Everlasting veg

[AngusMcDoon]

The ham thread reminded me of my discovery this summer (by accident) of a seemingly indestructible ever-lasting fresh veg - which is sweet potato. After 3 months it was still as good as new. It seems completely bomb proof, and much better at keeping in a damp boat than bog standard potatoes which go all sprouty. Might be a handy tip for the Atlanticeers this season.

 

[Hadenough]

We always keep some on board as an emergency staple, lasts for months as you say, butternut squash is just as good too. Flip side though is that my wife is addicted to advacado, takes ages to ripen and then goes off in five minutes!

 

[[3889]]

And cooks quickly which is another bonus.

 

[Ric]

Thanks for the tip - will try that. I have been compiling a league table of fruit and veg for boats - I think your sweet potatoes might go instantly top! Previous best was onions and courgettes.

 

[2nd_apprentice]

Sounds interesting, been limited to Kimchi and Tianjin preserved vegetable for the last month. Ah, the joys of not having a fridge ;-)

 

[oldvarnish]

I would add hard white cabbage. Got one most of the way across the Atlantic, if you're careful to cut of the rotten outer leaves as soon as they appear.
But buy 'em big 'n hard.

 

[TimBennet]

Don't sweet potatoes last because in the US they are dosed with anti sprouting chemicals?

 

[jerrytug]

Don't sweet potatoes last because in the US they are dosed with anti sprouting chemicals?

There are lots on African market stalls in London, surely they can't all come from the states? I will experiment anyway, thanks to the OP!

 

[Fantasie 19]

Don't sweet potatoes last because in the US they are dosed with anti sprouting chemicals?

In my house they last for ages as I think they taste disgusting and only SWMBO eats them...

 

[Neil]

Anybody sprouted mung beans for fresh veg on a long voyage?

 

[GHA]

Anybody sprouted mung beans for fresh veg on a long voyage?

Yes, very tasty indeed. Been a while but from memory soy beans were nice as well, and lentils.
I would have a few jars cycling so there were always some on the go. Yoghurt is another good one, seems to grow fine with powered milk.

 

[Neil]

I know this is getting over the top, but what about a plant pot of rocket, keep picking the leaves as it grows. Can you do the same with lettuce? boat hydroponics? Come the end of civilisation as we know it......or the coming zombie apocalypse............

 

[2nd_apprentice]

Nothing new under the sun:

I'm not exactly a gardener myself though.

Edit: Joseph Banks was the first to come up with the idea of airtight greenhouses on ships IIRC.

 

[Robin]

I wasn't a fan of sweet potatoes before moving to the USA but now am, we part cook ours, usually nuked for just 4 mins or so to just soften and reduce time on the grill, then slice very thickly crosswise, season with salt and papika before grilling on a hot BBQ grill, ( leccy one at home, gas one on boat) for about 5 mins per side. We often choose baked sweet potatoes,instead of baked spuds in our local steakhouse, too. I don't add butter or anything to minebut SWMBO puts cinnamon butter on hers.