Preserving the September Harvest

Aug 31

2 min read

A summer of record heatwaves & drought has affected the rhythm of harvesting. Some of my favourites (both wild & cultivated) were ready to harvest weeks ago and some have just failed to flourish.

September brings the harvest moon, the full moon closest to the autumn equinox & traditionally a time for harvesting vegetables and fruits . The moon's bright light helped farmers finish harvesting crops late into the night.

There are different ways you can preserve the September harvest to use over the winter months. Before refrigeration and supermarkets winter a lot of vegetable & fruit storage revolved around a root cellar - a cool, dark, damp cellar as the name suggests for roots and also a dryer cellar with airflow for squash, & onions. In the absence of a cellar you can store produce in a dedicated space in the garden or garage.

Storing Guide

BEETROOT - lift carefully, trim away the leaves, leave 2" stalk, do not wash. Layer in moist sand will store well in a frost free shed.
CARROTS - as above.
ONIONS - allow to die back before lifting, dry quickly, raised off the ground in boxes until outer skins are paper dry. Store in a frost free dry place plaited or loose in nets.
GARLIC - dry and store as onions.
POTATO - after lifting, dry for a couple of hours then store in in a hessian or paper sack in a cool dry place.
PUMPKIN - cut with a long stalk and leave to dry for a week or so, in a sunny place for the skin to harden. Store in an airy place. They keep well for 3 months . Crown Prince a favourite of mine will store until Easter.
BRAMLEY APPLES - store sound fruit with stalks attached, preferably wrapped in paper and laid in shallow boxes. These will keep until Easter.
GRANNY SMITH & BRAEBURN - these late season apple varities will keep stored as above until Christmas. My mother stored apples in boxes under our beds (no central heated bedrooms). There was a faint sweet smell of apples when we went to sleep.

From apple cider vinegar & umeboshi to chutnies, mead & shrubs there are a many ways to preserve the Autumn harvest.

You will find plenty of ideas on the next 'Return of the Larder workshop' - Saturday 17th October at the Byres in Lewes, learn more here: https://www.greencuisinetrust.org/courses.