The potato crop must be stored for a long time. Various dishes will be prepared from this product throughout the year. Therefore, it is very important to create such conditions that the potatoes remain fresh and tasty for as long as possible.
Harvest preparation for storage
Storage preparation includes the following:
- All potatoes must be carefully sorted. It is divided by size. Large tubers are left for cooking, medium ones for planting next year. The very small ones are usually used for animal feed.
- The crop is inspected for mechanical damage and diseases. If the tubers are infected or damaged, they cannot be stored with the rest of the potatoes.
- After that, the tubers are washed and dried in the fresh air. The location should be such that direct sunlight does not fall there, as this can lead to greening of the potatoes. If the weather is bad, then the crop is placed in a ventilated and dark room. It usually takes 7 to 15 days to dry.
- Then the crop is disinfected. This is an optional procedure, but experienced gardeners advise doing it, as it increases safety. To do this, it is necessary to dilute a little potassium permanganate in a container with warm water and wash the potatoes in the resulting solution. After the procedure, it is important to dry the tubers well, turning them regularly. Under the right conditions, the shelf life of such potatoes will be approximately 1 year.
Required conditions
To prevent potatoes from wilting and staying tasty, they must be stored in a ventilated or ventilated area with the correct temperature and humidity levels.
Temperature
Experts advise storing potatoes at temperatures from +1 to +3 degrees. Sharp drops and temperature drops below 0 degrees should not be allowed. If it is very high, the tubers will begin to sprout. They will become soft and not usable.
At low temperatures, the starch in the potatoes will begin to turn into sugar. Because of this, it acquires a sweetish aftertaste. If the thermometer falls below -2 degrees, the vegetables will completely freeze. In this case, they should not be eaten.
Humidity
At high humidity, the root crop quickly deteriorates. Good ventilation must be provided to prevent moisture build-up. If there is no way to ventilate the cellar, then it is better to store the crop in the garage.
Too high humidity leads to rot and fungal diseases. It is rarely possible to preserve the harvest until spring.
The most suitable indicators of humidity are 75-80%. So the tubers will retain their taste, vitamins and minerals.
Where to store potatoes?
There are several rooms in which potato crops are usually stored.
In the cellar
The cellar is an ideal place for storing vegetables, as it usually has a suitable and stable temperature and does not allow light to enter. The harvest can be stored in the cellar for 10 months.
Quite often, vegetables are stored in bulk in the cellar. The tubers are simply scattered on the ground in a large heap. To prevent the potatoes from freezing, a wooden pallet should be made.
In a vegetable pit
The vegetable pit is built separately from a private house. It is dug to a depth of 1.7-2 m and carefully insulated. Pallets, boxes and storage shelves are placed in the pit. If the vegetable pit is properly organized, the potatoes will not rot and sore.
On the balcony in a box
Most often, potatoes are stored on the balcony. For this, a special insulated box is used. If the balcony is not glazed, then a box with electric temperature control is needed. A display showing the temperature in the box is displayed in the apartment. If it is high or low, it can be adjusted. These boxes are always on sale.
In the hallway or closet
The temperature in the corridor is always lower than in the apartment, so potatoes are often stored there. Of course, you need to regularly inspect vegetables for diseases and rottenness in order to prevent spoilage of a large part of the crop.
In the garage
The garage is usually equipped with a storage pit. Potatoes are perfectly stored in it. In insulated garages, tubers can be stored simply in bags, in bulk or in boxes on shelves.
Potatoes are one of the most cold-resistant and unpretentious crops. But vegetables require correct and stable temperature and humidity readings. Tubers react poorly to temperature fluctuations and dampness. By properly equipping a balcony or basement and using thermal insulation, you can save the harvest until the end of spring.
Read also: Effective natural ways to combat cabbage caterpillar
Friends, do not forget to subscribe to the channel and LIKE if the article is useful!