Perfect store

Don’t risk losing your harvested crops due to oversight, says Bob – pick and store now so you enjoy them all

- Bob Flowerdew

WE might have an Indian summer lasting long into deepest winter, but the chances are it will soon become colder, wetter, windier and, all too soon, frosty. So it’s time to pick, process and store almost everything before it’s wasted. Now a few crops such as carrots and other root crops, leeks and the hardier brassicas can be left to fend for themselves. Most others, especially such as tomatoes and squashes, really need to be somewhere guaranteed warmer and drier otherwise they will just rot.

A garden shed or garage will do, but make sure there is plenty of ventilation to help dry them off. (This applies to almost everything you want to store, especially fruits such as apples and pears, which ‘sweat’ for their first weeks after picking). Tomato and pepper plants can be pulled up, roots and all, as their fruits ripen best on the vine, which can be hung to dry.