'Keeping times' of organic veg...

[Herbsandveg]

Reading through Joy Larkcom's 'Grow Your Own Vegetables' I was surprised to see her say that there is evidence that organic veg stays fresh longer than the non-organic variety. This all sounds perfectly OK, but my own experience of buying organic veg - which is my only real alternative until my own vegetables are ready - is that both organic tomatoes and carrots go off much more quickly than the non-organic stuff. Granted, I keep them in a cupboard rather than a fridge, but shouldn't both have a longer shelf than a week? I'd be very, very interested to hear of the experiences of other GYO readers...

[Hazel at the Hill]

I don't grow my own veg primarily for longevity. Mostly I grow my own such that I have control over how it is grown, but also I can eat the my own produce so much fresher than that bought, organic or not.

I do note, however, that my dug parsnips have been good for 2 or 3 wks out the ground - and I doubt that supermarket veg, organic or not, would match that.

[Linzy]

My first though wuld be that straight from the plot they most prob would last over a week, however it most prob safe to assum that it will take 2-4 days to cut, process, pack and distribute the veg. So they most probs a few days old before they get to you

[SarzWix]

Any carrot kept in a warm cupboard won't keep as long as a cold-stored one, whether it's stored still in the cold ground or a fridge. Put them in the salad drawer at the bottom of the fridge, in a bag with the top open, and they'll keep for a couple of weeks at least.

[Aberdeenplotter]

better still, leave them in the ground until you need them or store them layered in sand in a dry frost free place if you really must lift them. I was lifting Parsnips yesterday

[Two_Sheds]

I don't keep my veg in the fridge (or the cupboard), I keep it in the ground.

I pick what I need for the next couple of days, that's all.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Any home grown veg should last longer than shop bought purely because its fresher when you get your hands on it.

Potty

[veggiechicken]

We had a rabbit lived for 12 years fed on dried rabbit foot and cabbage, hay and carrots - never had any problems - no lettuce gives them the runs. Had a run outside over garden if present and in run if not during day - someimes came into the house and would only go on paper. Under cover at night.

Are you in the right thread Shen? And did he like eating rabbit FOOT!!

[Sheneval]

Nope - don't know how I got crossed wires. I started in the rabbit post and ended up here but I have now deleted it - changing my mind about the senility bit

[Nicos]

Back in the UK I grew my own veg- and those I didn't were bought from M&S or Waitrose or Sainsbury's ( local stores)

My own veg would go rubbery within a day or two....shop bought would last at least a week before going rubbery ( kitchen at 22C)..and both stored next to each other!....never worked out why our veg went rubbery before shop bought ones!!!