Storing potatoes at home

Potatoes are one of the most commonly consumed vegetables. People stock up on it for the winter in large quantities. In order for potatoes to be stored for a long time and not spoil, it is necessary to provide them with optimal conditions. Potato storage at home can be done in the following ways:
- in boxes
- on the balcony
- in the cellar
Regardless of the storage conditions for this vegetable, it is necessary to provide it with optimal conditions. This will protect it from rotting and damage.
Content:
- Requirements for storing potatoes in the cellar
- Features of storing tubers in boxes
- Rules for storing potatoes on the balcony
- Preparing tubers for storage
Requirements for storing potatoes in the cellar
The cellar is the ideal place to store this vegetable. This room is constantly cool and dark, which is what potatoes require. When storing potatoes in the cellar, it is necessary to provide them with optimal temperature conditions.
Ideally, the storage temperature should be within 2-3 degrees. In order to monitor the temperature, it is necessary to hang a thermometer in the cellar. If potatoes are stored at high temperatures, they may rot. This will also lead to the appearance of slugs. If the temperature in the cellar is below the specified limit, the potatoes may freeze.
The cellar is often dark. The light turns on only when necessary. This ideal conditions for storing tubers. It is best to store potatoes in the cellar in wooden boxes or bins.
Before placing a vegetable in the cellar, it is necessary to prepare it.
You need to remove garbage and leftover vegetables from last year from the cellar. All boxes and bins in which tubers will be stored are whitened with lime, which will slow down the rotting process. You need to pour potatoes into boxes in a layer, no more than one meter.
In this case, the distance from the floor in the cellar to the box should be at least 30 centimeters. That is why it is necessary to lift the boxes onto a frame or rack.
Features of storing tubers in boxes
If you live in an apartment and do not have your own cellar, then you can store potatoes in boxes. These structures must be insulated before filling with potatoes.
To store potatoes, you need to choose boxes with double walls. There should be a space of 10-15 centimeters between the walls. To insulate the box, you can put old clothes, polystyrene foam and other insulation materials in this space.
Install boxes on balconies or loggias. If there is a dark and cool place in the kitchen, then the installation of drawers can be done there too. One low power light bulb must be installed in the box.
It will need to be turned on on winter nights to heat the tubers. Lighting is necessary ensure that light does not reach the tubers. Otherwise they may turn green. The box must be constructed from plywood or wooden boards. After manufacturing, the box must be painted or whitewashed with lime.
Rules for storing potatoes on the balcony
If it is not possible to store tubers in the cellar, then you can use the balcony for this purpose. To do this, you need to build or purchase a wooden box.The potatoes are pre-packed in double fabric bags and placed in a box.
The small box must be placed in a large one and insulated with old things or special insulation.
To ensure optimal temperature, it is necessary that both boxes have a lid, between which insulation is also placed. With this storage method, potatoes can easily withstand temperatures of -20 degrees.
Preparing tubers for storage
The duration of storage of tubers directly depends on the quality of their preparation. Before placing potatoes in boxes or in the cellar, they must be sorted. Damaged potatoes are very difficult to store.
That is why such tubers are dug up with garden forks that have wide teeth. When sorting Potatoes must be removed from pest-damaged and rotten fruits.
If there is dry rot on the potatoes, then they also need to be thrown aside.
When selecting potatoes to the side, fruits baked in the sun are also eliminated, since they are carriers of a fungus, which during storage can transfer to normal potatoes.
If the summer cottage is located at a distance from the storage location, then the tubers must be transported in boxes with thick walls. This is done to ensure that the potatoes are not damaged during transportation.
Such fruit will certainly rot during storage. Before placing the tubers in the basement, they must be thoroughly freed from the soil and dried. To do this, potatoes are laid out on the plot in one layer and kept for several hours.
It is quite possible to keep potatoes in good condition for 7 months.To do this, you just need to carefully prepare the storage space, as well as the fruits themselves.
During storage, the tubers are provided with optimal temperature. This will ensure long-term storage, and also rid the fruits of rot and fungus.
Storing potatoes in winter
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Comments
We store potatoes in the cellar in special iron boxes with holes. Before bringing it into the cellar, be sure to dry it in the shade for a couple of days. Then we sort it out and only then send it for storage.