Find local food near Boston, MA!
LocalHarvest. org / boston-ma
Root Cellars
Keep it fresh
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Local Harvest
Find local food near Boston, MA!
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LocalHarvest. org / boston-ma
Preserving food in a cool dark place is a practice in which most traditional food growers engage … one way or another.
A
root cellar is an enclosed space, preferably underground, that maintains fairly constant temperature and humidity levels. You can set up a root cellar in a basement space, about the size of a refrigerator or larger- size dependent on how much you grow and available space. Find a corner at the deepest part of the basement. Frame it off like a closet, insulate, and make sure it ' s well ventilated. Put up some shelving of different depths. The humidity level in most basements is adequate, but if mold or mildew start to appear an adjustment is needed, maybe try installing an exhaust fan.
Keep it dark all the time. This will keep stored produce like onions and potatoes from sprouting or starting to decay. Don ' t mix vegetables with fruit. Fruit like apples, avocados, and melons among many others, emit ethylene, a plant hormone that promotes ripening and eventual decay.
Keep dried herbs and garlic in open trays, check on them for spoilage. Keep green tomatoes in paper or canvas bags. An apple placed in the bag will quickly ripen the contents for a taste of summer in the darkest days of the year. Potatoes and root vegetables like onions, turnips and carrots should be kept in bins or baskets, checking regularly for any signs of trouble. A well-stocked root cellar is another excellent way to enjoy the fruits of your growing efforts far past the season!
20 GROW! BOSTON