How to organize storage of potato tubers and provide them with the correct temperature in the cellar and on the balcony. Optimum storage temperature for potatoes

Foreword

Potatoes are not a perishable product, however, insufficient provision of their safety in winter can bring a lot of trouble to the owner. The product is very sensitive to moisture, rotting, does not tolerate high temperatures and does not react well to frost - all this significantly complicates its storage. Long-term placement of the root crop on different types bedding, soil, concrete, metal objects is impossible. How to properly equip a place for the winter for your harvest, and what needs to be taken into account - we read in detail about this and many other things below!

We keep the harvest in the cellar

1 Bulk way

This method has been used since the time when potatoes first appeared in Europe and on the territory of Russia. It is the simplest, cheapest, most effective and does not require a lot of effort to implement it. In this case, an earthen apple is poured in a layer 1-1.5 meters in height, and so it lies until spring, until it becomes necessary to plant it or eat it.

Of course, each method has its drawbacks, and this one is no exception. The first "minus" - it is impossible to regulate the temperature and humidity in the heap of root crops, especially if the height of the pile is up to 1.5 meters. Thus, if a focus of rot or other fungi occurs, it is impossible to fight them and you will have to move the entire crop to another place and ventilate the room. The bulk method prevents sorting the vegetable - you cannot separate the seed product from the one that is intended for consumption. You can sort it before moving it to the cellar, but the harvest will then take up a lot of space.

Another disadvantage of the bulk method of storing potatoes in the cellar is the inconvenience in the basement, since the root crop occupies almost the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe room, it will roll down, choke, and the damaged one will rot.

2 Secret way

This method is often used for preservation seed material, when it cannot be allowed to rot, freeze, and also be mixed with ordinary potatoes. The potato layer does not exceed 80-100 cm, often a ventilation tube is installed under the bottom of the collar (we will consider ventilation of the collar in more detail below). But the disadvantages are present, as in the case of the bulk method:

it is not possible to optimize the basement area - the vegetable takes up a lot of space;
it is inconvenient to fall asleep and remove tubers, you will have to spend a lot of effort in harvesting;
it is difficult to determine when the tubers will begin to sprout - you need to constantly monitor spring time and, if necessary, change the temperature regime.

The secret method of storing potatoes is used very rarely today; it is used mainly by large farms and breeding plots. It will be optimal only if you are serious about growing root crops for planting and selling.

3 Sectional method

Its essence is that the bulb is not placed in a pile and not in bulk, as in the first cases, but in special boxes. Such boxes are made mainly of wood, while leaving gaps between the boards up to 2-3 cm to ensure natural ventilation... There are many advantages of this method:

The sectional method is the most popular among summer residents who collect small crops, which can be easily arranged in several wooden boxes with a capacity of 100-150kg.

4 Container storage

The method is ideal for summer residents and farmers who grow potatoes for sale and have a solid harvest. It is customary to count 1 container for 500 kg of bulb. The containers are made mainly of wood, and all sides of such a "box" are closed - the top is also nailed down. Designed for selling vegetables in bulk and for compact storage in the cellar.

Such containers will be extremely convenient, because they can be placed in basement, and, if necessary, they can be loaded onto a car trailer. The design is quite simple: 4 corners wooden beams 60x60 mm, knocked down with boards 20 mm thick with a distance of 1.5-2 cm between the boards for ventilation. If necessary and the availability of materials, such a box for potatoes can be put together in 1-2 hours.

Storage of potatoes in winter and summer

Do you think it makes no difference at what temperature you store potatoes? This is not so, because the product immediately loses all its taste qualitiesif it freezes a little or is attacked by pests at high temperatures. Optimum temperature - + 5-7 º С. It is at this temperature that it will be possible to keep the shape, all the taste, useful vitamins... If you need to store no more than 3 months and the product will be used for frying, it is better to raise the temperature to +10 º С.

Seed material is stored strictly at a temperature of + 2-4 º С. Higher temperatures can cause many root diseases during subsequent growth, and lower temperatures will affect the quality of the eyes. Remember that storage temperature is the main factor that affects seed quality and potato flavor.

Air humidity and does the shelf life of potatoes depend on it?

If the humidity in the room is higher than 95%, then you should not count on the safety of the crop after 2-3 months of maintenance. It is necessary to achieve a relative humidity of not more than 94% and not less than 92% - this is the norm that has been established for years, and its violation immediately leads to the formation of rot, death of the buds of an earthy apple, loss appearance and other troubles.

Weight loss in potatoes is a common problem associated with low air humidity (below 85%). In this case, you need to move it to a more humid place or use special air humidifiers. If the loss rate reaches 35%, the loss can significantly hit the owner's pocket.

Modern methods

Modern potato storage technologies allow you to keep the root crop almost everywhere and under any conditions, if you have necessary equipment for this. You can either buy it or make it yourself. If you do not know how to store potatoes in a high pile or in a wet basement in winter, we offer you the following devices:

Ventilation tube. It is a metal tube with holes that goes under the potato heap. Air is fed into the pipe and exits near the floor under a high pile. Thus, ventilation of any layer is carried out (it must be carried out once a month). Such equipment can be bought or made by yourself: in metal pipe drill 2-3 mm holes every 4-5 cm. The air supply can be carried out both with a compressor and with a conventional vacuum cleaner. Ventilation for 5-6 minutes will be sufficient. Can be done arched structure (see photo), which will constantly supply air to the pile.
Dehumidifiers and humidifiers. Is the basement too damp? Dry room and weight loss? A regular humidifier or dehumidifier for 500-600 rubles will help solve this problem and save your crop!
Gas analyzer UG-2. A very useful and inexpensive tool for diagnosing bulbar diseases. In case of tuber diseases, the air contains an increased amount of ammonia - the device can easily identify the problem. Now you do not need to worry about how to keep the bulb in a high pile - the device will warn you in advance, even before the crop deteriorates.

If you follow these instructions, then no dry rot, weight loss and other problems are terrible for you, and the potatoes will always look great!

At what temperature to store potatoes so that it does not spoil and does not germinate is an urgent question for the owners of cellars and basements. Optimal are following conditions: air temperature +2 - +3 degrees and humidity 70-80 percent. If the store is warm in winter, the potatoes will “smell spring” and begin to sprout. When the temperature drops to zero, the starch contained in the tubers will turn into sugar. If the thermometer drops to minus, the potatoes will simply freeze and disappear. We will talk further about how to provide optimal conditions for storing potatoes in a cellar or basement.

Cellar preparation

Storing potatoes in a cellar or vegetable store is not an easy task due to the high content of starch and water in the tubers. These factors complicate the process significantly, setting strict temperature limits, as well as requiring constant humidity levels.

To prevent the cellar from freezing and overheating, you need to take care of its isolation from external environment... You should think about this even before harvesting. If your cellar is detached, then overheating in winter does not threaten it, rather the opposite. Cold will come from the surface of the earth covered with snow.

If possible, build a cellar over the cellar - a small covered superstructure that will protect the upper part of the cellar from direct contact with the environment... Thus, the temperature inside and outside the storage will not differ too much.
The cellar hatch needs to be insulated with foam or any other thermal insulation material... It must close tightly.
If sufficient, equip a second hatch some distance from the first. An air cushion between the hatches will protect the room from the cold.
Cellar overlaps can be insulated with foam or expanded polystyrene.
For additional heating, you can equip the cellar with several lamps in different corners of the room. You can manually turn on the lamps if you notice that the temperature is dropping, or you can install a temperature sensor. Lamps intended exclusively for heating are painted over with dark varnish.

With good heat and moisture insulation of the cellar, the potatoes will lie well until the next harvest.

In the event that the cellar is under the house and, on the contrary, it is too warm in it for storing potatoes, you can equip a split system inside it. However, this option involves financial costs. A cheaper analogue is a compressor from an old refrigerator.

Will help save the harvest good system ventilation. The cold air from outside will prevent vegetables from germinating early.

To protect the cellar from moisture, carry out a waterproofing treatment of the room, place containers with quicklime or special preparations that absorb water from the air in the corners.

To properly store potatoes in a cellar in winter, you need to equip a special box or make bins. Read on to learn how to do this.

Preparing potatoes

Preparation for storing potatoes begins immediately after harvest. It is worth mentioning here that the crop does not need to be left in the ground for long time... There is an opinion that after lying in the ground, the potatoes will be better stored. As soon as the potatoes are ripe, they must be removed, otherwise they will pick up more moisture and deteriorate faster.

It is not necessary to wash the tubers before storing.

Storage preparation includes several stages:

Cleaning from the ground. Gently clean the clumps of soil from the tubers with your hands. You do not need to wash potatoes before placing them in the cellar.
Drying. Dug up tubers should be scattered in one layer in a dry ventilated area or under a canopy. Potatoes should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
Sorting. We sort out the crop, sorting the potatoes by size and setting aside the diseased, pest-eaten or damaged tubers during the digging process. If you grow potatoes, and do not buy them in the fall, do not forget that part of the crop must be separated and saved for planting.
Collection. We collect the scattered potatoes in bags and move them to the cellar.

Laying in the cellar

You need to lower the potatoes into the cellar carefully, avoiding blows.

Root crops are sensitive to environmental conditions, so potatoes should be stored in specially prepared boxes or bins. By simply pouring it on, we risk losing a significant part of the crop. Containers for storing potatoes should also not stand directly on the floor and touch the walls. Build for them wooden coasters 10-15 centimeters high or put bricks under the bottom.

Wooden bins are ideal for storing potatoes in winter.

Bins should have additional openings in the sides for air circulation. The height of the edge of the box should not be too large so that you can bend down and calmly reach the tubers from the bottom.

The containers must be dried and disinfected before storing vegetables.

The root crops lying in the cellar have a breathing process, due to which moisture and carbon dioxide are released into the air. Moisture condenses on the walls and ceiling of the room, and from there can get back onto the vegetables. To prevent this from happening, regularly ventilate the room. An additional polyethylene canopy can be built under the ceiling.

To reduce the humidity in the basement, an additional layer of lime and sand can be added to the floor.

It is very good to store beets in the same box with potatoes. It is advisable to sprinkle it in a thick layer over the potatoes. The beetroot cushion will protect the potatoes from the cold and absorb excess moisture. This is even better for beets.

Periodically check the condition of the crop in the cellar and remove damaged or rotted tubers. It is better to put all vegetables in contact with them separately - in quarantine. If you did not reveal any signs of spoilage of vegetables, but Drosophila flies started up in the vegetable store, it is likely that the lower layers of the potatoes began to rot. If, in addition to this, the cellar contains bad smell, it is better to sort out all the potatoes.

Keep mice out of the cellar. Rodents love to nest in hay or sawdust.

Store potatoes in the basement should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Therefore, if the basement has ventilation or light windows, cover the vegetables thick cloth, burlap or wooden lid. When exposed to sunlight, potato eyes begin to sprout, and a toxic substance, solanine, is formed in the tuber.

If the tuber has sprouted, it is better not to eat it, as solanine, which is harmful to health, forms under the peel.

Potato storage boxes

In order to properly store potatoes in the cellar, you need to prepare special boxes or, as they are also called, "bins".

Simple bins

Calculate how much potatoes you plan to store in winter and, based on this, mark the place.
Build the base of the box out of thick planks or beams. The bottom of the structure should be raised 10-15 centimeters above the floor. And the height of the sides of the future container should not exceed 1–1.2 meters, so that it is convenient for you to get the tubers from the bottom. The box should be several centimeters from the walls of the cellar.
Further, the base must be sheathed with plywood or thinner boards. If using plywood, drill holes in it for ventilation. Do not fill the boards closely, but at intervals of a centimeter, as is usually done in vegetable drawers.
With a large amount of potatoes, the box can be made long and divided by partitions.

The bins are ready. You can add potatoes.

A variant of the construction of a wooden box.

The box can be sheathed not only with boards, but also with a metal mesh. The mesh must be galvanized or painted with oil paint.

The easiest option in terms of labor costs is to use ready-made plastic or wooden boxes for vegetables. They usually have ventilation holes. Do not place boxes on the floor. Build a podium for them or use bricks. Individual boxes can be stacked on top of each other, making sure that about half a meter remains. This will improve the air flow.

Sealed drawer with heating

If your basement is cold and it freezes regularly, you can make a special sealed box with good thermal insulation for storing potatoes. Such a box with a volume of 1 m3 contains about 320 kg of potatoes.

The design of the box itself is quite simple. We need to take two containers, one must easily enter the other. It is better to knock these boxes out of boards or thick plywood yourself - it is easier to guess with the sizes.

Diagram of the construction of an insulated storage for potatoes. Click to enlarge.

We cover the bottom of the larger box with foam or fill it with any other insulation. You can add a layer of sawdust.
We put the second box inside and also fill the empty space between the walls with insulation.
We knock off the lid for the container and insulate it.
To control the temperature, we put a thermometer inside the box and mount a couple of small 15-watt bulbs. We paint the bulbs with dark varnish. As soon as the temperature drops, turn on the lights. A more advanced option is to put a temperature relay in the box.
We paint the outside of the box to protect it from moisture.
Cover the potatoes inside the box with a dark cloth.

Such a container keeps potatoes well from the cold, but prevents air circulation. Therefore, the crop must be ventilated several times during storage.

Potato varieties for long-term storage

For winter storage, it is advisable to choose medium and late-ripening varieties of potatoes with yellow flesh. If you have potatoes in your cellar different varieties, distribute it to different boxes. Early-ripening potatoes will not store well, even if you create the right conditions for them. In the cellar, it will quickly begin to germinate and become unfit for food.

Many summer residents were convinced from their own experience: it is important not only to harvest the crop, but also to keep it safe for health as long as possible. This is especially true for crops grown and harvested during the rainy season. A place with almost ideal conditions for storing this vegetable is a cellar. However, this kind of storage needs to be carefully prepared and equipped before food can be stored there.

Harvest preparation and premises before storage
Before placing potatoes in the cellar, you need to do some manipulations:

Leave the dug potatoes in the sun for 2-3 hours, then dry them under a canopy (1-2 days).
To find "unhealthy" tubers that have been damaged by digging, place the potatoes in a warm room for ten days, then sort them carefully.
Before harvesting (about 2-3 weeks), periodically open the cellar in order to ventilate and dry it well; do this procedure exclusively in warm, dry weather.
If you cannot get rid of moisture from the cellar by airing, use lime, which must be placed in containers throughout the room with the calculation of 1 kg of lime per 1 m3. The containers can be of any material other than iron. Change wet lime to dry and so on until all the moisture has evaporated.
Clean the basement from rubbish and small debris, disinfect the room if rats are in there, get rid of them yourself or with the help of special services.
To prevent mold, whitewash the walls with the following solution: add 2 kg of slaked lime to a bucket of water, copper sulfate 1 kg and common salt 100 gr.
Take the boxes in which the crop will be stored outside, dry them well, then process them several times with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Compliance long-term storage potatoes in the cellar
The storage time of vegetables depends on correct location them indoors. The following guidelines will help you place your potatoes in your cellar wisely:

there must be a space of at least 20 cm between the boxes for storing crops and the walls of the cellar; also, the boxes cannot be placed on the floor, make special stands under them that will separate the potatoes from the floor by 15-20 cm;
put a maximum of 20 kg of crop in each box;
store different varieties separately;
the optimum storage temperature for seed potatoes is +2 - +3 degrees, for food - +4 - +5 degrees, as you can see, it is slightly different, therefore, if possible, place them in different rooms.

The harvest in the basement must be monitored throughout the storage period. Periodically check the room for humidity, it should not exceed 90%. When the outside temperature is below freezing, close the hoods to keep the potatoes from freezing. Do not forget to ventilate the cellar when the air warms up from the vegetable "breath".

Do not let the crop rot, remove spoiled potatoes in time, and sprinkle the rest with ash or chalk.

A good neighbor for potatoes in the cellar will be red beets, which will draw excess moisture out of the air. Pine or spruce branches also have a good effect on harvest storage, fresh leaves mountain ash and onion husks.

There is a reason why potatoes are called the second bread. Delicious culture has long and for a long time occupied one of the dominant places in cooking. It is not surprising that people try to preserve the potato crop harvested in autumn throughout the winter and in early spring... For these purposes, they usually choose a balcony or a cellar. Fortunately, many varieties are distinguished by good keeping quality. So that the tubers do not melt, freeze and sprout, you should properly prepare them for storage, monitor the ambient temperature.

Preparing potatoes in winter

Preparatory measures - pledge successful storage potatoes at home. Spread the entire crop in a layer of 1-2 tubers on open air, has not yet completely cooled down. The potatoes need a couple of days to dry out.

If it was dug on a rainy day and lumps of dirt adhered to the tubers, then it will take longer to dry.

It is better to place the fruits not on bare ground, but on some kind of material in order to protect them from soil dampness. sunlight should hit them in moderation. For example, use awnings or a shade from a building. For potatoes that will be used for planting, the sun is not scary.

Council. You can also dry the tubers on the balcony. To do this, provide air access, and hang the glass suitable materialto protect the room from sunlight.

While the potatoes are spread out, you can sort them out. For the winter, leave only healthy fruits without mechanical damage. The room should also be prepared. It must comply with a simple list of conditions:

normal air ventilation;
humidity - about 85%;
frost protection;
not too warm temperature;
lack of direct sunlight.

Keep potatoes out of the sun

Because of the sun, the potatoes turn green - this is how the poison solanine is released. Culture turns green even from an ordinary light bulb. Without air circulation, the potato will overcome rot. IN warm room they will soften, shrink and let the children go.

Tubers begin to germinate already at + 4 ° С, but not as intensively as at higher values. At about + 1 ... + 2 ° С and more low temperatures the harvest runs the risk of freezing and becoming tasteless. This means that as a result of a biochemical reaction, the starch contained in it will turn into sugar. Therefore, by the way, potatoes are completely unsuitable for raw freezing.

Council. The optimum temperature for storing this culture is considered to be + 3 ... + 5 ° С.

How to properly organize the storage of potatoes in the cellar

There are several ways to store potatoes in the basement of a private house:

in boxes;
on the straw.

Storing potatoes for the winter in boxes or bins is more popular. Containers must have holes or slots in the side walls for ventilation. Optimal height - 60-90 cm.

A moisture-absorbing bedding should be formed in the bins. Potatoes are stored in bulk in them. In the case of drawers, each is best placed on a stand. Its task is to fix the container at a height of about 20 cm from the floor. The same distance must be observed from the walls. This will prevent the growth of mold on the tubers.

Attention! Wanting to protect potatoes from winter frosts, the owners often wrap the crop incorrectly.

To prevent the potatoes from fogging up, cover them with materials that absorb moisture. For these purposes, sacking, old "prickly" blankets, matting are suitable. You can also use sawdust bags. Trick from experienced gardeners: Sprinkle a layer of beet on top of the potatoes. From this neighborhood, it will be good for both fruits. The beets will not fade and will remove excess moisture from the potatoes.

Storing potatoes in the cellar

Potatoes are stored in straw less often. In addition to the straw bedding of 10-20 cm, each layer should also be poured abundantly with this material. Whichever method you choose, in the case of storing potatoes in the cellar, protect the room from freezing. Insulate it, seal it, equip it with special bulbs, etc.

Features of winter storage of potatoes on the balcony

For residents of modern high-rise buildings, a balcony is an alternative to a basement. The best quality potatoes under its conditions will be stored in strong boxes:

Container size - up to 320 kg.
Material - plywood, lining or any similar.
In the box, you need to make a second bottom and a double lid. Fill the resulting voids with insulating materials - foam, sawdust.
Make ventilation holes in the side walls of the box.

Council. The moisture resistance of the box will increase due to painting.

Often, potatoes are stored in spunbond bags. This material is durable and has excellent breathability. The balcony or loggia, of course, must also be insulated. But even with all measures, it can be cold there in winter.

Potato storage box on the balcony

With a critical drop in temperature, the potatoes are saved in warm apartment... Usually, severe frosts do not last long, so the neighborhood with the crop will be short. In the room, it is better to place potatoes next to the balcony or front door - it's coldest there. As soon as the thermometer rises again, immediately take out the tubers.

In the conditions of a glazed balcony in winter, it is not easy to ensure the proper flow fresh air... Mountain ash will serve as an additional measure against decay. Place its leaves between the layers. The plant stops the development of microbes that are responsible for spoiling the crop.

It is not difficult to store potatoes at home during the winter. If you follow all the procedures for the preparation of tubers and premises, you will get good savings, because in the cold season the market price autumn harvest grows significantly.

You need to prepare for storing potatoes already at the harvesting stage. When harvesting, root crops should be sorted out and sorted by size (small and damaged tubers should be consumed first). Potatoes suitable for storage must be dried well (not in direct sunlight!) And cooled sufficiently in a cool place. On average, these procedures take two to three weeks. By the way, at the time of sorting in a separate group the future seed potatoes are separated. Here it just needs to be held in the sun and additionally sprayed with water so that it starts to turn a little green (it should be stored separately).

If you neglect the cooling period and put the potatoes in the basement immediately after drying, they are likely to be covered with condensation. If the cooling procedure is carried out quickly, then later the potatoes will characteristically darken during cooking. It makes sense to quickly cool only potatoes affected by late blight.

It is convenient to store potatoes in the basement. The temperature should not fall below 0 C and rise above +6 C. With such parameters, potato tubers self-heal well (cuts and wounds are tightened), and dangerous diseaseson the contrary, they are less active. The favorable air humidity for potatoes ranges from 85 to 90%. Until the onset of the first frost, some of the potatoes can be stored on the balcony, loggia, in a box on the street. The main thing here is not to be late, otherwise the potatoes will become sweet.

The duration of storage is strongly influenced by the potato variety and the date of planting. Many gardeners note that potatoes planted in summer stay dormant longer, which means they retain their taste and useful qualities... During winter storage, such potatoes get sick much less often.

To prevent potatoes from suffering from excessive moisture, you can bring enough quicklime (it will absorb the surplus), and it is better to put the potatoes in straw.

Often potatoes are stored in the basement, in boxes on shelves, or simply sprinkled on the floor. You can put potatoes into boxes no more than 1.5 m in height. To avoid premature sprouting of root vegetables, put several apples with them in storage. Sometimes stored potatoes are sprinkled with dry straw, which allows neighboring fruits not to come into contact with each other and absorbs excess moisture. The cellar must be clean, without mold and mildew on the walls. It is advisable to cover the boxes with potatoes with an old cloth to avoid possible freezing during a sharp drop in temperature outside. Periodically, the potatoes in the basement need to be sorted out, in time to separate the root crops that have begun to rot from the healthy ones.

Subject to all conditions, the shelf life of potatoes in the cellar can be up to 10 months. Seed potatoes are stored in the same way as ordinary ones, just in separate boxes.