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Cut-Flower Harvesting & Post-Harvest Care | Best Practices from Pros in the Slow Flower Community
What are the best practices and systems for harvesting and post-harvest handling of flowers, herbs, and foliages before they leave the field and workshop, to safeguard that quality? This survey of 5 specialty cut-flower growers distills the collective and cumulative wisdom of three-quarters of a century of farming and selling flowers, from the Slow Flowers community.
The term "value-added products" encompasses a wide array of farm products, from specialty foods to non-food items such as straw bales and wreaths. In this article, we'll focus on creating value-added food products as a way of diversifying your farm's offerings, extending your selling season, and improving your bottom line. Starting with the basics, decide what you want to make, then take a look at the practicalities — particularly the business side.
Chart for optimal post-harvest cooling method, temperature,and humidity ranges, and potential shelf life for a range of summer-harvest, fresh-market crops, in alphabetical order.
How long can seeds last in storage? One to several years for most common crops, but there are some caveats. Follow these simple tips and charts for successful seed-saving for the future.
Guidelines, specifics, and variety recommendations on best storage practices — temperature, humidity, and optimal shelf life — for enjoyment of classic storage crops such as roots and tubers like rutabagas, beets, turnip, cabbage, winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and leeks, well into the winter months.
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How to Set up a Winter Cool Room | CoolBot + Inkbird + Space Heater = 21st-Century "Root Cellar"
If you lack a traditional root cellar, you can set up a walk-in cooler with a CoolBot, then regulate winter temperatures inside your cooler using add-on controllers as outdoor temperatures fall below freezing point.
Learn when to harvest carrots and options for post-harvest handling and storage from the carrot experts at Johnny's Selected Seeds. Recommendations and tips for choosing varieties that store best and maintain good carrot flavor and eating quality, how to harvest to minimize damage, methods for preparing your carrot crop for optimal shelf life, and ideal ranges of temperature and humidity conditions during storage.