HOW TO KEEP CARROTS FOR THE WINTER AT HOME, IF THERE IS NO CELLAR: WAYS TO PRESERVE THE CROP UNTIL SPRING IN THE APARTMENT, AS WELL AS AT THE DACHA - IN THE PIT, BASEMENT AND GARDEN BEDS

Carrots are one of the most healthy and tasty root vegetables that are simply necessary in the diet of people. Therefore, many gardeners who grow carrots on their lot face the problem of storage.

In this article, we will talk about how to store carrots all winter long, so that it remains as tasty, crisp and useful and warn you against major mistakes. And also we will tell you which varieties are better suited for long-term storage both in the cellar and without it.

Features of the structure of the root

Carrot is a two year old dicotyledonous plant. All the nutrients in her large quantities accumulate in the root. Most of the root is formed by the main root. The root itself has an oblong shape, firm to the touch, and when it breaks, a characteristic crunch is heard.

Reference! Carrots can be stored both fresh and processed.

If carrots are not properly stored fresh, changes can occur in its structure, it can become soft, flabby, lose its shape and taste. Therefore, for long-term storage of carrots, it is necessary to grow late varieties that meet the following requirements:

They are already adapted for storage.
They have a relatively high yield.
Have the correct form.

What sort of carrot is best for winter storage?

Breeders managed to bring a lot of varieties of this popular root, resistant to frost, with high yields and keeping quality. Foreign breeders, with the withdrawal of new varieties, focus on a presentable appearance, and domestic experts rely on frost resistance and the ability to store all winter.

Varieties that can be stored in winter:

F1 cascade. This variety has good disease-resistant properties, as well as the ability for long-term storage. The fruit has a short form, pointed to the bottom, orange color.
Queen of autumn. This variety belongs to late ripening varieties. The fruit has the correct, equal and beautiful form, the big size and very juicy and sweet taste.
Nantes. This variety is considered the best in its taste. The fruit itself is smooth, has a bright orange color.
Sweet winter. Universal variety with high yield. The length of the fruit can exceed 20 cm, the taste is saturated.
The emperor. This litter has a high capacity for long-term storage and transportation, and also has good disease resistance. And also gives a good harvest and fruit, large in size and beautiful shape.
Flakke. Variety, bred by foreign breeders, which is well grown in the Russian regions. Fruits turn out very tasty, large and beautiful form. This carrot can be stored for a long time, and yet it does not crack.
Chantenay 2461. This variety has even fruits, beautiful shape, which are not very different from each other in size. It tastes very sweet. Resistant to cracking. Suitable for growing in regions with heavy soil.

Ways to save the harvest until spring in the cellar

Important! Before placing the carrots in the cellar for storage, you must sort the damaged fruit or with any other flaws.

Damaged carrots should be used soon.. All other fruits, which are flawless, can be stored all winter.

Store it in the cellar in several ways:

In sand. Carrots are placed in a box, alternating with layers of wet sand.
In coniferous sawdust. Sawdust can avoid the development of various diseases and germination of carrots, stacked in the same layers, alternating with carrots.
In the moss. Sun-dried carrots are laid in boxes in layers, alternating with dry moss.
In onion or garlic peel. Onion and garlic husks contain essential oils that prevent spoilage of root crops.
In the fern. Carrots are placed in boxes, alternating with dry fern.
In plastic bags. Clean dry carrots laid out in packages and tie them so that there is access to oxygen.

What if there is no cellar?

There are also many other ways to store carrots, which are perfect for those who do not have cellars.

For storage, you can use the balcony, basement, refrigerator, pantry room or floor. The best conditions for storage are about 90% air humidity and 1-2 degrees above zero.

It is best to store this root vegetable in a dark, cool place, away from heating systems. Some summer residents leave carrots on beds or make an earthen hole.

How to store vegetables at home without a hole?

If you can not use the cellar or pit, you can extend the shelf life of carrots in other ways:

In the apartment

To keep the carrot in the apartment, it is necessary to carry out the procedure "clay". For this you need:

Rinse carrots off the ground.
Dilute the clay with water until a creamy consistency is formed.
Clean carrot dip in clay.
Wait until the clay dries, forming a protective crust, and clean in a cool place.

Attention! Clay will provide not only long-term storage, but also protects carrots from diseases.

On the balcony

Before the onset of frost, you can store vegetables on the balcony, in bags or in covered wooden boxes. It is also necessary to cover the carrot so that it does not get daylight and dust, if the balcony is not glazed. If there is a glazed loggia, then you can store carrots on the floor. It will be necessary:

to lay a sacking;
pile a carrot on it;
cover the top with another piece of burlap so that the carrot is reliably protected from daylight.

In banks

If the size of the fruit is not too large, then you can store them in banks.. For this you need:

Rinse jars well with detergent or boil.
After that, let them dry, fill them with carrots so that there is a small distance between the fruits.
Powder with sawdust, or add a small fruit of horseradish.

In a refrigerator

For storage of vegetables in the refrigerator has a special compartment. To preserve the carrot in it as long as possible, it is necessary to thoroughly wash and dry. After that, decompose into plastic bags and remove.

Unfortunately, in the refrigerator, carrots quickly lose moisture and eventually become wrinkled. Usually, such vegetables are immediately thrown away, however, there is a way to freshen them up. To do this, it will be necessary to cut off the lower end of the carrot and put it in a glass, one third filled with water, and for the best effect, you will need to add a couple of ice cubes. After a couple of hours, the carrot will change, it will become fresh and juicy again.

Ways to give

If there is no cellar at the dacha, then you can store the carrots in a special pit, on beds or in a subfield.

In the subfield / basement

If the house is equipped with a subfloor, then vegetables can be stored in it using the same methods that are used when stored in a cellar. The main thing is to keep the optimum temperature and humidity in the underground during storage..

In the pit

To keep the carrot as long as possible in the pit, it is necessary to prepare it. For this you need:

Two weeks before harvesting stop watering.
Carefully dig up the carrots so that there is no damage on it, clean out excess soil and dry.
Cut the tops to the top.

Next, you need to prepare a pit for storing carrots:

Dig a hole, the depth of which will depend on the area of residence.
Reference! Where winters are severe enough, the depth of the pit should be at least a meter, and where the soil does not freeze through - about 30-40 cm.
To fill the bottom of the pit with sand, the layer of which should be no more than 3 cm, then alternately lay layers of carrots with sand, until about 25 cm is left until the surface.
After that, it will be necessary to cover the last layer with sand, and pour earth on top, so that it rises above the surface.
The final stage will be the warming of the pit with dry leaves, peat or sawdust.

On the garden

Carrots can be stored in the garden if the soil has no diseases, there are no wireworms, bears, and other pests.

Storage organization on the garden includes the following steps.:

Stop watering the bed a month before the start of storage preparation.
Choose a period when there will be no rain for at least a week and the earth will dry out.
Weed the bed from all the weeds.
Cover both the bed itself and the territory within a meter with a layer of sand, the thickness of which should not exceed 3 cm, 5. Cover with plastic wrap, cover the bed with dry leaves, sawdust, peat, and cover with another layer of film.

Important rules

Do not neglect the sorting: the whole, mature and healthy roots are stored for the longest time.
To use for long-term storage, you need special carrot varieties.
It is important to observe the temperature and the required level of humidity in the room.
The longest carrot is stored in the underground or in the pantry room. If there is a glazed balcony or loggia, then this vegetable can be stored there until the thermometer reaches 0.
If it is decided to leave the carrots stored in the garden or in the pit, it is necessary to pre-treat the terrain and the soil from rodents.

Warnings

If the carrot has been poorly sorted, the damaged fruit will begin the process of rotting, as a result of which the entire crop may be spoiled.
If the temperature of the room in which the carrots are stored exceeds 5 degrees, it will begin to germinate.
If the storage temperature drops below 0, the root can freeze and become flabby.
To keep the carrot as long as possible in the refrigerator, it is necessary to rinse it thoroughly with water, dry it, and wrap each fruit with food film.

Thus, if a person who grows carrots does not have a cellar for storing vegetables, you should not despair: there are many other ways. They allow you to store vegetables not only in the summer cottage, but also in the apartment. However, in order for it to preserve its qualities as long as possible, it is necessary to adhere to the rules.