Preparing carrots for winter, how to store: washed or dirty?

Carrot storage is a responsible process that requires special training.

It is on the correctness of its implementation depends on the duration of storage of the harvested crop.

The question remains whether it is possible to wash a carrot before putting it in the basement?

So, what kind of carrots winter great and how to prepare it for storage, consider next.

Peculiarities of vegetable structure

Carrots are a type of crop that is versatile in terms of use. It is used fresh for storage and processing. To store carrots grown late varieties and hybridsthat meet the following requirements:

• the correct form of carrots;
• relatively high yield;
• storage capacity.

Due to the low level of keeping quality of table carrots during its long-term storage, part of the crop may be completely lost.

To wash or not?

To wash or not to wash the harvest? It all depends on the total number of carrots. If her, for example, 10 buckets, then you need to decide whether there is time for this, force, water, a place for drying root crops. If everything is available, you can proceed to the preparation of root crops.

Pure carrots will be stored much longer than unwashed. In the ground may be pathogens of various diseases and rot.

Besides, on a clear peel all the damage is noticeable, even the smallest: wormholes, small cracks, scratches. Already washed and sorted carrots spread out on burlap under a canopy.

Attention! It is impossible to dry in the sun, as the roots will lose moisture.

Read more about whether it is possible to wash carrots before putting it in storage and how to do it correctly, read here.

Storage time

If the washed crop is in the cellar at a temperature of 0 to +3 ° C and a relative humidity of not more than 90%, it will be 6 months.

More details about the shelf life of carrots can be found in this material.

Sorta

Among gardeners, the following varieties of carrots for storage are in great demand:

• Queen of autumn. This is a sweet variety. Its fruits are not subject to cracking. They have a length of 25-30 cm. You can store for at least a year.
• Sweet winter The universal grade differing in high productivity. Allows you to grow the fruit of a rich taste, whose length is 20 cm.
• The Emperor. It is highly resistant to disease. Perfectly transfers long storage and transportation. The length of the fruit is 25-30 cm.
• Flacoro. The grade gives a high crop, large root crops. They are sweet, and their length is up to 28 cm.
• Vitamin 6. Fruits are perfectly stored, without losing the external and taste qualities. The fruits are blunt conical in shape, their length is 15 cm.
• Vita Long This variety is one of the most popular for storage. Its fruits are highly resistant to various types of rot. Harvest beautifully stored and transports transport can be used fresh and for preservation.
• Flakke. This is an imported variety that allows you to get a great harvest in the Russian regions. The fruits are large and long, have excellent taste. Feature of a grade in resistance to causative agents of diseases, cracking and in long storage.
• Chance. The variety has a high yield, resistance to cold, diseases. Fruit pulp is distinguished by good juiciness and pleasant taste.
• Cascade F1. Fruits are short, the flesh is juicy and bright orange. Variety resists diseases, suitable for long-term storage. It can be used in pure form, for pressing and cooking baby food.

About what varieties are best suited for storing carrots in the winter, read our article.

How to save the root vegetable for the winter at home?

Clean

How to preserve the washed harvest for the winter in domestic conditions? So that the harvested roots keep their taste and appearance as long as possible, You need to follow the following plan:

1. Too dirty root vegetables to wash, put under a canopy and dry. They should not be left with excess moisture, as it negatively affects the preservation of the crop.
2. In the basement install boxes. You can fill them with sand or sawdust. Put carrots in there. Boxes should be located at a height of 1 m from the floor. Instead of a sandbox you can use plastic bags. They lay on wooden flooring. Do not tie bags tightly, otherwise moisture will form inside them.
3. The optimum air temperature for carrots is 0 ... + 5 ° at a humidity of 90%. Air circulation should be negligible.
4. Save the carrot in the basement can only be provided if it is not flooded with water.
5. If there is no cellar, you can do without it. To do this, you will have to dig a hole in the ground, insulate it and fill it from above. With this method, the crop can be saved until spring.

Storage of washed carrots in winter:

Dirty

The process of storing unwashed carrots also has its own characteristics:

1. Harvest the crop spread out under a canopy and dry it thoroughly. Keep the sun rays from falling on carrots. In addition, 2 days before the storage is stored, cool the crop to a temperature of 0 degrees.
2. Now is the time to do the preparation of the room. It should be dry, and the temperature regime should be within 10-12 degrees Celsius. Humidity is not lower than 90-95%. Too warm room does not fit, as moisture starts to come out of the carrots, and root crops will fade. Normally, 1 t of carrots leaves 16 g of moisture during storage.
3. Disinfect the storage and drawers with copper sulfate solution.
4. Select carrots that have flaws, as it is not suitable for storage.

On a note. When all the preparatory measures are completed, it is necessary to determine the method of storing unwashed carrots.

There are several of them:

• In bulk in the cellar. This method is one of the most effective. In this case, the basement should not freeze through in the winter and syr. In addition, lay carrots on wooden flooring, towering above the floor at a distance of 1 m.
• In sand. This method is laborious, but the harvest is stored for a long time. Prepare a wooden box, cover it with sand with a layer of up to 3 m. Spread the root vegetables from above so that they do not touch. Above again comes a layer of sand, 1.5 cm thick.
• In boxes and baskets. Root vegetables cover with a thin layer of clay or slaked lime. The consistency of the solution should resemble sour cream (for 10 liters of water 1 kg of lime or clay). To excess solution with carrots stack, spread it for 1-2 days in a well-ventilated area. Due to the formed film creates reliable protection from rot and wilt. Fold dried roots in a deep large box.
• In plastic bags. Their capacity should be 30-35 kg. After filling the bag, do not tie it. Just when breathing carrots emit carbon dioxide, which is an excellent protection against the development of diseases. Place the bags tightly in the cellar. But most often this option is used for industrial storage.

Tips and Warnings

To keep carrots as long as possible, you must comply with the following conditions:

• The room must be equipped with high-quality ventilation.
• At first, after harvesting, carrots are prone to intense evaporation, as a result of which, at low air humidity, it begins to lose moisture and quickly fade. So the optimum humidity is 90%.

Besides, when storing the crop, be sure to trim the roots, following the following recommendations:

1. To remove the tops when harvesting, leaving a small bump.
2. After trimming the "ass" carrots. It is cut from 1 to 3 cm. Everything here depends on the damage present.
3. Cut off the root of the carrot, where the diameter of the tail will be 5 cm.
4. Use a sharp knife for trimming. Its blade should be smooth and smooth.
5. After pruning, slices should be thoroughly dried.

Learn more about how to properly cut carrots for winter storage, you can find here, and more information about the correct preparation of the root for storage you can find here.

Storage of washed carrots is not difficult, but very important. In this form, the crop will be stored for quite longer, maintaining its appearance and taste. It remains only to choose the appropriate method for the preservation of root crops and to strictly follow the recommendations presented.

Watch the video: CARROTS, Harvesting, Long Term Storage, 6 Months + & whatnot : Organic Gardening How to! (April 2024).