Page 181 - The Lost Ways

area completely away because any tops left will only encourage decay in the roots around
it.

Curing Winter Vegetables for Storage

Many vegetables must be cured before storage. Curing promotes a dormant state that
prevents sprouting or rot. Onions and garlic should have their tops clipped with about an
inch left behind. Leave these in the sun for a week before storing. Here’s a tip: Pantyhose
are the best way to store them. Simply fill the hose with the bulbs and hang them from a
rack in a cool, dry room.

Pumpkins and winter squash need to sit out in the garden (or the porch, yard, wherever)
for two full weeks before storing them. This gives them a chance to develop a good hard
rind that will protect them throughout the winter. Then store them in a cool, dry place
until you need them. The only exception is acorn squash. They don’t store well, so don’t
bother. Just eat them and be happy.

Sweet potatoes also need to be cured. Keep them in a warm, damp space for a week to
10 days before moving them to storage.

Pests

Nothing will ruin your day faster than discovering pests in your root cellar. Whether it’s

mice, birds, or weevils, you don’t want any visitors—period. In the case of pests, the old
saying rings true today. The best offense is a good defense. Calk holes and cracks; play
close attention to the area around your vents. While you’re examining your vents, do you
need to cover them with a mesh wire? Close the door and look for any rays of light. Check
to see if you need to put a piece of weather stripping under the door.

Then, when the room is as secure as you can make it, look to your containers. If you
already know you are going to have a pest problem, get containers with lids. Make sure

the lids to grains are airtight, not just to avoid exposure to moisture but to prevent weevil
infestations, and also keep all containers off the ground. You should do this anyway. The
ground is often too moist for good storage, but it also makes it too convenient for pests
to get to your food.

The best containers to prevent pests are plastic totes with lids, or like mentioned earlier,
large, lidded trashcans would work like a charm.

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