Every harvest has its own possibilities.
Some vegetables are easy to dry. Others are better suited to freezing or fermenting. Soft fruit often needs to be processed quickly into jam. Firmer fruit can also be dried or preserved.
The tables below help you quickly choose an initial direction. They are not fixed rules, but a way of looking at what the harvest itself suggests.
| Harvest | Fresh storage | Freezing | Drying | Fermenting | Pickling | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potato | ★★★ | ★ | ★ | – | – | mashed potato, soup |
| Beetroot | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | soup, salad |
| Broccoli | ★★ | ★★★ | ★ | – | ★ | soup, purée |
| Courgette | ★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | soup, chutney, sauce |
| Cucumber | ★ | ★ | – | ★★★ | ★★★ | relish |
| Cabbage | ★★★ | ★★ | ★ | ★★★ | ★★ | soup, stew |
| Garlic | ★★★ | ★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | oil, herb blend |
| Pumpkin | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★ | – | soup, purée |
| Leek | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★ | – | soup, stew |
| Chilli pepper | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | sauce, sambal |
| Bell pepper | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | sauce, relish |
| Radish | ★ | ★ | – | ★★★ | ★★★ | relish |
| Tomato | ★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | sauce, coulis, chutney |
| Carrot | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | soup, purée |
Key
★★★ = very suitable · ★★ = good option · ★ = possible, but less ideal · – = usually not the first choice
Fruit is often more delicate than vegetables. Once ripe, time starts to work against you. With a large harvest, it is therefore useful to decide on several destinations straight away.
| Harvest | Freezing | Drying | Jam | Coulis / juice | Chutney |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Pear | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Plum | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Cherry | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Apricot | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Peach | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Raspberry | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★ |
| Strawberry | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★ |
| Blackberries | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Grapes | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Figs | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Quince | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
Herbs are particularly well suited to carrying a little bit of summer into the winter. Drying is usually the simplest option. Some herbs can also be finely chopped and frozen, for example in small portions.
| Herbs | Drying | Freezing | Oil / vinegar | Herb blend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thyme | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Rosemary | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Oregano | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Sage | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Mint | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Parsley | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Chives | ★★ | ★★★ | ★ | ★★★ |
| Basil | ★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Bay leaf | ★★★ | ★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |