Want to know how to store potatoes in an apartment in the winter? Let's tell!

It is hard to believe that about potatoes, regularly appearing on the table of almost every family, only 300 years ago and have never heard of them. But now it is a regular guest as everyday dinners, and holiday dinners. And the guest, I must say, is quite capricious.

In order to preserve its taste and beneficial properties, it needs special conditions. But not everyone has a cellar or a garage - how can it be? Do not get upset, but take matters into your own hands and create a cozy corner for your potatoes in your own apartment. It is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Let us tell you what the potatoes are stored in and, most importantly, how to do it right at home, in a regular city apartment.

How to ensure optimal conditions for potatoes?

Potato storage conditions:

• The optimal temperature range for storing potatoes is 3-5 degrees above zero. At higher - the tubers are stored for 2-3 months, then shrink, lose moisture and begin to germinate. At low - acquire an unpleasant sweet taste and rot from the inside.
  When storing is of great importance grade. Asterix, Dolphin, Kolobok have good keeping quality.
• High humidity provokes the occurrence of a fungus, low - changes in the structure and flabbiness of tubers. The most favorable is 80%.
• A place for storage must be dark, because under the influence of long-term natural or artificial lighting, the tubers begin not only to germinate, but also produce solanine, the use of which can lead to severe poisoning. A large amount of poison is deposited in the peel and turns it green. Such tubers can not be eaten.
• Wooden boxes, plastic containers with vents, cardboard boxes, nets and burlap are used as containers.

Potatoes are carefully sorted before storage. Affected by rot and photofluorosis, with a foreign smell, of a dubious type of tubers are thrown away, the remaining ones are dried in the fresh air under the sun.

General storage guidelines

How it is at home to organize the storage of potatoes, largely depends on the specific room in which there will be a root vegetable.

In the room or corridor

In the living rooms of well heated rooms potatoes will be stored for several weeks.. The chances of preserving the harvest will increase significantly if the tubers are decomposed in different places, for example, a part in the pantry, and part on the balcony.

On the kitchen

1. A dark, well ventilated area is chosen. Most often, the most convenient (and only) is a place under the sink. You can use a special cabinet for storing vegetables with ventilation holes.

   In a small box under the window in the kitchen, you can save potatoes for a not too harsh winter.

2. A suitable wooden tray, a birch bark container or a wicker basket with selected tubers is placed in the chosen niche.

In the refrigerator, potatoes can be stored in a grid or paper bag for a long time.. But, due to the limited space, this method is inconvenient. Find out how much you can store peeled potatoes in the fridge here.

In the pantry

Storerooms in the apartments are often not heated, and potatoes can be stored there until spring.

A variant of storing potatoes in a dwelling can be permanent storage in a pantry or corridor. You do not have to invent thermal insulation, it is enough to protect the tubers from the light with the same rags.

1. Potatoes fit into selected bags of natural, "breathing" material. They are not covered and wrapped.
2. So that the tubers do not fade, a wet cloth is hung in the room, which moisturizes as it dries. You can put two or three basins with water and use an electric humidifier.

On the balcony

The procedure for storing potatoes on the balcony:

1. A smaller box is placed in a large wooden box. The distance between the walls (which must be at least 10-12 cm) is filled with insulation: wood chips, sawdust or crushed foam. Also the bottom and the lid are insulated. The inner box should be without holes and slots, with 2-3 bulbs of 15 watts each, painted in dark paint (so that the potatoes are not green).
2. Potatoes prepared for storage are poured into a box and wrapped with old clothing or a thick rug. From above you can sketch fresh straw. In such a storage, the tubers are stored at a temperature of up to +7 degrees and street frosts are not terrible for them.

For small balconies on which there is no space for massive structures, special thermal containers are offered, compact and aesthetically beautiful. Using the thermostat, you can set the desired temperature inside and forget about the problem of storage for a long time.

You can lower the level of humidity in the box by sprinkling potatoes with onion peel and chalk, or by placing a couple of bags with dried leaves of elder or mint on the bottom.

To prevent potatoes from sprouting, a layer of straw can be put as a layer in the box.

How to increase shelf life?

Storage boxes are pre-processed. It is necessary to make treatment with a disinfecting solution of copper sulphate, bleach or a strong solution of potassium permanganate, and then dried on the street. The tubers in the boxes are covered with spruce and pine branches, shifted with beets, pulling excess moisture. For more information on how to store potatoes in a box, you can find out here.

Possible mistakes

First, let's talk about the most common mistakes during storage, which lead to the deterioration of potatoes or a reduction in taste:

1. Poor sorting.
2. Placement for storage of early ripe varieties not suitable for long-term storage.
3. Storage side by side with other vegetables and fruits.
4. Unsuitable storage conditions.
5. Incorrectly selected or insufficiently prepared place.

We offer to watch a video about what mistakes are made when storing potatoes most often:

Conclusion

The first frosts will ruin all the stored tubers with pleasure if the owner does not arrange the storage in advance. What tricks you have to go with! If you do not have a balcony, you can store potatoes in a dark place in the winter. But, knowing the basic rules and listening to the recommendations of experienced gardeners, you can treat your loved ones with nutritious and tasty dishes from home stocks for a long time.