So you were worried about your vegetable garden failing with all the cool, wet weather in July…and now you are wondering what to do with your excess crops.

Two large zucchinis and I can look forward to seven pots of soup!

Well, if you didn’t donate to your local food pantry you may be thinking of preserving vegetables for winter eating and you may be surprised to learn that all but the “stringy” vegetables can be preserved by freezing. I was amazed because I am new to vegetable gardening and thought you could only preserve if you canned…a process that is daunting to me.

Freezing is an excellent way to preserve vegetables and I found a great website with instructions for freezing everything from artichoke hearts to turnips. Just check out edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY719 and go to it. The mantra is:  clean, blanch, cool, and freeze. Winter just got a little better!