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a cuke gets fat, soft and yellow it is usually bitter as well, and won't make good pickles. Keep a close eye on your vines and harvest frequently. If too many cucumbers are left to ripen the plant will also stop producing. Twist the cucumber off the vine carefully so as not to damage the plant. Store cucumbers in a cool place or in the refrigerator. Cucumbers do not freeze or dry well and should be pickled for long term storage. Any kind of cucumber can be pickled but those varieties labeled as pickling types will stay crisper when pickled.

Keep green beans picked to keep the vines productive. Wash,blanch and freeze the excess. Blanching simply means dropping the beans in boiling water for just a few seconds. You can also cook the beans the way you like them and freeze them or learn to can them.

Never store potatoes and apples in the same area. The apples will cause the potatoes to sprout and rot. Apples should be stored just above freezing. Potatoes should be stored at 50- 60 degrees in a dark place.

Harvest potatoes after the tops die back. [Baby potsatoes can be harvested just after the plants stop blooming.] Use any you have cut or damaged right away. Let the rest cure for a few days in a warm, dark spot then brush off the soil and store. Don't wash potatoes until just before you use them.

Let onions dry in the sun for a few days, until the neck of the onion has shrank. Then remove the tops, brush off any soil and store in a dark place just above freezing. Don't store onions with potatoes or apples.

Sweet corn is best when freshly picked. Get a pot of water boiling and go out to the garden to pick the corn. Feel the cob of corn to see if it feels plump and firm down to the tip. The silks should be brown, but don't wait until they are completely dried. If you are still unsure, peel back the husk a little and give it the fingernail test. Push your fingernail into a kernel. If clear juices flow out it's too early. If nothing comes out and the kernel is white and doughy inside it's past prime. If milky juice flows from the kernel it's perfect eating corn. Husk it onto the compost pile or feed the husks to your animals. Wipe off the silks with a damp, rough cloth and drop corn in the boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Don't over cook sweet corn as it makes it tough. Store corn in the refrigerator if you must wait to cook it.

Freeze raspberries, blueberries and strawberries in a single layer on a cookie sheet before placing them in freezer bags or containers. They won't

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