Ask a Master Gardener: How to store your garden vegetables

Getting the most out of your garden includes storing your crops under the best conditions so they stay fresh the longest. Some crops can be stored for one week or up to several months. Here is a summary of what will work best for the most popular vegetables from the home garden.

Harvest healthy, fully ripe produce, free of severe insect damage or disease. Most vegetables store better and lose less moisture if at least an inch of stem is left on. It is also important to store fruit in a separate location than vegetables. Fruit releases ethylene, which speeds ripening of vegetables, and fruit can also pick up the taste of vegetables stored near them.

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