The harvested crop is a source of pride for the gardener and inspires confidence in the future, but this result of many months of efforts can be easily ruined if not done correctly.
Let's figure out how to properly store potatoes.
Timing of harvesting potatoes for winter storage
As you know, they begin to dig out the harvest already in June-July, however, young tubers do not tolerate a long period, since they have not yet acquired a sufficiently thick peel. The timing of the final harvest of the "second bread" depends on the weather and on the particular variety, but usually around the beginning of autumn.
It is believed that you can dig when its tops dries up. Gardeners usually carry out a control digging of tubers, and focusing on their condition, weather (it is better to dig on a fine day) and their own experience, determine the date of harvest. 
Did you know? La Bonnotte is considered the most expensive in the world. This variety is grown on the small French island of Noirmoutier, located near the Atlantic coast. The cost of a local delicacy is about 500 euros per kilogram, the size of the crop is no more than 100 tons. The tubers are very delicate, sweetish in taste, with a nutty flavor, and have a lemon aroma.
Preparing potatoes for storage
Before laying on the harvested crop must be dried. If the days are clear, and the garden is sandy, then the tubers can be dried right in the garden, taking them to one place. The process will take several hours, in fact, it is extracted from the sandy soil already dry and clean enough.
Much more often they are dried under a canopy or inside some kind of outbuilding - this guarantees the protection of the crop from the vagaries of the weather. One or two days is enough for the adhering earth to crumble from the tubers and their peel to dry out. 
Did you know? In the rainforests, the Solanum wrightii Benth potato tree can be found, which reaches a height of 15 meters. True, this plant has no tubers.
After drying, they are placed for a couple of weeks in a dark room - in bulk (no more than half a meter layer) or in bags. During this time, the peel of the potatoes will thicken, and in addition, they will appear. After such a quarantine period, the tubers are sorted out, removing both diseased and mechanically damaged specimens, after which the crop is ready to be stored in winter.
Storage conditions for potatoes
In order to store it correctly, it is very important to observe the temperature regime. The optimum temperature is + 3-5 ° C, while the decisive factor is the stability of this temperature during the entire storage period. At a higher temperature, tubers germinate over time, take root and become unsuitable for human consumption, and frozen potatoes taste sweet due to the formation of starch and sugar in them.
The storage room itself should be dark, isolated from, with a constant temperature and. The floor of the storage is covered with sand - it absorbs moisture well. Other moisture-absorbing floor materials are acceptable. It is strongly not recommended to cover the bottom of the storage with linoleum, slate, cement it- all this leads to the accumulation of moisture and the growth of the fungus. 
Important! Long-term natural or artificial lighting leads to the formation of a poisonous substance solanine in potato tubers. Outwardly, this manifests itself as greening of the tubers.
Storage types in different storages
The tubers are stored both in bulk, in a continuous layer, and in bags or in boxes. It is much more convenient to store potatoes in a container than in bulk. If it is decided to store potato tubers in boxes, then the boxes in the storage should be located so that air circulates freely between them. The boxes can be installed to the full height of the room. When stored in bags and in bulk, the height of the potato layer is set based on the size of the tubers, as well as taking into account the ventilation conditions. they are poured to a height of up to 1.7 m, food up to 2.2 m. It is necessary to load it into the storage carefully, trying not to damage the tubers, which can lead to their rotting and spoilage in the future.
In the pit
This is a rather archaic way of storing crops, but, nevertheless, it is still quite often practiced, for example, in summer cottages. However, everyday access to potatoes stored in this way is rather difficult. Let's figure out how to store it in a pit. 
The storage pit is equipped as follows: in the garden or in another convenient place, you need to dig a hole about 2 m in diameter and 1.5 m in depth. The bottom of this pit should be covered with dry straw, no more than 30-40 cm. Then it is poured into this storage, but not to the top, you need to leave about 40 cm for the top layer of straw. After laying the top layer of straw, the pit is tightly closed from above with a board and covered with earth with a layer of up to 80 cm. It is advisable to make ventilation holes in the pit, although this is not necessary.
On the balcony
If there is nowhere to store other than in your apartment, then some suitable place for this is the balcony, if, of course, this balcony is numb and closed. In this case, tubers are best preserved in boxes.
Storage in a drawer offers two options: in the first case, you can use the standard wooden box for vegetables, in the second, a whole container is used, in which the desired temperature is artificially created.Storage in ordinary boxes does not include any additional devices and procedures. It is simply placed in the boxes and covered with rags on top. Such a storage can withstand frosts down to -10 ° C. In temperate climates and closed balcony, potatoes can also be stored in bags, placing oilcloth under them so as not to carry dirt, and covering the bags with rags. 
For a more severe climate, the second option is preferable. This requires two boxes made of board, plywood or lining. They should be nested in each other like a nesting doll. The smaller box is used directly as a storage chamber for tubers. A larger box is used as a thermal insulation chamber.
There must be a gap of at least 5 centimeters between the walls and the bottom of the boxes, which is filled with foam. This container should be closed with an insulated lid. Outer part this design is upholstered with linoleum or any other moisture resistant material, for example, plastic or galvanized iron.
And the last thing: to maintain a constant temperature in the storage, as heating elements install two bulbs for 15-25 watts. They are turned on only when there is a strong cold snap, and they should be darkened with something opaque. A similar container can be installed on an open balcony.
It is believed that it is best to store potatoes - this method is known as one of the most effective. To prepare the cellar for receiving the harvest, you must first of all clear it of debris. It is advisable to disinfect the room by whitewashing it: two kilograms of slaked lime and 200 grams are added to ten liters of water, all this should be thoroughly mixed and the walls and ceiling should be whitewashed with the resulting solution.
Important! If disinfection is not carried out, the stored crop can become a victim of potato, the larvae of which infect the tubers. In addition, the risk of fungal diseases in potatoes will increase significantly.
After about a week, when the whitewash is completely dry, you need to check the hoods and fix all problems, if any. Next, the very place for storing potatoes is equipped. These can be either racks for boxes, or shelves for bags that do not touch the floor and walls, or are made from bin boards. The sides of this structure should also not touch the floor and walls. There should be a gap between the boards to improve ventilation. The bottom should be sprinkled with sand or covered with straw. 
In the basement
Potatoes are stored in the basement in much the same way as in. For better preservation of tubers, exactly the same whitewashing is required. But, since the designs of the basements differ from, one should monitor both the optimal humidity of 70-80% and the temperature of + 3-5 ° C. It is also necessary to protect the stored crop from any light, because its prolonged exposure leads to the release of solanine in potato tubers, which makes them green.
Types of containers for storing potatoes
Harvested potatoes can be stored in bulk, but containers are often used for storage. The most well-known type of container is the bag, plain or mesh. The latter type is preferable as it provides better ventilation.
Boxes, both wooden and plastic, are widely used for storage. These boxes usually hold about 10 kg of potatoes. Wooden ones are made of planks, on the walls and bottom there are slots for better ventilation and visual control over the storage item. Have plastic boxes the walls and bottom are made of mesh for the same purposes. Sometimes, if available in storage, boxes made of double metal mesh are used. 
In addition to boxes, larger containers are also used for storage, made from the same wooden planks. They can be rectangular or angular. In rectangular containers, a door is often provided at the bottom for easy removal of the potatoes stored there.
Modern technologies have not spared such a trivial area as potato storage. Currently, for these purposes, consumers are offered a kind of mini-cellars, called thermal containers or ovens. Such devices operate from the mains, they maintain a certain temperature, which the user can regulate.
The capacity of such a mini-cellar is usually 200-300 liters. They can be rigid and flexible, made of special fabric. Flexible is good because summer period just fold in and out of sight until autumn.
Basic rules for storing potatoes
To guarantee the preservation of the potato crop, it is necessary to adhere to some rules. As stated above, the harvested tubers must be dried and sorted, and the storage must meet certain criteria. It is more practical to store tubers in containers of 10-15 kg, where for better preservation of the crop, you can lay out a layer of beets
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Potatoes are a rather whimsical vegetable that reacts sensitively to improper storage conditions in winter time... The root crop does not like cold, heat, it is prone to rotting under the influence of high humidity. How to store potatoes in a cellar and how to equip required space for the harvest, you can find out in the article below.
Room preparation
After collecting or buying a root crop, you need to take care of its storage location. It should be a dry, dark and cool room that does not lend itself to freezing. Best option how to store potatoes - this is a cellar or basement, the temperature in which practically does not change. storage in winter should be from 2 to 4 degrees, while the humidity should not exceed 70%. To reduce dampness, rubble or pebbles are covered at the bottom of the cellar. If the room temperature is lower, the potatoes will begin to grow moldy and mildewy and then develop a sweet taste. If there is a window in the cellar, care must be taken to prevent direct sunlight from reaching the crop. If possible, the room should be periodically ventilated so that stale air and lack of ventilation also do not harm the potatoes. Successful storage of potatoes depends a lot on careful preparation of the crop. Before placing the potatoes, they must be placed on fresh air and dry well for several hours to avoid rotting and mold. It is worth mentioning that not every variety of root crops can be stored well and for a long time. Mid-ripening (by no means overripe) and yellow varieties... Potatoes harvested at the very end of autumn are filled with moisture, which will quickly lead to decomposition and decay. Before laying, a careful selection of potatoes is made: they must be free of flaws and defects, approximately the same average size. It is not recommended to leave stored fruits on a bare floor. There are several ways to store potatoes: in nets, bags and boxes.
in nets
When the premises for harvesting are ready, the question remains: how to store potatoes in the cellar in nets? This method is quite simple and effective. Before leaving the crop for storage, it is stored on pre-built boxes or pallets without removing it from the mesh bag.
The mesh promotes free access and circulation of air between the tubers, which has a beneficial effect on potatoes, preventing the appearance of various diseases. Straw is laid on top of the laid root crop, which retains heat and protects the tubers from frost. You can also lay beets on top of the crop in several layers. This storage method is considered short-term and is suitable for potatoes intended for everyday use.
Potatoes in bags
Speaking about how to store potatoes in a cellar in bags, it should be said that this is a fairly convenient and most common way. Burlap warms well and protects vegetables from the cold. She is also natural material, good air permeability. Sealed paper bags exist today, but they are less breathable. In order to avoid damage to the lower layers of potatoes, it is also necessary to install a pallet or other flooring under the bags to protect the fruits from frost and decay. Filled bags are stacked on pallets in a circle or 5 pieces in a prone position up to 3 meters high. The vegetables can then be covered with old blankets, sawdust or hay. If the shelf life is long enough, it is necessary to keep a small space between the bags, thereby leaving room for air to enter. It is very convenient to store crops in bags if there is a need for frequent unloading or loading. It is prohibited to store potatoes in plastic bags and bags with little air. The fruits in such a container become wet and begin to rot.
Storing potatoes in bulk
Storing potatoes in bulk includes several options: bulk and bunker methods. Bulk way when it comes on how to store potatoes in the cellar - in bags or in bulk - has been used since the first importation of potatoes to Europe. It is considered the simplest, easiest and cheapest option that does not require special skills and efforts. You just need to pour potatoes 1-1.5 m in height and, having covered, leave until consumption or planting. By cons this method includes the difficulty of adjusting the temperature inside the potato heap, reaching a height of 1.5 m, and the large occupied area on which the potatoes are located. All of the above factors will provoke rotting and the appearance of fungi, as a result of which it will be necessary to mix the crop in a new ventilated space. The secret storage method is used primarily to ensure the safety of fruits deposited as seeds on next year... The layer of seed potatoes should not be higher than 80 cm or 1 meter, so that the seeds can be easily ventilated and, if necessary, checked for safety, the presence of fungi and pathogens. As in the bulk method, there are disadvantages here: the crop takes up a lot of space, it is difficult to fill it up, get it out, and it is not known when it will start to germinate. In this regard, it is also necessary to periodically check and measure the temperature inside the crop.
How to keep crops in an unheated room?
Old cotton blankets will help answer the question of what to do and how to store potatoes in the cellar of an unheated garage. A bag, net or box with potatoes must be wrapped in several layers of old blankets, bedspreads and things that are unsuitable for the household. It is important that there are small openings that allow air to pass through. Many store vegetables in unheated garages and basements using a variety of wooden boxes and boxes. The advantage of this storage is that the boxes can be divided into sections, sorting the potatoes by variety, size and purpose. In addition, the drawers are easy to approach, they do not take up much space and are well ventilated. Potatoes in boxes are easy to transport and stack. There are also various electrical devices and light bulbs, with which you can preserve and heat vegetables, while avoiding large financial costs.
Conclusion
Understanding how to store potatoes in a cellar is not difficult. The main thing is to periodically check the temperature and humidity in the room, as well as to fight pests, mold and fungi in time. Correct stacking, storage and adherence to all precautions is the key to keeping potatoes safe, beautiful and safe!
It's no secret what to grow good harvest- that's not all. It is important to preserve vegetables and fruits correctly. Only in this case will the available crop be edible all winter and spring.
Potato storage locations
For this vegetable, you will need to select a dark room. A cellar or basement is best suited to keep it warm. It is worth remembering that you cannot store potatoes in the light. In this case, in its tubers, a substance harmful to humans, solanine, begins to be produced.
At what temperature should potatoes be stored? The most favorable range for her is in the range from two to three degrees. In the event that it is cooler in the basement or in the cellar, the vegetable will acquire a sweetish unpleasant taste. Tubers must be dried before storing. To do this, it is enough to keep them outdoors for several hours.
Potatoes keep well in bins. You can also use boxes in which holes for ventilation are pre-made. In the bins, the tubers are covered with a layer not exceeding one and a half meters in height. If boxes are used for, then they are placed on a stand, the height of which is fifteen to twenty centimeters. In this case, you should leave a small distance to the wall.
You can simply sprinkle potatoes on one layer of straw, covering it with another. Defective tubers are recommended to be set aside and used first.
When the upper layer of potatoes freezes, rot develops in it and various diseases... Such damage should be avoided by covering the vegetable with empty bags or boxes. If you put two or three apples between the tubers left for the winter, then they will not sprout.
Part of the harvest, as a rule, is intended for consumption at the very end of winter or in spring. These potatoes will best survive in a pit. It is pulled out in the fall in dense dry soil. The depth of such a pit can be from 0.6 to 1.5 meters. Planks are placed at the bottom of this storage. In addition, the pit is equipped with an air duct. It can be made from the usual plastic pipe... Planks are laid on the top layer of potatoes, covered with a one and a half meter layer of earth and covered with straw.
Storage preparation
Whether the potatoes will lay well depends largely on the condition of the tubers. That is why, before placing the vegetable in storage, it will need to be carefully sorted. Damaged tubers will not be able to lie for a long time, therefore, even during the harvesting period, they must be dug out with a pitchfork with wide teeth. In addition, you need to move the harvested vegetable in boxes or baskets with thick walls. Compliance with these simple rules will avoid mechanical damage to tubers.
The vegetable should not be washed before storing it. The tubers only need to be dried.
Placement in a cellar or underground
Where to store potatoes in winter? Does the house have an underground or cellar? They are ideal locations for storing crops. Before laying potatoes, they must be thoroughly dried, cleaned of debris and whitewashed with milk of lime. For effective removal excess moisture, check if the vent or exhaust pipe is working.
How to store potatoes in the cellar in winter? The laid vegetables can be fresh for a long time if there is no high temperature and high dampness in the room. To create the necessary conditions, the cellar or underground should be ventilated in a timely manner. This can be done through chimney or an outlet. Into the cold winter period you will also need to ensure that the vegetables do not freeze. For this, the outside is lined with sawdust, leaves or peat.
Storing root vegetables in an apartment
How to manage the harvest for those townspeople who do not have their own cellar? After all, for them, storing potatoes at home is a real problem. Bags with harvested delivered to the apartment, stuffed into closets and closets, and sometimes just under the bed. Often, the tubers are taken out onto the loggia or onto the balcony.
However, at what temperature can potatoes be stored in such conditions? Obviously, it will be far from perfect.
How to store potatoes in an apartment? Of course, it is best to place it on a loggia or balcony. However, even if they are glazed, the temperature here can drop below zero on cold days. In this case, how to store potatoes on the balcony or loggia? This can only be done by insulating the tubers. The easiest way would be to wrap the bags of tubers with an unnecessary cotton blanket. In order for the potatoes to be stored properly, it is important that there is air access to them.
Special boxes
How to store potatoes in an apartment, if, in addition to the balcony suitable place for a vegetable is not found, but the option with an old blanket does not suit you? In this case, you will need to use a different method. For this, it is recommended to make an insulated box for storing potatoes. It will be possible to keep crops in it even in the coldest frosts.
The potato storage box has a design that helps maintain a positive temperature in its internal volume, as well as air circulation. What should be its size, it is up to the owners to decide. One has only to bear in mind that a container with a volume of one cubic meter, can hold about three hundred and fifty kilograms of tubers.
Making a box
For proper storage of potatoes, first of all, you need to create the necessary temperature conditions. For this, it is important to make the bottom, walls, and also the lid of the box double. The resulting airspace must be filled with foam sheets or sawdust... Simply put, you need to make two boxes. different sizes... The smaller is placed inside the larger. The air space between their walls should not be less than ten centimeters wide.
Thick plywood is suitable for making the box body. You can use the lining or the Box outside must be painted or upholstered with plastic sheets or linoleum that does not have a base. This will increase the moisture resistance of the structure.
In order to prevent the potatoes from freezing on the balcony even on the coldest days, some craftsmen mount one or two incandescent lamps on the inner walls of the box. Their power is low, only 15 watts.
What is the best temperature for storing potatoes and other vegetables? Of course, with a constant. And in order for this condition to be ensured, it is advisable to provide for the installation of a thermal relay in the lamp circuit. It should automatically turn on and off the lamps in case of temperature fluctuations.
What if not? Then a thermometer should be in the box to monitor the state of storage conditions. It should be borne in mind that the light of the lamps can turn potatoes green. To avoid this, cover the top layer of tubers with a dark cloth. You can also paint the light bulbs with a dark (but not black) varnish.
The voltage to the lamps from the network is supplied using a waterproof wire. Pass it through the hole in the window block. The switch for this entire system is located in the room, near balcony door... If you make a glazed window in the side wall of the box or release a beam of LEDs from it, you can control the burning of lamps without leaving the apartment.
In order to prevent strong cooling of the potatoes when opening the box, it is advisable to provide a second lid in its design. This small internal removable device is made of chipboard. A small hatch is cut out in the center of such a cover.
To ensure the preservation of heat, you will also need a foam or foam rubber seal. It is glued between the lid and the body. But the rear slot with hinges will need to be sealed from the outside. To do this, you need a piece of felt or leatherette.
Air circulation
How to properly store potatoes in a box made for this purpose? It is important that the tubers do not rot or freeze in the lower corners. Circulation will prevent this from happening warm air to be provided inside the box. Will help to cope with the task wooden lattice, made of slats with a thickness of 20-30 cm and rounded upper corners. It is placed on the bottom of the box before placing the potatoes. In addition, two ducts must be installed in the upper corners of the walls. They are arranged in such a way that the vents at the bottom are located at the level of the lattice. In this case, they will not be covered with tubers.
Anyone who uses this method of storing potatoes in an apartment in winter claims that the root crop does not freeze even at temperatures reaching -15 degrees.
Using the box in the apartment
Storing potatoes in winter can be done in the kitchen. In this case, you will need a box, the design of which is similar to that described above. The only difference is that the kitchen option should ensure the safety of tubers not when heated. interior space, and when it is cooled. This can be done by natural or forced influx of cold air from the street. The heat-insulating layer of the box with this storage option is designed to prevent heat exchange between the structure and the living space.
Can be provided using supply fan... It should have a small capacity and be mounted in a sealed enclosure. In this case, the material for the duct can be a plastic or metal tube. A piece of gas or rubber hose will do. Such an air duct is led out from the space between the grill and the bottom, passing it through the opening of the window block.
Temperature storage conditions
As a rule, we do not think at all that the tubers lying in our apartment or in the cellar are nothing more than living organisms. During storage, they can dry out, since moisture evaporates during "breathing". At the same time, starch is consumed, which turns into sugar, which, in turn, releases water and carbon dioxide. The entry of oxygen into the vegetable and the release of the formed elements from it occurs through the lentils (small holes in the peel).
It is worth remembering that the higher the temperature at which the potatoes are stored, the more intense the "breathing" process. Therefore, the tubers quickly become flabby when warm.
What is the best temperature for storing potatoes? It should be between two and three degrees. Optimum humidity air - 85-90%.
Low temperature has a negative effect on tubers. At zero, the process of converting starch into sugar begins. That is why dishes made from potatoes become tasteless, sugary-sweet.
If the temperature drops below minus one degree, then the vegetable freezes. At plus four and above, the tubers begin to sprout, which contribute to the accumulation of solanine.
Seed potatoes
Tubers are stored not only for cooking. In the spring a certain part the crop will be used for planting. By this time, there should be small sprouts on the tubers. This will significantly reduce the time before seedlings appear on the garden bed. For the appearance of sprouts, they are pre-heated.
Wet and light germination methods are also used. During this process, the optimum room temperature should be + 14-18 degrees.
Potatoes have become part of our daily diet - we boil, stew, fry, bake, cook from it holiday dishes... It is difficult to imagine a whole winter without this irreplaceable vegetable, especially considering beneficial features potatoes and their nutritional value. Therefore, in every family with the onset of autumn the question arises: "How to store potatoes?"
After all all year round buying tubers in the store is quite expensive, it is more profitable to stock up in advance. And if you grow vegetables on your own plot, storing potatoes becomes especially relevant. Where to define the bags of dug tubers so that you can prepare a variety of dishes before the next harvest?
Of course, the most the best option – storing potatoes in the cellar, but if you live in a city apartment, and there is no underground or basement in your house, you can put bags of potatoes in the pantry, in the corridor, adjust the boxes for the harvest in living rooms, or take them out to the balcony. In warm rooms, tubers can be stored for three months, and on the balcony, potatoes in insulated boxes can withstand frosts down to -15 degrees.
Video on how to save potatoes until spring
Keep in mind that successful storage is highly dependent on preliminary preparation tubers. They need to be dried well (if possible in the fresh air) for several hours or days to prevent rotting and the occurrence of potato diseases. Besides, great importance has a potato sorting: on long storage well-dried tubers are stacked average size, without flaws, but on average term select the largest potatoes, as they will form voids over time that will impair the taste.
How to make a box for storing potatoes on a loggia or balcony
On glazed balcony tubers are better preserved than in a warm pantry, where they quickly begin to germinate. However, you need to constantly monitor the temperature so as not to miss very coldy. Optimal storage potatoes on the balcony - at a temperature of 0 to +7 degrees.
Successful storage largely depends on the preliminary preparation of the tubers.
The potatoes should be folded into fabric bags and placed in containers or wooden boxes that are displayed on the shelves. Leave a gap of about 15 cm between the wall and the boxes for ventilation of the tubers.
Cellar, underground, basement
Ideal storage conditions for potatoes: no sunlight and humidity, temperature from 0 to +2 degrees. The most consistent with these parameters is dark, dry basement or a cellar, where frost does not penetrate, and the temperature is kept at the same level.
Sunlight should not enter the cellar, otherwise the poisonous substance solanine will begin to be produced in the tubers.
The traditional technology for storing potatoes in the basement is as follows: tubers are stacked in bins in a layer up to one and a half meters (air must be provided to the lower layers) or in boxes with holes in the walls for ventilation. To prevent potatoes from rotting, place the boxes on supports at a height of 20 cm above the floor, and do not push the boxes close to the wall. The room must be ventilated, the walls and ceiling must first be whitewashed with milk of lime with the addition of vitriol and well ventilated. Sunlight should not enter the cellar, otherwise the poisonous substance solanine will begin to be produced in the tubers.
Video about how to properly store potatoes at home
You will be able to substantially extend the shelf life of potatoes taking into account the following recommendations:
- put bags of sawdust or a layer of beets on top of the tubers - root crops and hygroscopic materials will absorb excess moisture;
- it is better to store different varieties of potatoes separately;
- so that water does not drip from the ceiling onto winter supplies, arrange over the potatoes suspended ceiling made of polyethylene;
- the constancy of the storage temperature of potatoes is very important, an increase even by a couple of degrees (up to +4) will provoke the appearance of sprouts on the tubers in damp rooms, and in dry rooms it will lead to flabbiness of the potatoes;
- before harvesting for storage, you should carefully sort out the potatoes, removing all damaged and frozen tubers, otherwise it can rot most of stocks;
- to protect stocks from rot, you can lay layers of potatoes (or place next to them) with leaves of mountain ash, wormwood, fern, or elderberry.
Digging a hole or how to store potatoes in the winter in the garden
For some owners of private houses, the cellar may be too damp, which means that it is impossible to properly store potatoes in it in winter. In this case, you can dig a special hole in the garden, where the whole potato crop will winter.
Find the driest spot where groundwater go deep enough. Dig a hole with a diameter of about two meters and a depth of one and a half meters, arrange grooves around for the outflow of rainwater. The pit walls and bottom should be laid out with straw. Fill the potatoes into the hole so that about 40-60 cm remains to its edges.Cover the tubers on top with dry straw or boards and cover the tubers with a 10-centimeter layer of soil for a start, and with the onset of frost add the soil to a thickness of 40-80 cm. Layer the ground above the pit should rise by about half a meter. For ventilation, provide an air duct that reaches the bottom of the pit, in the form of a plastic pipe, or made of boards.
Potatoes can be considered the main ingredient in any dish. And any housewife knows a sufficient number of recipes for its preparation. Thanks to the resourcefulness and far-sighted plans of Peter the Great, potatoes boldly settled in Russia. Having in its arsenal a lot of useful vitamins and nutrients, such a delicacy rightfully deserves respect and love from both adults and children. In order for the whole family to enjoy their favorite treat for a long time, he needs to create everything the necessary conditions for correct storage... To do this, you should know that the optimal temperature for storing potatoes is +2 degrees Celsius.
Currently, there are many ways to store potato tubers. It all depends on the financial capabilities, knowledge and ingenuity of the owner. Especially those who have their own land plot in the village or private house- the problem of where to store potatoes disappears immediately. As for the thrifty city housewives, they have to look for ways to save potatoes for the long winter days.
What you need to know before storing potatoes
Potatoes do not belong to perishable food, but non-compliance with storage standards ( high humidity and dampness, temperature changes or sunlight) makes him capricious, which results in his early spoilage. The main condition for all owners remains the same - the storage space must be dark and cool. Sunlight adversely affects the tubers, causing them to turn green and release poisonous to human body glucoside.
The storage temperature for potatoes is different for each owner, but ideally it is of the order of +2 to +3 degrees Celsius.
Only within the specified framework can it stand for a long time, retaining all its properties and vitamins. Another important factor is high humidity in the store. The acceptable level is 87-91%. Deviation from the set rate will negatively affect the potatoes in general.
Temperature regime for storing potatoes in winter and summer
The tubers are usually harvested during summer season... Skillful farmers manage to plant potatoes twice in the spring-summer ( in early spring and in the middle of summer) and get a double "catch".
In both the first and second cases, the question of storage remains the same - how to save it from winter frosts and summer heat.
The storage temperature of potatoes in winter and summer remains unchanged - from +2 to +3 degrees. Why should it be permanent? Because when frozen, it becomes sweet and sluggish. At high temperatures, the tuber begins to "breathe" more, consuming starch. The growth of shoots occurs, which is why the potato is deformed, giving all the juices to the last.
The freezing point of potatoes during storage is -1 degrees. In this case, the starch contained in it turns into sugar, so the frozen tuber will give off a sweet aftertaste during cooking, which will ruin the dish.
Storage conditions in the cellar
Before storing potatoes underground, it must be cleaned of last year's boxes, debris and other property. Drying and airing won't hurt either. Experts also recommend whitewashing the walls and ceiling of the room to prevent mold. Since the storage temperature of potatoes requires a certain degree, it is necessary to take care of ventilation in advance (in an extreme case, install a forced one) or to seal all the cracks and holes in the walls and ceiling. Also, regular ventilation of the cellar through open doors will not be superfluous.
Tubers must be sorted out before laying them in the cellar: leave the whole tubers, remove spoiled or cut with a shovel when digging. Prepare special lattice boxes or racks. Your favorite treat should be laid in a layer no thicker than 30 cm to provide air access to the lower tubers. The storage temperature of potatoes in the cellar should be within 2-3 degrees above zero.
Storage in an apartment: principles
If there is no dacha or extra cellar, then you have to keep potatoes at home. The best place a balcony serves for storage - this place in any apartment is specially equipped for such purposes. Experienced keepers advise to do the following before storing potatoes:
Check last year's box: replace the damaged waterproofing film;
Make sure that the walls and bottom of the box are sheathed with foam;
Clean the exhaust pipes from dust and dirt, install in a box;
Depending on the size of the box, prepare blue lamps for heating in cold weather;
Check the health of the thermometer;
Clean old nets (bags are not recommended).
The storage temperature of potatoes on the balcony depends on how well and reliably the owner insulated the box and how often he will heat the latter.
Storage in special refrigerating chambers
Sometimes it turns out that in apartments the balcony is combined with the main living space, and a private house is not equipped with a basement or other similar structure. Potatoes do not even want to listen to such excuses and require adequate storage space. Fortunately, the solution is quite simple - purchasing special cold rooms, in which the optimum temperature for storing potatoes is set at 3 seconds. This equipment will be affordable only for wealthy citizens. But it's worth it, as you can solve the eternal storage problem once and for all.
The advantage of special refrigerating chambers is that not only potatoes, but also other vegetables can be stored in such devices. They do not require installation of ventilation, ventilation, special conditions for operation and repair. It is enough just to install this camera at home and switch it to a convenient temperature regime for storing potatoes.
Storing potatoes in vegetable stores
This option is ideal for those categories of citizens who are involved in the cultivation and sale of potatoes in large quantities. Since it becomes problematic to store such large stocks at home, you have to choose vegetable stores. These specialized premises are equipped with universal heating and cooling devices, ventilation systems, which allows you to store potatoes and other vegetables and fruits in a large number long time.
Thanks to the automation of processes, the temperature of storing potatoes in the vegetable store is optimal: from +2 to +4 degrees.
The main condition for accepting tubers for storage is sorting potatoes for good (which is suitable for long-term storage) and defective (rotten, cut, sluggish, sick, etc.).
Emergency Potato Storage Equipment
Many novice summer residents plant the whole garden with potatoes without hesitation. The logic of some is clear - it is satisfying and tasty product, which is in the first place for all housewives when cooking. And only when storing it for storage, a logical question is asked: "What is the storage temperature of potatoes?" For the aforementioned culture, the conditions for saving for economic purposes are quite extensive and range from +2 to +12 degrees Celsius. Therefore, at high yields craftsmen just dig a hole (depth - 2 m, width - 2 m). The bottom of the pit is covered with 50 cm dry grass, then the potatoes are covered with an approximate layer of 1 m, covering the top with a small layer of the same dry grass. The upper 50 cm is left to backfill with earth and covered with tin. Before the onset of frost, the tin is removed and the pit is covered with earth. To prevent water from getting into it, it is necessary to ensure the drainage of wastewater by covering the top with a sheet of slate or tin. The earth will provide warmth to the tubers, and the temperature for storing potatoes in the winter in the pit will be about +3 degrees.
Some nuances
Every housewife knows that the minimum storage temperature for potatoes should be from +2 to +3. But if the goal is simply to preserve the tubers for 1-2 months, then the degree level can be increased to +12.
In order for the potato to sprout faster (for planting the latter), it is necessary to provide it with heat (+14 +18) and humidity. In this case, you get excellent seed material.
At low humidity (less than 60%), the volume of potatoes decreases. To do this, you just need to transfer the fruits to a more humid place.
When stored in a cellar, do not regularly shift good potatoes from place to place in search of the damaged one. So you can inadvertently damage or hit whole tubers, which later become unusable. It is better to take care of the optimal layer tubers, so that later it is easy to identify spoiled fruits.
The best storage spaces from the experts
Every owner wants to have fresh and beautiful potatoes all year round. But for the latter to remain so, he needs to create the right conditions storage. Including the storage temperature of potatoes should be +2 degrees. One of the very first and best devices for preserving tubers in their original form is the cellar. Its history goes back to the distant past, when people discovered that vegetables are stored much better in an ordinary pit than on a sheltered surface of the earth.
Over time, the cellar has been improved, and today its functions are much broader and richer. The storage temperature of potatoes in the cellar is optimal, it will ensure long-term preservation of fruits.
The most beloved and delicious root vegetable is quite unpretentious in care, cultivation and processing. Subject to simple requirements for storing potatoes, he will delight all family members with his presence on the table in the form of various dishes.