0891V Rev 07/16#8593617

Deep Drawer Harvest Storage RackStore your homegrown harvest or farmer's market bounty in this spacious and space-saving rack. The drawers have slatted floors to allow good air-flow, essential for extending shelf life and preventing decay. The deep drawers provide dark storage for potatoes and onions, as well as canning jars, prolonging shelf life. The two shallow drawers are ideal for drying garlic and herbs. The slatted top is handy for stowing supplies like pickling crocks.

AssemblyNOTE: Assembly is easiest with two people. Step 1. Identify and organize all parts on a clean, level surface.

Step 2. Stand 2 of the Drawer A Side Panels parallel to each other with the wooden columns facing in (Figure 3). Notice how there are gaps between the Side Panels' ledges and wooden columns (Figure 2). Slide a Drawer Bottom into those gaps and line up the ends with the edges of the Side Panels.

Step 3. Fit two Drawer A Front/Back Panels onto the open sides of the drawer. Their wooden columns should fit next to the wooden columns on the Side Panels (Figure 2).

Step 4. Slide a Bolt through a predrilled hole on the outside of a Side Panel, into the Panel's wooden column, and through the wooden column on the Front/Back Panel (Figure 2). Place a Washer onto the end of the Bolt and loosely attach a Nut. Repeat to insert Bolts into the remaining seven sets of predrilled holes and then tighten them all into place using a Phillips screwdriver and wrench.

Step 5. Repeat Steps 2-4 to make another Drawer A, three Drawer Bs and one Drawer C.

over please _

Tools NeededDrill with bitsPhillips screwdriverAdjustable wrench

Drawers A

Drawers B

Drawer C

Front/Back Panels

Side Panels

Drawer Bottom

Bolt, Washer and Nut

Figure 3

wood columns

Front/Back PanelSide Panel

ledge

wood columns Washer

Nut

Bolt

Figure 2

Drawer Bottom

(2) Sides

Drawer A

(4) Front/Back Panels

(6) Side Panels

Drawer B Drawer C

(2) Front/Back Panels

(6) Front/Back Panels

(2) Side Panels(4) Side Panels

Parts List

(6) Drawer Bottom

(1) Slatted Top

(48) Bolts, Washers & Nuts

(20) Screws

(4) Brace Slats (2) Crossbars

Figure 1

Phone Orders: 1-800-427-3363 • Customer Service: 1-800-876-5520e-mail: info@gardeners.com • Web: www.gardeners.com

Step 6. Stand the Sides upright with the feet on the ground and the pre-attached crossbars facing out (Figure 4). Connect the two Sides by attaching the Brace Slats to the top and bottom of each Side and placing Screws through the predrilled holes in the Slats. Important: Drill pilot holes into the Sides before inserting the Screws to prevent the wood from splitting. NOTE: Do not fully tighten the Screws into place. Make sure the top Brace Slats are flush with the top of the Sides.

Step 7. Place the Slatted Top onto the top of the Harvest Storage Rack. Slide the drawers into each compartment as shown in Figure 1. NOTE: This will help to square up the frame and keep it stable for the next step.

Step 8. Adjust the frame to make sure it is square. Connect the two Crossbars to form an "X" and attach the ends to the upper and lower corners on the back of the Storage Rack by placing Screws through the predrilled holes (Figure 5). Important: Drill pilot holes into the Sides before inserting the Screws to prevent the wood from splitting. Fully tighten all screws on the Crossbars and the Brace Slats. Important: Do not over tighten the screws as this may cause the wood to split. The assembly is now complete!

Storage Tips For the best results, place the rack in an unheated basement or shed that is well ventilated and stays above freezing, but below 65°F degrees in winter. Different types of fruit and vegetables require different levels of temperature and humidity for proper storage. Follow these tips to keep your food fresh as long as possible.

• Store fruits and vegetables separately. Some fruits, including tomatoes, give off ethylene gas, which speeds up the aging process of other stored foods and will make some vegetables, such as carrots, bitter.

• Harvest fruits or vegetables when they are not too ripe or under ripe. Leave root vegetables in the ground for as long as possible and dig them up when storage temperatures are likely to remain consistently cool. Thoroughly cure crops, such as squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and garlic, before placing in storage.

• Place fruits or vegetables in a single layer in each drawer, preferably not touching one another. Fruits may be wrapped individually with paper towels or a food-grade tissue paper.

• Check your storage crops periodically and remove any decaying produce immediately to prevent it from spoiling surrounding fruits and vegetables.

Drying Herbs To dry herbs, line the top drawers with food-grade paper, such as cut-open paper grocery bags or parchment baking paper. Harvest herbs when the foliage is dry. Place individual stalks, branches or leaves in a single layer on each shelf. Keep the Storage Rack in a dry location and out of direct sunlight. To speed up the drying process, aim a fan toward the drawers to create a gentle airflow. Check the herbs and turn them over every 2 or 3 days to encourage uniform dryness and shape. When dry, place the herbs in airtight containers for longer-term storage and use.

For more products and articles on preserving your harvest, please visit us at gardeners.com.

Sides

Brace Slats

Brace Slats

Screws

Figure 4

pre-attached crossbars

feet

Crossbars

Screw

Crossbar

SideFigure 5

Screws

Brace Slat