Take these steps to help extend the life of your garden-fresh produce.

--Immediately remove any wilted or spoiled spots.

--Place hardier vegetables, such as squash and eggplant, in the crisper or on the refrigerator shelf.

--Store fennel bulbs in a plastic bag to keep the fronds from wilting.

--Wrap greens in a paper towel, or simply place a paper towel in the plastic bag to absorb excess moisture. Gently squeeze out as much air as possible, and keep the bag tightly closed.

--Never refrigerate a tomato. Chilling causes a chemical reaction that dissipates the flavor.

--As a rule, you should not refrigerate potatoes. The exception is just-out-of-the-garden new potatoes (the small ones). Refrigeration keeps their sugar content high, maintaining their sweet flavor.