In autumn comes the season of harvesting late varieties of parsley or carrots, These are vegetables that can be successfully stored in winter. How to harvest them and how to store them so that they are fit for consumption for a long time?
Root vegetables are very popular. In Poland they are grown in many home gardens. The reason is simple – they are tasty, healthy, provide the body with plenty of vitamins and minerals, and can be stored and eaten throughout the winter. You just need to know when to harvest them and how to store them so you can enjoy them throughout the season.
In addition to novelties and vegetables harvested in summer, there are also those that are referred to as “late vegetables.” Depending on the species, they are sown from March to June. In turn, their harvest is from September to the end of October. Among such vegetables, carrots and parsley are the most popular.
Carrots are harvested from mid-September to mid-October. It is very important to dig it up before the first frost arrives – so you need to keep track of the weather. When it is harvested is very important in terms of later storage. Vegetables harvested too early or too late are much harder to store. Experts also recommend that carrots should be dug on a sunny day, and should not be done after or during rain. The idea is that in such conditions there is less risk that the roots will be damaged. Wet carrots also store worse – mold can appear on them and they will spoil faster.
After pulling out the roots, you need to remember to remove the root, which will ensure that the carrot does not wilt so quickly. It needs to be stored in mounds or ventilated, cool areas. It is best to keep it in rooms with a temperature of 0.3℃ to 0.5℃ and a humidity of 95% to 98%.
Parsley should be harvested in mid-October, before the first frost arrives. It is important that it is fully ripe, otherwise it will be more difficult to store. Weather conditions are crucial during harvesting. It should not be too dry, as it is harder to pull out the roots and easier to damage them.
Parsley should be stored in wooden crates or loose in a room where the air temperature is between 0℃ and 1℃, and the humidity stays between 95% and 98%.
Beet is sensitive to temperatures, so it is recommended that it be harvested in late September and early October. The roots of the beet to be stored should be 7 cm to 10 cm long. They must not be frozen. They can be kept in mounds or coolers. The temperature in the room should be between 1℃ and 3℃, and the humidity should be 95-98%.
Harvesting celery is best planned from mid-October to mid-November, when it is fully ripe. This is indicated by the color of the leaves – they should be stained. Celery is best harvested on a clear day. When digging it up, you need to undermine the roots and remove the leaves. It is stored in a room with a temperature of 0℃ to 1℃ and humidity of 95% to 98%.
main photo: unsplash.com/Gabriel Gurrola
