relatively easily and apples can keep well if stored correctly- but I think it depends on the variety. Some keep better than others.

I dehydrate apples and make apple rings that store well. So do some vegetables. I was wondering about buying a new one as I bought a cheap ne to see if I would use it and not sure about how much electricity it uses.

Ooh my MIL has just bought us a ninja machine thing that has a dehydrator function!

I have a ‘spare’ under the counter style freezer in the shed that I’m hoping to utilise slightly better this year. My concern is that, come winter, I won’t be able to afford our regular food shop and DS is gluten intolerant so there are some thing I just can’t skimp on or save money on, because GF alternatives are so expensive. The more fruit and veg I can stock up on, the freer my budget is for things I can’t grow or make myself, easily.

If I remember correctly...I think carrots and parsnips can be stored in sand...

Potatoes in a clamp... (Need to Google) (unwashed potatoes in a paper sack last reasonably well. )

However, I do know onions in a net bag in a cool dark garage store will.

Another thing to consider: grow a variety of veg that harvest at different times of year.

Look up things you can grow on a windowsill too.

Courgettes: i would cook and then freeze in small batches to add to stuff when you cook.

This might help.

www.gardenersworld.com/plants/how-to-preserve-your-harvests/#:~:text=Storing%20in%20a%20cool%20place&text=Several%20root%20veg%20and%20top,%2C%20onions%2C%20pears%20and%20apples.

My dasd used to store onions in mums old laddered tights. When ready dry in the sun until the outside layers have dried. Then drop an onion in to a leg of old tights tie a knot and then add the next. Then hang in a cool dry place and remove one at a time as needed.

I roast excess courgettes and then freeze pre roasted. Easy to just grab a handful and add to roast veg lasagne or similar.

also grate courgettes and freeze grated for going in cakes ( courgette and lemon loaf). Actually if I have a lot at one point, i will often just make x4/5 loaf cakes with them and then freeze. Then have ready made cake in the freezer if someone’s coming over. You can freeze cake in slices to.

make minestrone soup and freeze also for winter supply. Usually have courgetttes, tomato’s and spinach all ready at the same time

I deliberately allocate half my allotment to things that can be harvested in the winter and early spring. This includes chard, broccolli, cabbages, beetroot, parsnips, sprouts, cauliflower, parsley, carrots, leeks and winter lettuce.

To store courgettes, I usually cook them into things like curry, the sauce for vegetable lasagne, and ratatouille then freeze. I do a similar thing with french beans.

I also freeze broad beans and blackberries. I've not yet managed to grow more raspberries than the kids could eat!

I quite like the concept (from Terry Prattchet!) of storing food in other people- in other words sharing excess produce when you have it with the idea that those people might then be more likely to share with you at some point.

put things in your allotment that keep giving: fruit trees/bushes, globe artichokes, grapevine….……
and grow things that do freeze well: french beans, onions, herbs.
Look at an “allotment month by month” book to space out when everything crops so you get little and often rather than a glut.

I'm not a fan of growing courgettes because of creating a glut. But I I had them, it would be to bulk out soups and sauces.

You can freeze courgettes raw to use in soup. Or freeze the soup.

In our city there is an allotment market stall where we sell off excess produce, though they get far too many courgettes. We get money pack to spend on the allotment site.

I bought a dehydrator at the start of lockdown. Its been a lot of trial and error and we haven't always likes the results, but courgettes can be grated, steamed and dried. They'll keep for 18 months - 2 years in a Mason jar.

Winter squash (pumpkins etc) are a much better option than courgettes as they will keep through the winter. Lots of root veg can be happily left in the ground and pulled as needed. Kale, leeks and chard can be picked through the winter. Be careful of the dehydrator - doing lots of small batches can use up a lot of electricity which at current prices may well offset the benefits of having stored food. Pickling and canning are probably your best bet.

There's no one size fits all solution, is there? I can grow plenty of courgettes from half a dozen plants and they only take up a few square metres in my plot. Canning them just isn't an option for me, the cost of the jars would outweigh any saving in fuel, and I don't have space to store low value high bulk items.

Not sure if it has been mentioned but you can only really store main crop potatoes as the skin on earlies is too thin.

And yes, parsnips and carrots can be stored in grit sand (not fine unless you want sand in your meals).

I pick my courgettes young and use them to make pickles. Look up a recipe called "bread and butter pickles" ( a US thing so will need to convert - I usually cut the amount of sugar). Gorgeous on a ham sandwich or burger. I make lots of jars every year.

Year one of growing courgettes : all three plants died.

Year two of growing courgettes :

We grew one courgette

I would love a bloody glut.