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It is already difficult to imagine the diet of an average Russian resident without potatoes; this root vegetable has firmly established itself on the menu and on the tables. Potatoes are tasty not only in their young form, the product is usually eaten all year round. Hence, the main task of zealous owners arises: to preserve the harvest during the winter. In principle, potatoes are not considered a perishable product, the root crop can be safely stored for a month or six months.
In order to preserve most of the harvest, you need to know the rules for storing potatoes: what should be the humidity in the storage, what is the optimal temperature for this vegetable and, ultimately, where is the best place to keep the potato crop in winter.
Temperature and humidity conditions in the storage
Like all root vegetables, potatoes love consistency, namely the same moisture level and the same temperature throughout their storage time. The optimum storage temperature for potatoes is 2-3 degrees Celsius, and the humidity should be maintained at 70-80%.
What is the risk of deviation from the temperature and humidity conditions at the storage stage:
- when the air temperature rises, the potatoes begin to "wake up", that is, the tubers are preparing for planting in the spring soil. Eyes awaken on the potato, sprouts begin to grow. The consequence of this process is not only the need to remove sprouts from each potato by hand, but also the accumulation of a toxic substance in the upper layer of the peel of the tubers - solanine.
- If, on the contrary, the thermometer starts to approach zero, the starch contained in the potatoes will begin to turn into sugar. This leads to a deterioration in the taste characteristics of potatoes, which becomes too sweet and spoils the taste of any dish. Subsequently, the frozen potatoes simply rot and disappear.
- Potatoes need high humidity in storage in order not to lose their weight, simply not to "dry out" during storage. If the air in the potato storage is too dry, the root crops will become lethargic and dry, the taste of such potatoes will sharply decrease.
- On the contrary, too high humidity leads to rotting of potato tubers, the rapid development of fungal infections.
- It is also unacceptable for the sun's rays to hit the potato crop stored in winter. It is known that the sun leads to greening of root crops, which, in turn, is caused by the accumulation of toxic glucoside in potato tubers - such potatoes cannot be eaten anymore.
In order to preserve the nutritional value of the root crop and its taste, it is necessary to ensure such conditions under which the balance of these substances is not disturbed or disturbed to a minimum.
Those who grow potatoes in their beds and are trying to preserve the harvest until next season should know that potatoes can "breathe": potato tubers absorb oxygen from the air, instead releasing steam and carbon dioxide (just like people). So, for effective storage, the owner must give the potatoes the opportunity to "breathe". What it is, you can find out below.
How to keep potatoes at a temperature
In the climatic conditions of half of the country's regions, it is quite difficult to prevent the storage facilities from freezing during the winter months. To prevent the tubers from freezing, you need to maintain a positive temperature for storing potatoes.
It is clear that it is impossible to keep the thermometer above zero on the ground without heating devices. But this can be achieved by going deep underground. therefore vegetables, including potatoes, are usually stored in cellars or in the basement.
The temperature in a cellar-type vegetable storage is optimal for potato tubers, but only if it is built correctly:
- the basement floor is 0.5-1 meter higher than the groundwater table (their level is measured in the season of autumn rains or spring floods);
- the walls of the storehouse are lined with red brick, thick timber or concrete;
- the ceiling is insulated with foam or other insulation material;
- a cellar was built above the cellar - a small "house" that serves as an air cushion and equalizes the temperature inside and outside the basement;
- there is supply and exhaust ventilation;
- during construction, the depth of soil freezing in a particular region was taken into account.
For storing potatoes other types of storage may also be used, such as trenches, pits or heaps. In any case, you need to know that best kept potatoes independently, without being close to other vegetables and products.
Storing potatoes in an apartment
It is very difficult to withstand the storage temperature for potatoes in winter in a city apartment or in a private house without a basement. For potato tubers, there is only one most suitable storage place in the apartment - a balcony. But even here in winter, negative temperatures can be observed, and it is also very difficult to monitor the level of humidity.
As long as the temperature outside the window does not drop below -10 degrees, you do not need to worry about the harvest, but in more severe frosts you will have to take additional measures.
An excellent storage option for potatoes and other vegetables is a double box... You can buy it or make it yourself from scrap materials:
- two square frames are knocked out of the bar: one box should be freely inserted into the second, and a gap of several centimeters should remain on the sides and bottom;
- frames are sheathed with thick plywood or boards, close to each other;
- a layer of foam, straw, sawdust or other insulation is placed on the bottom of the larger box;
- now you need to insert the smaller box into the larger one;
- insulating material is also laid in the walls between the two boxes;
- the storage lid must be airtight, so it is also sheathed with foam.
The only nuance of this design: air does not circulate in a closed vegetable store. Therefore, the potatoes will have to be sorted out and ventilated several times during the winter season.
In such a storage, a comfortable temperature for potatoes is set, and root crops are stored at their best for up to six months.
How to prepare potatoes for winter storage
Correct preparations play an important role in effectively saving the potato crop.
To maximize the preservation of the crop in the basement or elsewhere, the following requirements must be met:
- Dig up potatoes on time. The optimal time to harvest tubers is when the tops are dry. It is impossible to overexpose the potatoes in the ground, it will begin to rot, as it will be saturated with excess moisture. Harvesting potatoes too early is also dangerous - the tubers still have too thin peel, they will not lie until spring.
- Before harvesting, potatoes are not watered for at least two weeks.
- The dug out potatoes are scattered in a cool, shaded place (preferably under a canopy) and left to ventilate for several days.
- Now the potato crop needs to be sorted out, rejecting all the cut, damaged and pested tubers.
Dried and sorted potatoes can be lowered into the basement.
Basement preparation
Not only potatoes have to pass preparation for storage, the vegetable store itself also needs to be prepared for the laying of the crop. It is necessary to start at the beginning of summer by taking out all the wooden shelves, boxes and boxes outside - all this should be thoroughly dried and ventilated.
A couple of weeks before laying potatoes, the cellar needs to be disinfected. To do this, it is most effective to use blue whitewash: lime slaked in water and mixed with copper sulfate. All walls and ceilings are whitened; the same means can be used to process racks and shelves for potatoes.
It is better to remove the top layer of soil from the storage floor and replace it with clean, dry sand. The treatment of basements with sulfur sticks, which are sold in agricultural stores, is very effective. This remedy also helps against mold, mildew, and insects and rodents.
After any treatment, the store is closed for a couple of days, and then thoroughly ventilated and dried. Now you can equip directly the storage for potatoes.
Potato storage boxes
Today on sale there are a lot of plastic and wooden boxes and boxes specially designed for storing potatoes in the winter. But a simple vegetable store is easy enough to make with your own hands.
The most important thing is that the potatoes during storage do not touch the ground and the walls of the cellar. Therefore, the box is arranged on a hill, and the roots are isolated from the walls with wooden partitions. The distance to surfaces must be at least 15 cm.
The most suitable material for making boxes for storing potatoes is wood. Wood is able to pass air, absorb excess moisture, and evaporate it well. The boxes for storing potatoes are simply knocked out of narrow planks, making sure to leave gaps of one centimeter to ensure air flow to the tubers.
If simple boxes or plywood boxes are used for storing potatoes, it is necessary to drill holes for the potatoes to "breathe" and place the boxes not on the floor, but on bricks or wooden blocks.
Laying potatoes in the cellar
It remains to lower the potatoes into storage. It is more convenient to do this in bags. Pour the tubers into boxes and boxes carefully so as not to damage them (this will lead to rotting potatoes in the future).
The layer of potatoes should not be too large, optimally - 30-40 cm. So, the tubers will be properly ventilated, and the owner will find it easier to identify rotten and spoiled potatoes.
It would be nice to additionally insulate the potatoes on top by covering the boxes with batting, straw or covering the crop with sawdust. In this case, it is necessary to regularly check the potatoes, because rodents or insects can easily start in the insulation.
Since tubers can "breathe", condensation may form on the basement ceiling (if the ventilation system is done correctly, this should not be the case). Water droplets accumulate on the ceiling, and then fall back onto the potatoes, which leads to rotting of the tubers and their freezing. An inclined visor over the drawers, which can be made of thick plastic wrap, will help protect the potatoes.
Excessive moisture in the storage is also not needed; a layer of sand or lime powder scattered on the floor will help get rid of it.
These are all the tricks a potato plantation owner should know. There is nothing difficult in storing potatoes; a good cellar and proper preparation for winter storage will help to avoid most problems.And, of course, the more stable the temperature in the cellar and the humidity, the more effective the result will be.
You can learn how potatoes are stored on an industrial scale from the video:
