It's one thing to grow a good harvest of garlic, and quite another to be able to preserve it. With the wrong approach, the heads will quickly begin to deteriorate. Vegetables can dry out, rot, become soft and stained. Such changes lead first to the loss of beneficial properties, and then make the fruit unfit for human consumption.
In order for garlic to be stored for a long time and not lose its properties, you need to follow a simple technology. It is about her that will be discussed in this material.
Step 1. Harvesting
You should think about long-term storage already at the harvesting stage. Dig up garlic only in dry weather. After watering, at least 3-4 days should pass. The paddle should be inserted carefully so as not to damage the head. The fruit should not touch a metal surface.
Dug up garlic must not be dropped or dragged along the ground. Make sure the heads do not bump against each other while carrying. It is important to keep the fruits intact, as their shelf life will depend on this.
The harvested crop must be hung out to dry. Depending on humidity, the procedure should take 10 to 14 days. The process should take place in a dry, shady place out of direct sunlight.
Dried garlic must be carefully cleaned from the remnants of the earth with your hands or a soft sponge. If necessary, you can immediately cut off the stem and long roots.
Step 2. Selection of applicants
Only large, ripe and well-dried garlic will be stored for a long time. At the same time, the heads must be whole and strong. Fruits with visible mechanical damage and stains should be excluded immediately.
You should not select for storage onions that are decaying into cloves. They will not be able to remain of high quality for a long time.
Step 3. Choosing a storage method
The main condition for the good preservation of garlic is a constant temperature. It is important that during the entire storage period it changes by no more than 2-3 ° C. Besides temperature, air humidity is an important factor. It also needs to be stable.
There are two main ways of storing garlic: cold and warm. Both methods allow you to keep the fruits fresh for a long time, without losing their beneficial properties. The only difference is the conditions.
Cold storage
This method involves storing fruits at a temperature of 1-3 ° C and a relative humidity of 50 to 60%.
You can organize cold storage at home in the refrigerator. The heads of garlic are sorted into small batches, placed in natural cloth bags and placed in the vegetable chamber. In this form, the fruits will be stored until next spring.
The most difficult thing in this case is to maintain a constant temperature when defrosting the refrigerator. The garlic will have to be taken to the balcony and hidden in an insulated box.
Warm storage
The warm method involves storing garlic at a temperature of 18-20 ° C and a relative humidity of 70 to 80%.
You can organize warm storage in the pantry or under the bed - in places where the temperature practically does not change in winter. With drops of 2-3 ° C, the amount of dried garlic will be minimal. Store fruits in ventilated boxes or breathable cloth bags. It is important to maintain good air circulation.
When stored properly, natural garlic will retain its beneficial properties until the next season.
Read also on my website -5 mistakes when planting winter garlic
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