It so happened that it is potato that is for our person and the main diet, and the reason for the greatest experiences: at first it is planted by the whole family, then they are hacked and rescued from the raids of the Colorado beetle and finally dug and laid in the cellar. But, despite all the efforts, it is not always possible to save the harvested crop intact. How to store winter potatoes in the cellar will tell our article.
Cellar for storing potatoes
First, let's figure out which cellar will be the ideal place for wintering potatoes. Firstly, it should be dry and well ventilated, because the moisture level for potatoes should not exceed the level of 60-80%. Secondly, the temperature in the cellar should be in the range of +2 to +3 degrees. At a lower temperature, the starch in the fruit will turn into sugar, and at a higher temperature, the germination process will begin. Thirdly, for successful storage, well ventilated bins will be needed, in which the potatoes will not contact the floor and walls.
Rules of winter storage of potatoes
But even the most ideal cellar does not help, if you do not adhere to the following rules:
- You can deposit only carefully dried potatoes without any traces of spoilage or cuts, having previously sorted it by size.
- For winter storage only potatoes of a late maturity period are suitable, and it is better to store different varieties separately.
- On the surface of the bunker with potatoes it is recommended to spread the beet in one layer, which will absorb excess moisture.
- Periodically potatoes must be sorted. The signal that the decay process has begun in the bins is an unpleasant sour smell or the appearance of flies in the cellar.