Is it possible to store carrots on the balcony in winter and how to do it correctly? Description of different ways

With the arrival of autumn, gardeners begin to think about the harvest and its storage. Today we will talk about the well-known root crop - carrots. It is rich in microelements and vitamins, which in turn are beneficial for the human body. It has a pleasant taste and is indispensable when cooking most dishes.

Vegetable does not lose its beneficial properties during proper storage of the product. Therefore, it is important to properly store the fruit until the next harvest. How to do it right - read on.

Features

Each farmer chose for himself the best and most suitable way to store the crop. But what to do if you live in an apartment and there are no basements available. There are several options for storing root vegetables for a long time in an apartment.

Can I do this at home? Yes and The most optimal place to store crops in the apartment is a balcony. Carrots are very whimsical, do not like excessive amounts of light, moisture and humidity. For storage, not young and not over-ripe crops are selected.

Possible options

To save carrots on the balcony for a long time, you need to properly prepare the fruit and choose a method of storage.

For the safety of root crops suitable exclusively glazed and unheated balcony.

There are several proven storage options on the balcony:

• In a box of sand, moss, onion peel or sawdust.
• With the help of clay.
• In plastic bags.
• In the pans.

The root crop keeps within a box and is covered with a dense cover to avoid hit of light and air. When storing the vegetable is not subjected to cleaning and washing. Subject to the recommendations can be stored for 6-8 months.

Suitable vegetable varieties

Among the large number of carrots, the most suitable for storage in winter are mid-season and late varieties. Pay attention to the following varieties of root vegetables:

Queen of autumn

Ideal for long storage. The fruit weighs about 200 g and grows to a length of 25 cm. The ripening period is 120 days from the moment of emergence. Possesses a juicy shade and pleasant taste. Stored until mid-summer.

Vita Long

It has an excellent level of life. Maturation time 140 days. It grows up to 30 cm in length and has a sweetish bite.

Karlena

Contains a high amount of sugar. Vegetation period - 130 days. Well retains its taste and vitamins when properly stored until spring.

Samson

Unpretentious and very tasty mid-season carrot variety. The growing season is 110-115 days. Reaches not the big sizes - 20 cm, weighing 150-200 g.

Vitamin

This variety is very juicy and full of healthy vitamins. The ripening process is 115 days. Differs in excellent blues.

Moscow winter

Blunt-pointed vegetable weighing 150 g and 17 cm long. Excellent preserves vitamins and trace elements until mid-spring.

Cardinal

This variety has proven itself to be well preserved. Contains a significant amount of kerotin and sugar. Reaches the small sizes - to 20 cm, with a weight of 150 g.

Preparatory stage

For the successful preservation of the root - this is the correct and timely harvest. Each variety has its own ripening period. Overexposed carrots in the ground will receive an oversupply of nutrients, and will become a tasty morsel for pests, and not matured, will not accumulate a full amount of vitamins, which will affect the taste.

Important! Focus on the ripening of the fruit can be on the leaves, if the lower leaves begin to turn yellow, then the crop is ready for harvest. Harvest must be collected before the first frost.

1. After harvesting, it is necessary to trim the tops to preserve moisture and beneficial vitamins and dry in the sun for 2-3 hours.
2. Cut the top of the leaves should be a sharp knife, leaving 1 cm.
3. Before storing the vegetable is kept for a week at a temperature of 10-15 degrees. During this time, cut-off sites are being dragged out, and sick and spoiled vegetables give themselves away.

For storage are selected solid and without damage to the roots, the rest are used immediately.

What temperature should be?

To store carrots on the balcony, one should adhere to optimal indicators of temperature and humidity, at which the root crop retains its vitamins and taste, and will not deteriorate. At a temperature of +8, the process of decay or germination begins., and at low vegetable freezes and fades. So what is the best temperature to save the vegetable in winter. Humidity index should not exceed 85-90%, and the temperature should be in the range of 0 to +2 degrees. Permissible excess up to +6 degrees.

Storage methods

So how can you save a vegetable in the winter in an apartment at home? You should choose the right method of storage and follow the recommendations.

In clay

For storage in clay, you need the following: a box, clay, water, food film.

1. Beforehand, it is necessary to prepare the solution by mixing water with clay until a homogeneous mass and leave for 3 days to infuse it until the consistency of sour cream.
2. At the bottom of the box lay a film and put the fruit is not in contact with each other.
3. Next, pour clay and give time to dry, in this sequence the box is filled to the top.

In sand

Sand retains moisture well and maintains temperature. Necessary for this: box, sand and water. Sand needs a liter of water wet for one bucket. Getting Started.

1. At the bottom of the box pour a layer of sand 3-4 cm, followed by putting carrots without touching each other, and again a layer of sand.
2. Continue alternating until the box is full.

In the sand, you can add 1% of hydrated lime or ashSuch an additive has an antiseptic effect, preventing fungi and bacteria from spreading.

In moss

On a note. Moss is able to keep carbon dioxide in the box in the required quantity for carrots.

1. Harvest should first be placed in a cold place for a day.
2. Next, take the box and sphagnum moss, and also lay out layers to the top of the container.

In sawdust

For such storage only fresh sawdust is used, and in last year’s microbes and bacteria can startthat spoil the root crop. It is laid in layers, as in the previous versions.

Onion Husk

Husk secretes essential oils that have a detrimental effect on bacteria, preventing rotting of the fruit. The sequence of laying is similar to storage in sawdust.

In the pan

You can use large enameled pans, this option also allows you to save carrots for a long time.

1. Root crop should be washed, dried and cut the tops.
2. They are laid upright, covered with a napkin and a lid on top.

Possible problems and their solution

With the arrival of frost on the balcony, the air temperature drops, which is fraught for the root, in which case it will be brought into the house, and left at the balcony door, or additionally warmed.

When storing vegetables on the balcony, you should follow the general recommendations, and spread the product without contacting each other, this will prevent rotting of the entire crop. Regardless of filler, boxes must be tightly covered.

Tips and Warnings

1. Do not wash before storing, as the fruit may be damaged and rotting will begin.
2. Periodically check for mold and rot and clean the bad.
3. Not all varieties have excellent preservation.
4. Monitor the temperature regime, preventing freezing and overheating.
5. Store the root can be in the freezer - should be grated on a coarse grater and put in bags. If necessary, get and break off the required number of carrots for cooking.

Conclusion

Carrot is a tasty and healthy product for the whole family. It contains a huge amount of vitamins A, C, D, E, K, P and many other things necessary for the human body. In order to eat in winter, she needs to stock up on store. With the right approach and compliance with all the recommendations, on your tables will be present juicy and fresh carrots all winter.

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