Several ways to store carrots

Optimal varieties

Not all carrot varieties are suitable for long-term storage. Therefore, it is important to think about the purposes of planting even at the stage of seed selection. In conditions of middle latitudes, early maturing and mid-maturing varieties are better stored. This is explained by late springs and early autumn frosts. In such conditions, late varieties do not have time to collect the required amount of sugar and fiber. At the same time, early carrots are not dense enough and still spoil faster.

Ideally, for storage for the winter, it is better to choose medium-late and medium varieties: Monanta, Nantes 4, Incomparable, Samson, Typhoon, Tsirano, Valeria, Chance, Rosal, Nantejska and others. Pay attention to the shape of the root crop. Carrots of an oblong conical shape are distinguished by excellent keeping quality. Short roots (Parisian carotel) spoil faster. Also consider density. Coarse root vegetables survive the winter better than tender and juicy ones.

Storage preparation

In order to preserve the crop well in winter, it is important to properly prepare it. And you need to start by harvesting root crops. How can you tell if your carrots are ready for picking? First of all, read the information about the variety. Seed producers always indicate the estimated ripening times. Also pay attention to the tops. If the lower leaves begin to dry out and turn yellow, then it's time to harvest.

After collecting, you need to cut off the tops. The stalks left behind will draw on some of the moisture from the root crops, and over time they will begin to rot and spoil the carrots. The tops must be cut to the very head of the root crop so that the remnants of the greenery do not begin to germinate. After this procedure, the crop is ventilated under a canopy in the fresh air and left in the sun for 2-3 hours to dry.

Then the carrots are placed in a room with a temperature of + 10- + 14 ° C for 7-10 days. During this period, cuts and minor mechanical damage will be prolonged in carrots, as well as elements of diseases will appear. After 10 days, all the carrots will need to be sorted out and rotten and spoiled root crops should be removed.

Video "How to store at home"

The ways

If you do not know how to store carrots, then below we present to your attention some of the most common methods. All of them have been tested by time and many years of experience of individual gardeners and large producers. Clay, peat, sand, beeswax, onion husks are used for storage. The main goal is to prevent the development of pathogenic bacteria and fungi that lead to rotting of the pulp.

In bulk

The easiest way is to fold the carrot crop into a prepared place in the cellar in small cone-shaped heaps. In this form, carrots can be easily sorted out in winter and unhealthy vegetables can be immediately identified. This method is acceptable when it is not planned to store apples nearby and you are sure that pests do not enter the store - rodents, insects, slugs.

For better storage, the piles can be sprayed with an onion or coniferous solution.To prepare the infusion, take 100 grams of onion husks or needles per 1 liter of water. You can also sprinkle the bulk with powdered chalk.

In sand

Storing carrots in the sand is very popular. This natural material helps maintain a stable temperature and humidity around the carrots. It is recommended to use loamy, pre-moistened sand. For 1 bucket of dry sand, you need 1 liter of water.

You can use wooden or corrugated boxes for storing carrots. The first layer is made of sand 3-5 centimeters thick. Next, the roots are laid in one layer, so that they do not come into contact with each other. Now fill up the sand again and so shift all the carrots available. Ready-made boxes are installed in basements or dug cellars.

In boxes

Storing carrots in boxes is convenient for home use. Prepared root vegetables are laid out in wooden or paper boxes, sprinkled with sawdust or onion husks. These additional materials will help vegetables less contact with each other, as well as protect them from the attack of harmful microorganisms. The boxes can be placed on covered, but not heated balconies where the temperature is acceptable.

In polyethylene bags

Purchase a sufficient number of plastic bags with a volume of 5 to 30 kilograms. Carrots are placed in them and placed in cool and damp cellars. Air humidity should be at least 95-98%. The bags must be left open to prevent the accumulation of carbon dioxide from the roots. If after a while you begin to notice the accumulation of condensation on the inner walls of the bag, sprinkle lime powder around. It will remove excess moisture.

In peat

Storing carrots in peat is not as common as other methods, but this method cannot be considered less effective. This material helps to preserve the juiciness and firmness of the carrots. You will need to get high-quality crumbly, poorly decomposed peat. Its moisture content must be brought to 40-50%. Prepare crates or cardboard boxes for stowage. The first layer is made from peat. Then you need to lay out the roots. They should not touch each other, just like with sand. The sprinkling ends again with a layer of peat. The finished boxes are transferred to the basement.

Storage rules

Regardless of how you store your carrots, there are some general guidelines. Root crops of this culture love moisture.

The humidity in the cellar should be at least 90-95%. The temperature is normally kept at the level of + 3- + 5 ° С, but not higher than + 10 ° С. In a room that is too warm, carrots will quickly release moisture and sprout.

Make sure that the temperature in the basement or pantry is stable without sudden fluctuations. For best results, be sure to disinfect the storage. For this, walls, containers and floors are treated with copper sulfate or lime. Periodically, it is necessary to revise the harvest, especially if the vegetables are in contact with each other. One rotten root vegetable can cause spoilage of the entire crop.

If you are wondering how to store carrots in the refrigerator, here are some helpful tips. Use plastic bags to wrap your carrots. They retain moisture well and do not allow root crops to dry out. Carrots cannot be stored without packaging. The circulating air from the refrigerator will dry it out quickly. To improve the quality of storage, lay out several root vegetables in bags. Thus, you will get a clutch of several packages, 5-7 carrots in each.

Post-harvest storage video

From the video, you will learn how to preserve carrots during the growing stage and after - during the storage stage. Various methods and techniques are presented.