Fall in Maine is the perfect time to think about vegetables that will last through the colder months. I’ve experimented with a few varieties, and some really stand out for long-term storage.
Root vegetables and hearty greens are especially reliable when stored properly. It’s amazing to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce even when snow is on the ground.
Let’s pick the best options to keep your pantry stocked all winter!
1. Potatoes
Nothing beats the versatility of spuds when it comes to long-term storage in Maine’s cold seasons. They’ll last up to six months when kept in cool, dark conditions around 40°F with good humidity.
Many Maine gardeners store theirs in basement bins covered with burlap or in root cellars where temperature remains consistent. Just remember to check periodically for any sprouting or soft spots!
2. Carrots
Sweet and crunchy, these orange beauties actually improve in flavor after light frosts touch Maine gardens. For best storage results, leave the soil on unwashed carrots and pack them in damp sand or sawdust.
Many Maine families keep them in plastic tubs with lids in unheated garages where temperatures hover just above freezing. When properly stored, they’ll maintain their quality for 4-6 months!
3. Onions
Properly cured onions are storage champions in Maine’s winter pantry. After harvesting, let them dry completely with tops attached in a well-ventilated spot for two weeks until papery.
Maine gardeners often braid softneck varieties or store hardnecks in mesh bags hanging in cool, dry spaces. The ideal temperature is 32-40°F with low humidity – conditions that many Maine homes naturally provide in unheated rooms.
4. Garlic
Maine’s cold winters make it perfect for growing hardneck garlic varieties that store beautifully. After harvesting in late summer, cure them for 2-3 weeks in a dry, airy location until the outer wrappers become papery.
Throughout Maine, gardeners store their garlic braided or in mesh bags in cool, dry spots around 60-65°F. Under these conditions, most varieties will keep their flavor and firmness for 6-8 months!
5. Cabbage
Late-season cabbage varieties thrive in Maine’s climate and reward gardeners with excellent storage potential. Look for dense, tight heads with few outer leaves for the best keeping quality.
Many Maine families wrap each head individually in newspaper and place them stem-side up in crates. Kept at 32-40°F with high humidity, these crunchy vegetables will last 3-4 months, providing fresh coleslaw even when snow blankets the Pine Tree State.
6. Winter Squash
The thick rinds of butternut, acorn, and hubbard squashes make them perfect candidates for Maine winter storage. Properly cured for 10 days in warm conditions after harvest, they develop harder shells that resist decay.
Throughout Maine’s long winters, these colorful vegetables store beautifully at room temperature in dry locations around 50-55°F. Some varieties will keep their sweet, nutty flavor for an impressive 6 months when handled carefully!
7. Beets
These earthy root vegetables handle Maine’s cold storage conditions beautifully. For best results, harvest before they grow too large, trim tops to one inch, and avoid washing them before storage.
Maine gardeners typically layer beets in damp sand, sawdust, or peat moss in plastic containers with lids. When kept at 32-40°F with high humidity, they’ll maintain their firm texture and sweet flavor for 3-4 months in the Pine Tree State.
8. Turnips
Often overlooked, turnips are storage superstars in Maine’s winter pantry. These cool-weather crops actually develop sweeter flavor after light frosts touch them in the garden.
Many Maine households store turnips similar to beets – unwashed with tops removed, nestled in slightly damp peat or sand in cool, humid conditions. When properly stored at 32-40°F, these versatile root vegetables will keep for 4-5 months!
9. Parsnips
These pale relatives of carrots actually improve in sweetness after exposure to Maine’s cold temperatures. Some gardeners even leave them in the ground under mulch, harvesting throughout winter as needed.
For traditional storage, Maine families clean off excess soil (but don’t wash) and pack parsnips in damp sand or peat moss. In proper cold storage around 32-40°F with high humidity, they’ll maintain quality for an impressive 4-6 months!
10. Rutabagas
These hardy root vegetables were practically made for Maine’s winter storage conditions. Their waxy skin provides natural protection, making them one of the longest-keeping vegetables available to northern gardeners.
Throughout Maine, people store rutabagas unwashed in perforated plastic bags or nestled in slightly damp sand. When kept at 32-40°F with high humidity, these nutritious roots will remain firm and flavorful for an impressive 4-6 months!
11. Celeriac
With its gnarly appearance but delicate celery flavor, celeriac is a storage champion in Maine’s winter pantry. The key is harvesting before heavy frosts and storing with roots intact but soil removed.
Maine gardeners typically wrap each bulb individually in slightly damp paper towels, then place in perforated plastic bags. When kept at 32-40°F with high humidity, this unusual vegetable will maintain its quality for 3-4 months!
12. Jerusalem Artichokes
These knobby tubers, also called sunchokes, store beautifully throughout Maine’s winter months. Unlike most vegetables, they actually prefer being kept in slightly damp conditions to prevent shriveling.
Many Maine gardeners store them in the refrigerator or in buckets of slightly damp sand in root cellars. When kept at 32-38°F with high humidity, these crunchy, nutty-flavored tubers will maintain their quality for 2-5 months!
13. Leeks
Hardy and frost-tolerant, leeks are perfect for Maine’s climate and storage conditions. Some gardeners even leave them in the garden under heavy mulch, harvesting throughout winter as needed.
For traditional storage, Maine families clean off excess soil and stand leeks upright in buckets with roots in damp sand. When kept at 32-40°F with high humidity, these versatile alliums will maintain their quality for 1-3 months!
14. Kohlrabi
These unusual-looking members of the cabbage family store surprisingly well in Maine’s winter conditions. For best results, harvest when bulbs are 3-4 inches in diameter and trim leaves to one inch.
Throughout Maine, gardeners store kohlrabi unwashed in perforated plastic bags or nestled in slightly damp sand. When kept at 32-40°F with high humidity, these crunchy vegetables will maintain their quality for 2-3 months!