[Instruction] How to save a carrot crop: a description of 12 storage methods (Photo & Video) + Reviews

Root crops are cleaned from excess land. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the skin. Too well dried soil is recommended to be left

Next, it is necessary to reject damaged and diseased root crops. Only healthy and undamaged specimens are sent for storage. Any serious damage or cracks are a source of fungal infection in the form of rot. From infected root crops, the infection can get to good ones and they will also deteriorate, so this possibility must be excluded. The rejected vegetables should be transferred to the refrigerator and used for cooking as soon as possible.

It is necessary to sort the root crops according to their size. This will greatly facilitate the task of packing the material into containers, and it will be easier for the gardener himself to navigate where which vegetables are.

The process of removing the tops is carried out.

Wooden boxes with lids. It is considered the simplest and most reliable way. In this case, the root crops are placed in boxes made of wood or sufficiently strong cardboard. The boxes should be closed with lids and sent for storage in the cellar, placed 15 cm from the floor and walls to avoid moisture getting on the walls of the boxes.The maximum weight of root crops in one box should not exceed 20 kg. Boxes must be tight; no holes need to be made in them. This method allows you to use the available space with maximum efficiency and is optimal for small cellars.

Using bags of onion skins. If there is a large amount of onion peel, it can be used to store carrot roots. For this, ordinary bags made of natural burlap are used. Onion peel and carrots are poured into them in layers; the ratio by volume is recommended 1 to 2 (carrots twice as much). Next, the bags are tied and sent to the cellar. Just like boxes, they must be kept at a distance of 15 cm from the floor and walls to prevent moisture from entering.

The method is similar to the use of boxes or bags, however, in them the layers of root crops are interspersed with layers of needles. Instead of needles, you can use large sawdust of coniferous trees. An alternative way is to make a wooden flooring on the floor, on which a layer of needles or coniferous sawdust is poured, a layer of root crops is placed on top, and then again a layer of sawdust. The procedure may be repeated several times.

Instead of needles, you can use peat or other fillers. Actions for "packaging" carrots are similar

The use of sand pyramids. A layer of sand is poured directly onto the floor of the cellar. Root crops are placed on top of it, which are covered with the next layer of sand. The process is repeated until the height of the structure exceeds 1 m. Wet sand is used for this purpose; if it is too dry, it should be moistened periodically by spraying.

A method similar to the previous one but instead of sand, a sand-chalk mixture is used (ratio 1 to 1). Sand provides moisture circulation, chalk does not allow bacteria to spread. Another option is to use boxes. Allows easier access to carrots and reduces the amount of chalk used. The boxes are filled with sand almost to the very top, the carrot is simply inserted into the sand with the sharp end down, so that the wide end of the root crop is flush with the top layer of sand. After that, the box is filled to the top with chalk.

Using a chalk solution. Chalk is diluted with water to a state of homogeneous suspension. Root crops are wetted in a chalk solution, dried and stored in boxes.

The use of clay. The method is similar to the previous one, but instead of a chalk solution, a clay solution is used. Clay should completely cover the root crop. After drying, the carrots in clay are laid out in boxes. Lids are not required for this method. This method completely eliminates the possibility of carrot germination.

Use of plastic bags. This is the cheapest, but the most unreliable storage method, since moisture is likely to appear in the bags. To combat moisture, you can make several holes in the bags. Plastic bags are placed on pallets on the floor or placed on a shelf. In this case, the bags are not tied

The use of vacuum packaging. The method will require special equipment capable of creating a vacuum in plastic bags. The amount of carrots in each package is 2-3 kg. With this method, germination is also impossible.

Use of stretch film. Each root crop is wrapped separately in a stretch film and stored in boxes. Lids may not be used. Germination with this method is possible, but its rate will be minimal.

Using deep freeze. The method is suitable for those cases when there is a small amount of carrots and a freezer of sufficient volume. Carrots can be frozen in the form of whole root vegetables, and in the form of cubes or straws. Naturally, before such a method of storage, carrots should be thoroughly washed and peeled.