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At the stage of preparing root vegetables for winter, many summer residents make mistakes. As a result, vegetables removed from the ground do not please gardeners for very long and begin to rot. To avoid these problems, you need to familiarize yourself with the recommendations for storing carrots.
Common errors during the assembly phase
Every gardener dreams of harvesting a good harvest of carrots and storing them for a long time. However, during storage, part of the harvest can be lost. This is primarily caused by improper storage.
Wrong harvest period
Gardeners recommend pulling carrots out of the ground before the cold weather sets in. This is because frozen vegetables cannot be stored for long. You also shouldn't dig up carrots after it rains. Root vegetables soak up moisture, which can lead to rotting. It's best to start harvesting when the soil dries out after the rain.
Also, do not harvest carrots after a long drought. Overdried soil is considered the main cause of severe damage to the fruit.
If no precipitation is expected, the soil should be watered with warm water before harvesting.
Preparing carrots for storage
Before storing carrots, it is imperative to inspect and clean the fruits. Immediately after removing them from the ground, carrots are left in the shade for several hours. It is not necessary to dry the vegetable in the sun, as it will quickly spoil.
Completely remove the tops and lateral roots. If you don't cut the tops off immediately after harvesting the carrots, they will start to absorb moisture, making the carrots dry and tasteless.
Correct sorting
Carrots that are full of juice can be fragile. They break easily when being pulled from the ground. If the soil is too wet, the carrots may crack. These fruits are not suitable for storage, so it is better to send them for processing immediately.
Storage preparation
Various bacteria or fungi can settle on the walls of a basement or cellar. With increased humidity in the room, they can develop on the new harvest. Experts recommend immediately treating the walls with a formalin solution. This solution copes well with various types of fungi.
If possible, it is also necessary to treat all walls with lime mortar. Experts recommend paying special attention to ventilation.
Errors during crop storage
Classic storage mistakes include:
- It is not recommended to use last year's sand for storage. If it is not possible to replace this material with new one, it is necessary to dry the sand under the sun for several days. In dried sand, root crops can be preserved until spring;
- Carrots should not be stored if the soil is not completely dry. These fruits require re-processing;
- When storing in the refrigerator, carrots should be regularly inspected for damage. Damaged fruits should be removed immediately. The optimal storage temperature should be between 2 and 4 degrees.
These simple rules and recommendations will help preserve the harvest until spring. If mistakes are made, the storage period will be only a few months.
