Storing veg in fridge

[Two_Sheds]

I had a patty pan squash in the fridge and it went soft quite soon.

Patty pans don't store, they are basically courgettes (soft thin skin)

Pumpkins will store (although not in a damp shed) if they are ripe, thick skinned and cured in the sun for long enough. They have a much lower water content than the summer squashes

There was a programme on last night which tested the rotting rate of different fruits and veg, and concluded that the only thing which needs a fridge is lettuce

[Glutton4...]

Thanks for the link TS. Mr. G. told me it was on, and looked interesting, but I was in the bath! By this morning, I had forgotten about it!

[Croila]

There was a programme on last night which tested the rotting rate of different fruits and veg, and concluded that the only thing which needs a fridge is lettuce

Really?? That's very interesting ... I put virtually everything in the fridge! Mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, lettuce ... You name it. So there's no point in that, then?! Drat, wish I'd seen this programme, it sounds really good.

[haza1981]

There was a programme on last night which tested the rotting rate of different fruits and veg, and concluded that the only thing which needs a fridge is lettuce

This is interesting.

So here's a good question for everyone.........

How do you store stuff?

Personally I use the fridge but i'm thinking of other ways

[haza1981]

Not an issue for me. Mine are grown in a permanent bed covered with enviromesh for two years then moved to another area.
I will probably finish eatng fresh carrots in March/April just in time to sow my next crop.
Because carrots have such a specific soil requirements I devote a whole bed to them.

Point taken about making way for something else but not hopefully to let the space sit idle over the winter.

How do you keep the carrot fly away from them? all the ones I planted in a bed where ruined by them. The ones I kept up high in a pot are fine. I heard this is because the carrot fly can only get 18" above the ground.

[Alison]

How do you keep the carrot fly away from them? all the ones I planted in a bed where ruined by them. The ones I kept up high in a pot are fine. I heard this is because the carrot fly can only get 18" above the ground.

I've covered my outdoor ones in enviromesh but the ones in the polytunnel were fine without it - don't know why but the flies don't seem to go in there

Re storing in the fridge, store salad leaves in there and soft fruit but that's about it for fruit and veg - simply wouldn't be enough room for root vegs etc.

[Two_Sheds]

Drat, wish I'd seen this programme, it sounds really good.

It's in the link I posted above ... watch again

[Snadger]

How do you keep the carrot fly away from them? all the ones I planted in a bed where ruined by them. The ones I kept up high in a pot are fine. I heard this is because the carrot fly can only get 18" above the ground.

Howay man Haza. What do you reckon I cover them with enviromesh for?
Pay attention my friend!

I'm not so sure about the height thing myself, it works for some but not for others. Enviromesh or fleece is the only sure fire way to get a clean crop!

[smallblueplanet]

Patty pans don't store, they are basically courgettes (soft thin skin)...

Patty pans do store - they are summer squash & will develop a hard skin like winter squash if you let them grow. We harvest ours at about 5-7" diameter, or just when big for the crooknecks. They won't store as long as winter squash but you should easily get a couple of months from them.

[Keith2202]

This is interesting.

So here's a good question for everyone.........

How do you store stuff?

Personally I use the fridge but i'm thinking of other ways

What would you put in the fridge otherwise? Unless you need the space for something else, it doubles as a cupboard anyway!

[Two_Sheds]

Patty pans do store ...you should easily get a couple of months from them.

... then I'm happy to be corrected. I have some, so will try it

[smallblueplanet]

... then I'm happy to be corrected. I have some, so will try it

I'm amazed you've not tried keeping big patty pans. They 'skin up' like winter squash but don't store as long.



A couple of white custard squash (I think they are) from earlier in the year, perhaps picked a bit early to encourage more to grow...

[denise]

The programme was 'Jimmy's Global Harvest' I think it can still be seen on i player, as the goggle results came up with BBC2 and video links, well worth a watch.

[Paulottie]

Patty pans do store - they are summer squash & will develop a hard skin like winter squash if you let them grow. We harvest ours at about 5-7" diameter, or just when big for the crooknecks. They won't store as long as winter squash but you should easily get a couple of months from them.

Yeah, I find they keep quite well too....mind you: try cutting the top off scooping a hole and filling with Gruyère black, pepper and cream (hand full of chanterelles, sweated onion, bit of ham to taste) bake it....voilà really tasty and filling soup in a biobowl....certainly helps us get through what is an attractive but ultimately slightly dull veg.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm amazed you've not tried keeping big patty pans.

... because they are utterly tasteless
I only grew them this year by mistake (someone sent me seeds for "long white bush" and they turned out PPs)