Here are 7 Things to Do With Your Extra Garden Veggies: From Pickling to Potlucks

As you’re digging up the 10,000th spud or trimming the millionth cucumber (didn’t you only plant two of those?), you might be wondering what to do with all of your extra veggies. While most gardeners are certainly happier to have surplus produce than to have an empty basket at the end of the season, it’s also a bit daunting to have 10 bushels of green beans on your hands.Let’s look at some of your options for saving, storing, and sharing your excess vegetables. Some of these tips will work for both fruits and veggies, but we’ll focus on vegetables here.Option 1: Freezing Your Extra VeggiesThis is by far the most popular option for preserving your excess vegetables. Why? It’s easy. Freeze fresh for the best flavor. Briefly blanch vegetables by dipping them in boiling water, then quickly submerging them in ice water or very cold water. This prevents them from cooking. Then dry them with paper towels.Why should I blanch my vegetables before freezing them? Blanching helps kill any germs on...