Where and how to store potatoes in the apartment so that the tubers do not spoil and retain their nutritional value. Tips from summer residents: how to store potatoes in an apartment How to store young potatoes in an apartment

Potatoes are the most beloved vegetable in our latitudes, which is also deservedly called “second bread”. It is boiled, fried, stewed, baked, soups, stews are prepared with it, and even used as a filling for pies. Potatoes are mostly made up of starches, which makes them quite high in calories. Also contains a full range of useful microelements, vitamins and amino acids. Its benefits to the body are determined not only by the methods of preparation, but also by the conditions and duration of storage. Often potatoes rot, are affected by fungal diseases, become lethargic and sprout. In order for potatoes to be successfully stored at home all winter, you need to observe temperature conditions and other nuances.

Modes for potato tubers

1. Treatment period. The tubers are dried and ripened, cuts and injuries from impacts are healed. After digging, it is recommended to leave the potatoes for 1–2 hours. During this time, it will dry out enough and become covered with a dry crust. The crop should not remain in the sun for a long time, since under the influence of direct sun rays the tubers turn green and may get sunburn. Then the potatoes are collected and transferred under a canopy for 1–2 weeks, where they lie in one layer. During this time, the protective properties of the tubers are strengthened, making them ready for the next stage. The ideal air temperature for this period is +13…+18oС.
   

   The toxic substance solanine accumulates in green tubers. Eating such potatoes is dangerous for your health!

2. Cooling period. It consists of a gradual decrease in temperature to +2…+4o. Lasts 10–15 days. During this period, the tubers enter a dormant period. Under normal dacha conditions, nature itself will help achieve this effect, since the air naturally cools during the autumn period.
3. Main period or winter. Lasts until the end of February. For long-term storage, potatoes are transferred to a suitable place. In order not to disturb the state of rest, ensure the correct temperature, humidity and light conditions.
4. Spring period. Begins with the onset of warm weather. The temperature in the potato storage room rises and the tubers begin to germinate. From this point on, potatoes quickly lose their usefulness.

Sometimes the first two periods are combined into one post-harvest period. It is a preparatory stage before long-term storage. If you don't follow it, you risk losing a significant part of your harvest. It is also important to protect potatoes from moisture and rain at this time.

Preparing potatoes for storage at home

After properly carried out post-harvest preparation, the potatoes are almost ready for long-term storage. All that remains is to sort it, inspect it for the presence of diseased tubers and remove dried dirt.

• If we have harvested our own harvest and plan to plant potatoes in next year, then first of all you need to select potatoes for sowing. As a rule, for this purpose they take the smallest tubers, green potatoes, as well as tubers with many eyes (more than 6 eyes). Naturally, damaged and diseased tubers are not suitable.

Unlike eating potatoes, seed potatoes are recommended to be left in the sun for several days to “green up”. Thanks to this, the potatoes will last longer and will also become inedible for rodents.

• Potato tubers are sorted depending on the variety and purpose. There are varieties for long-term storage (late and mid-season), and there are early varieties that last until winter at most. It is necessary to take into account the purpose of the tubers: there are potatoes that boil quickly and are suitable for mashing, and there are “harder” varieties that are ideal for frying.
• You can also sort by size. Large tubers last longer than small ones. In addition, potatoes of approximately the same size create more voids, which provides better ventilation.
• Much attention should be paid to the quality of the tubers. In the future, all cuts and poorly healed injuries can cause rot. Such potatoes are selected “for now.” The cut areas can be treated with wood ash.
• It is recommended to wash potato tubers before storage, since many microbes live in the soil that can provoke the development of diseases. It is not always possible to do this, especially if there are a lot of potatoes. In normal cases, the dirt itself falls off after drying through the process of natural friction, when the crop is placed in boxes or bags. You can also remove it during sorting by wearing gloves with a rough surface. The potatoes are not washed immediately after digging.
• After sorting, the potatoes are put into containers and sent for storage.

Important! Don't be lazy to sort out the potatoes before storing! Several diseased tubers can infect other healthy ones, which can lead to the loss of part of the harvest.

Of course, the quality of the tubers, like the quality of the entire crop as a whole, will depend on weather conditions, soil, and fertilization methods. If the summer and autumn were rainy, then there is a high probability of rot developing. Excessive dryness leads to early wilting of tubers. To somehow extend the shelf life of already bad potatoes, you can treat them with wood ash. For 20 kg we need only 2-3 handfuls of ash, which needs to be poured over the tubers during storage. Of course, today there are many chemical preparations to protect potatoes from late blight, rot and other diseases, but it is better to use them when storing seed potatoes, and not potatoes “for food”.

To slow down germination, it is recommended to lay the tubers with mint and rowan leaves, pine and spruce branches. These plants contain phytoncides that help prolong hibernation.

Preparing potatoes for long-term storage - photo

Drying potatoes in the sun is important preparatory stage Sorting potato tubers after digging by size Sorting tubers according to size is an important process for successful long-term storage Storing potatoes in wooden boxes during the winter

How to store vegetables correctly

• Temperature. The storage place should be cool - 2–4 ºС; at lower temperatures, potatoes lose their taste. The maximum storage temperature is 5–7 ºС. At temperatures of 0 ºС and below, potatoes freeze slightly, become sweet and unsuitable for consumption, and soon rot.
• Humidity. Optimum humidity 85–90%. Low and excessive humidity equally harm the preservation of tubers. If the air is too dry, you can place containers with water, the moisture will evaporate and humidify the room.
• Light. Potatoes are stored in the dark. If this is temporary storage on the balcony, then it is worth covering the container with potatoes in several layers and hiding them from direct rays of the sun.

Not everyone has a suitable place to store potatoes. Often you have to make small tricks to ensure optimal conditions and preserve the potatoes for as long as possible. If the room temperature is too high (for example, in the closet of an ordinary apartment), then you can try cooling the air with ice. To do this, you will need plastic bottles with frozen water, which are placed near the potatoes. You can freeze water both in the freezer and on the balcony or street in frosty weather.

It also happens that the temperature, on the contrary, is too low and there is a risk of tubers freezing (if stored on an uninsulated balcony). In such cases, you will need to think about how and with what to insulate. You can wrap the potatoes in old blankets or jackets, or you can make your own insulated storage box. For particularly frosty nights, in order to definitely protect vegetables from freezing, it is better to make a heated box.

Before you start manufacturing, you need to decide on the dimensions of the future container.

How to make an insulated box

For the frame you will need a wooden beam. The finished frame can be sheathed with plywood, chipboard, fiberboard or OSB using self-tapping screws and a screwdriver. Sheets of polystyrene foam or penoplex, 5 cm thick, are suitable as insulation. Additionally, you can use isolon. Thermal insulation is glued to the walls and bottom of the box using liquid nails, and the joints are additionally taped with wide tape. The lid is insulated in the same way.

You can also create a box based on the matryoshka principle. You will need two containers, one of which is slightly smaller in size. The space between the walls is filled with sawdust, crushed polystyrene foam or other material 3–5 cm thick.

A potato box insulated with foam plastic is an excellent solution for storing potatoes on the balcony!

A ready-made container can be improved with a heating element and an electric contact thermal relay. A household hair dryer with low power or two incandescent lamps of 40–60 W are suitable as a heater. The relay will turn the heater on and off automatically, maintaining the desired temperature in the container. A grill should be placed at the bottom of the box to provide a layer of air.

If you decide to use a hair dryer, you will need plastic tubes with a diameter of 4–5 cm, through which heated air will flow into the box. Plastic tubes are connected to each other at an angle of 90º. The lower end is inserted into a hole previously made in the bottom of the container. A hairdryer is attached to the upper end. Heated air will flow to the bottom of the box, rise further and heat its contents. To ensure uniform heat flow, several holes are made in the bottom of the tube.

Insulated box heated by a household hair dryer

A hair dryer is a rather noisy device and requires a lot of electricity. Incandescent lamps can be used instead. In this case, you will need a tin pipe into which two light bulbs are inserted. The heat they generate will be enough to warm the potatoes.

Thermal container heated by incandescent lamps

If you are the happy owner of an insulated balcony, then to store vegetables in winter it will be enough to make an ordinary box from boards, plywood or other materials.

An example of a box for storing potatoes on an insulated balcony

How to make a box for storing vegetables on the balcony

Tara

Potatoes are usually stored in well-ventilated boxes or bags:

• Wooden boxes made from planks
• Wooden containers for storing potatoes in a cellar or basement
• Plastic containers with “mesh” walls and bottom
• Boxes made of thick cardboard with holes
• Burlap bags

Potatoes are best stored in small portions, so it is preferable to choose small boxes (for 10 kg of potatoes) made from wooden slats. They are light, reliable, easy to carry vegetables in, and can be stacked one on top of the other to save space. In such a container it is easier to sort through the potatoes; they can be viewed through the cracks for the presence of rotten tubers. Thanks to the distances between the slats, air will always flow to the vegetables, and by placing the box on bricks or pallets, you will provide additional ventilation. You can make such a box with your own hands, using unnecessary boards, wooden planks, leftover lumber and even chipboard, fiberboard and OSB. The optimal width of the planks is 5 cm, length - 50 cm. You will also need triangular-shaped wooden blocks for better fastening of the sides. It is best to connect parts together with nails or self-tapping screws.

Do-it-yourself wooden box - saving money on buying packaging!

Drawing of a potato storage box

To store potatoes, they also buy plastic boxes, less often metal ones. The plastic container is very light, and the mesh walls and bottom provide good ventilation. As for metal ones, they are much more expensive and heavier; moving potatoes will not be easy due to the weight of the boxes themselves.

You can also store potatoes in large containers made from pallets or the same wooden planks. They are made angular or rectangular. A regular rectangular container can have a horizontal door at the bottom or a door. Thanks to this design, it is convenient to pick potatoes.

It is preferable to choose bags made of mesh. In such a container, the potatoes “breathe” and do not fog up. Thick polypropylene bags are strictly not allowed for long-term storage. They practically do not allow air to pass through and are only suitable for harvesting and transporting them.

Today you can buy a special thermal bag for storing vegetables on the balcony in winter. The top of the bag is made of dense tent fabric, and the inner warm layer is made of thick durable padding polyester. In addition to insulation, such a bag has electric heating, thanks to which the temperature inside is maintained within 1–7ºС even in the most severe frost. There are also thermal containers on sale, where the temperature is regulated by a special temperature sensor and never drops below 1ºC. Perhaps the only drawback of such packaging is its cost. We have already described above how to make a heated container with your own hands.

The most common container for storing potatoes - photo

A wooden box is the most common container for storing potatoes Plastic box with mesh bottom and sides Option for a container for storing potatoes in the cellar Storing potatoes in a corner container as an alternative to storage in bins You can store potatoes in bright colored mesh bags. Thermal bag is an excellent solution for storing vegetables at low temperatures

Methods for storing potatoes in a basement or cellar

• in bulk right in the middle of the cellar (bulk method)
• in bulk in bins (secret method)
• in large ventilated containers (containerized)
• small boxes and bags
• on racks

The bulk and secluded methods do not require containers, which means you won’t need to spend extra money. Their disadvantages are that potatoes are stored in large volumes, and this complicates the process of sorting and inspecting them. Tubers that are located at the bottom and in the middle receive less oxygen. Potatoes in the upper layers often become foggy as moisture evaporates and rises from the very bottom. To prevent fogging, it is recommended to pour a layer of straw on top, which will absorb excess moisture. The straw must be turned over periodically. You can also store beets along with potatoes, the excess moisture of which will only be beneficial. Vermiculite has good hygroscopicity. It is recommended to spread it in a layer of 3–4 cm. To ensure ventilation in the bins, it is recommended to place pallets on the floor.

If potatoes are stored in wooden or plastic boxes, then the latter should not directly touch the walls and floor (distance 20–30 cm). For normal ventilation, the distance between the rows of boxes should be several centimeters. The disadvantage of this method is that empty boxes take up a lot of space and need to be washed and disinfected every year.

The bags are placed on the floor in a vertical or horizontal position. With the latter method, the bags can be stacked on top of each other.

A pretty good way to store potatoes on racks. There it lies in one layer, is well ventilated, and does not fog up. It is convenient to inspect and sort through the tubers, and you can also place empty glass jars from winter preservation on empty shelves.

How to preserve the harvest: methods in the photo

The easiest way to store potatoes Simple and convenient - storing potatoes in bins Storing potatoes in bags in a horizontal position Racks are an excellent solution for storing potatoes! Small wooden boxes are the most convenient storage containers

Where to keep supplies

Potatoes can also be stored in piles and trenches, but such storage methods will be rather temporary.

At home, many people prefer to store a small amount of potatoes in the refrigerator. This is not entirely correct, since potatoes are on the list of foods that cannot be stored this way. Another common mistake is that potatoes are stored with other vegetables. Potatoes can be stored with beets and carrots - they absorb moisture well. It is not recommended to store together with apples. The latter tend to absorb odors, and the presence of potatoes reduces their shelf life. Also, potatoes should not be stored together with zucchini, pumpkin, peppers, onions, garlic and other vegetables.

Features of different varieties of vegetables

The length of storage of potatoes is affected by the amount of starch in its composition. The more starch, the longer it is stored there. The most starchy varieties are Zhavoronok, Bullfinch, Adretta, Rassvet Kievskiy, Charodey, Effect. These potatoes can last until spring. Early varieties tend to contain less starch, so they are eaten first. The exception is the Gala variety. Not only is it super early, but it also produces very high yields even in a bad season in poor soil. Fans will love this variety healthy eating due to low starch content.

Some varieties are not suitable for long-term storage at all. These include the varieties Sineglazka, Lorch and Dnepryanka.

As for storage temperature, the varieties Epron, Priekulskiy ranniy, Northern Rose, Falenskiy and Berlichingem require a temperature of +1.5...+2°C; the varieties Ogonyok, Skorospelka, Agrotekhnicheskiy, Loshitsky, Temp and Foran are suitable for temperature fluctuations from +1.5ºС to +3°С; varieties Start, Lorch, Razvaristy and Stolovy 19 are best stored at a temperature of +3...+5°C.

As for seed potatoes, they are first sorted, greened in the sun, dried, cooled, and then sent for winter storage in a dark, cool room with a temperature of 2–3º C. From the second mid-February, the temperature is raised to 10–15º C, opening vents in the storage or taking it outside to germinate. At this stage, the tubers awaken from deep dormancy before planting.

Errors when storing potatoes and associated diseases

The most common errors are the following:

• Poor disinfection of the premises. May cause potato moth and its larvae. Tubers are affected by small worms that can destroy the entire crop. Moth pupae can be found in cracks in the floor and walls, so it is important to thoroughly treat the cellar before storing vegetables. Fungal diseases of potatoes can also occur. If such troubles occur, potatoes are treated with a solution of biological products: 2 liters of Lepitotsid and 0.5 liters of Planriz are taken per 100 liters of water. Lepitocide is destructive to moths and their larvae, and Planriz destroys fungi. The tubers are soaked in the solution for 15–20 minutes, dried and stored. You can eat processed potatoes after 2–3 days. You can spray the tubers with a solution of the drug "Entobacterin", you can also use smoke bombs "Fas" or "Gamma".
• Using tight containers. Gray spotting may occur. The tubers develop many bruises from compression, which turn into gray spots. The potatoes are also “steamed”. Control measures will be preventive.
• They did not inspect for diseased tubers before storage. A few rotten potatoes can infect healthy ones. Common diseases during storage include black leg, fusarium dry rot, wet rot and others. It is necessary to eliminate diseased tubers along with neighboring ones. You can also sprinkle the potatoes with ash.
• Potatoes were not dried well. Can lead to massive damage to tubers by bacterial ring rot. The disease is contagious. Control measures: sorting out the tubers, maintaining the temperature within 2–4 degrees.
• Too high humidity and lack of ventilation. Potatoes are most often affected different types rotten. It is also possible to “suffocate” the tubers. White, loose tubercles form on their surface, which disappear without causing much harm if normal storage conditions are created. If you do nothing, then after a month the potatoes begin to rot.
• Storing potatoes with a lot of mechanical damage. Such potatoes are often affected by rot, as well as a fungal disease such as dry rot. Spreads to neighboring healthy tubers. Brown sunken spots appear on the potatoes, which over time become dry, wrinkled and rotten. Infection occurs in the soil, which is why it is so important to clean the potatoes from dirt. Potatoes are sorted and diseased tubers are removed.
• Storing potatoes near windows. When exposed to direct sunlight, the tubers turn green. For lack of other space, potatoes should be covered in several layers.
• Storage temperature too high. The tubers begin to sprout and, as a result, wither. Control measures: shoots are removed and the air temperature is kept at a lower temperature.
• The air is too dry. The potatoes begin to wilt and become soft. It is necessary to ensure normal humidity.

Potatoes are an indispensable product for most dishes; they are eaten both on weekdays and on holidays, and even during the unexpected arrival of guests or relatives. Potatoes can be served with a delicacy or as a separate dish. So to speak, everyone eats it without exception, regardless of age criteria or social status. It's no secret that the potato harvest in Russia takes place in the fall, often in September or October. But how to store a vegetable in a suitable condition for cooking: do not freeze, do not rot, do not allow it to dry out, turn green and do not allow shoots to sprout. It is the correct ways to store potatoes that will be discussed in this article.

A little history

Peter the Great brought potatoes to decorate flower beds and court lawns. With his appearance, peasants and commoners developed an unsophisticated belief. After all, potatoes have eyes, so eating them means eating a human soul. It is for this reason that it did not gain popularity in those days. Under no circumstances did people agree to grow it, much less cook it as food. The kings of many countries went to various lengths, offering rewards, gold, medals, lands. But nothing could influence the peasants. Only after 1850 this product was tested and began to be planted en masse throughout Russia and in other countries.

Potatoes are a finicky product, because if stored incorrectly, they can freeze or become flabby. If this happens, then all you have to do is throw it away, because harmful substances and poisons accumulate in it. She is no longer capable of producing offspring, that is, she is unsuitable for planting.

Storing potatoes outside the home

Based on what was described above, there are two ways to store the product: in an apartment (house) or outside the house - in a garage or on the street. Let's consider these methods in more detail.

The most popular and practical storage method is the cellar. It maintains optimal air temperature both in winter and summer – approximately 4 degrees. But before you put the potatoes in, you should dry them in the fresh air, preferably on the sunny side. This will ensure that it dries out, which will subsequently protect it from the process of rotting. However, vegetables should not be placed in bags; they must breathe. To do this, plank boxes are made with gaps of 4-5 centimeters, or the cellar floor is lined with timber, boards, or a thick layer of sawdust. After which the potatoes are poured to a height of no more than one and a half meters.

Remember, vegetables do not like cold and frost, so to be safe, cover them with burlap and insulate the cellar until spring. Under no circumstances open it earlier, you may ruin the entire product.

How to store potatoes in an apartment?

There are 4 ways to store potatoes in an apartment in a form suitable for use, or rather, for cooking.

Storage under the sink or kitchen sink

In order to store potatoes in an apartment, choose a dark and cool place with optimal humidity, while avoiding plastic bags or non-breathable, airtight bags. The most optimal thing is a basket made of twigs, but if you don’t have one, don’t worry, you can take a bucket or basin and make holes in it for air circulation.

Storing potatoes on a balcony or loggia

Here's another way to store vegetables, including potatoes, in your apartment. To do this, you can make or buy a box (box) made of boards or other wooden material: timber, pressed sawdust. If the balcony is not glazed and does not have any protection from weather conditions, then insulate the box with foam plastic from the inside and old warm things - jackets, sheepskin coats, fur coats or a blanket from the outside. As you know, polystyrene foam does not decompose and does not break down into components due to temperature changes, and winter clothes retain heat inside.

Tip: if you are faced with the problem of sprouts appearing as you store potatoes, you can put apples or mint leaves in the container. Storing potatoes and these products together ensures their preservation for a long time without visible signs of spoilage or sprouting.

Storing potatoes in the refrigerator

A Khrushchev refrigerator is a cabinet located under the kitchen window. In winter, the temperature varies depending on the weather conditions in your region. It is higher than on the street, but lower than in the apartment. Ideally, if your living space is equipped with this type of “equipment,” then you can install a thermometer that will tell you whether to cover and insulate the potatoes or, conversely, remove all insulation.

In luxury houses or apartments that have undergone major renovations, the Khrushchev refrigerator is made of plastic with a control hole, similar to the neck of a plastic bottle. It’s easier here; if you need a lower temperature, unscrew the lid; if you need a higher temperature, screw it on.

As for the storage itself, the principle is the same as in all previous cases. The only disadvantage of storing it in refrigerators is the small capacity of the product; you must agree that it is not advisable to fill it from top to bottom with just potatoes.

Storage in the entrance or corridor

In office premises the temperature is always lower than in residential ones. But you should take care of the safety of your potatoes, because there will always be a thief for goods stored freely. Therefore, you should put a box with a well-closing lock, or better yet, fix it to the flooring: nail it or screw it with long screws.

It should be remembered that if you choose a corridor entering a living space as a storage method, take care of the optimal humidity of the product.

If the apartment is hot and the temperature is above 26 degrees, then the potatoes may simply dry out, and to prevent this from happening, you can place cut-off potatoes near the storage container. plastic bottle, in which to control the presence of water.

The harvested harvest serves as a source of pride for the gardener and inspires confidence in the future, but this result of many months of effort can easily be ruined if done incorrectly.

Let's figure out how to properly store potatoes.

Timing for harvesting potatoes for winter storage

As you know, they begin to dig up the crop already in June-July, but young tubers cannot stand it for a long time, since they have not yet acquired a thick enough peel. The timing of the final harvest of the “second bread” depends on the weather and on the specific variety, but usually around the beginning of autumn.

It is believed that you can dig when its tops dry out. Gardeners usually carry out control digging of tubers, and based on their condition, weather (it is better to dig on a fine day) and their own experience, they determine the harvest date.

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 the local delicacy is approximately 500 euros per kilogram, the harvest size is no more than 100 tons. The tubers are very tender, taste sweet, have a nutty flavor, and have a lemon aroma.

Preparing potatoes for storage

Before laying on the harvested crop needs to be dried. If the days are clear and the garden is sandy, then the tubers can be dried directly in the garden, taking them to one place. The process will take several hours; the actual extraction from the sandy soil is already quite dry and clean.

Much more often they are dried under a canopy or inside some outbuilding - this guarantees protection of the crop from the vagaries of the weather. One or two days is enough for the adhering soil to fall off the tubers and for their skin to dry out.

Did you know? IN tropical forests you can find the potato tree Solanum wrightii Benth, whose height reaches 15 meters. True, this plant does not have tubers.

After drying, they are placed in a dark room for a couple of weeks - in bulk (no more than a half-meter layer) or in bags. During this time, the skin of the potatoes will thicken, and in addition, they will appear. After this quarantine period, the tubers are sorted, removing both diseased and mechanically damaged specimens, after which the crop is ready to be stored in the winter.

Potato storage conditions

To store it correctly, it is very important to observe the temperature regime. The optimal temperature is +3-5°C, and the decisive factor is the stability of this temperature throughout the entire storage period. With more high temperature, the tubers germinate over time, take root and become unsuitable for consumption, and frozen potatoes taste sweet due to the formation of starch and sugar in them.

The storage room itself should be dark, insulated from, with a constant temperature and. The floor of the storage facility is covered with sand - it absorbs moisture well. Other moisture-absorbing flooring materials are also acceptable. It is strictly not recommended to cover the bottom of the storage facility with linoleum, slate, or cement it- all this leads to the accumulation of moisture and the growth of fungus.

Important! Prolonged natural or artificial lighting leads to the formation of toxic substance solanine. Outwardly, this manifests itself as greening of the tubers.

Types of storage in different storage facilities

Tubers are stored both in bulk, in a continuous layer, and in bags or boxes. It is much more convenient to store potatoes in containers than in bulk. If you decide to store potato tubers in boxes, then the boxes in the storage should be located so that air can circulate freely between them. The boxes can be installed to the entire height of the room. When storing 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 ventilation conditions. poured to a height of up to 1.7 m, food grade up to 2.2 m. Load into storage carefully, trying not to damage the tubers, which can lead to further rotting and spoilage.

In the hole

This is a rather archaic way of storing crops, but, nevertheless, it is still quite often practiced, for example, in dachas. However, everyday access to potatoes stored in this way is quite difficult. Let's figure out how to store it in a hole.
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 30-40 cm, no more. Then this storage is filled with straw, 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 covered with a board from above and covered with a layer of earth up to 80 cm. It is advisable to make ventilation holes in the pit, although this is not necessary.

On the balcony

If you have nowhere to store it except in your apartment, then a balcony is a suitable place for this, unless, of course, this balcony is glazed and closed. In this case, the tubers are best preserved in boxes.

Storage in ordinary boxes does not require any additional devices or procedures. Just put it in boxes and cover it with rags on top. Such storage can easily withstand frosts down to -10°C. In a temperate climate and a closed balcony, potatoes can also be stored in bags, laying oilcloth under them so as not to spread dirt, and covering the bags with rags.
For harsher climates, the second option is preferable. This requires two boxes made of boards, plywood or clapboard. They should invest in each other like a nesting doll. The smaller box is used directly as a chamber for storing tubers. A larger box is used as a thermal insulation chamber.

There should 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. The outer part of this structure is covered with linoleum or any other moisture-resistant material, for example, plastic or galvanized iron.

And lastly: to maintain constant temperature In the storage room, two 15-25 Watt bulbs are installed as heating elements. They are turned on only when it is very cold, and they should be darkened with something opaque. A similar container can also 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 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 resulting solution should be used to whiten the walls and ceiling.

Important! If disinfection is not carried out, the stored crop may become a victim of the potato pest, the larvae of which infect the tubers. In addition, the risk of fungal diseases of potatoes will increase significantly.

After about a week, when the whitewash has completely dried, you need to check the hoods and fix any problems, if any. Next, a place for storing potatoes is arranged. 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 almost the same way as in. For better preservation of the tubers, exactly the same whitewashing is required. But, since basement designs differ from those, you 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, causing them to turn green.

Types of containers for storing potatoes

Harvested potatoes can be stored in bulk, but containers are often used for storage. The most famous type of container is a bag, regular or mesh. The latter type is preferable as it provides better ventilation.

Boxes, both wooden and plastic, are widely used for storage. Such boxes are usually designed for approximately 10 kg of potatoes. The wooden ones are made of planks; there are slots on the walls and bottom for better ventilation and visual control over the storage item. Plastic boxes have mesh walls and bottoms for the same purpose. Sometimes, if available in storage, boxes made of double metal mesh are used.
In addition to boxes, larger containers made from the same wooden planks are also used for storage. They can be rectangular or angular. Rectangular containers often have a door at the bottom for easy removal of potatoes stored there.

Modern technologies have not bypassed such a trivial area as potato storage. Currently, for these purposes, consumers are offered unique mini-cellars called thermal containers or thermal cabinets. Such devices operate from the mains and 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 ones are good because in the summer they are simply folded and put away out of sight until the fall.

Basic rules for storing potatoes

To guarantee the preservation of the potato harvest, you must adhere to certain rules. As stated above, harvested tubers must be dried and sorted, and 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 a layer (it will protect it from excessive moisture) on top of the potatoes. To slow down the germination of tubers, they add a few per box.

Thus, when proper preparation to the storage of the potatoes themselves, as well as the use of a suitable potato storage facility and compliance with certain rules, the preservation of the harvested crop will be ensured.

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We dug up the potatoes and loaded the crop into the cellar, rejoicing at the strong, beautiful tubers. But, unfortunately, sometimes after a few months our harvest begins to deteriorate - the tubers sprout, lose their elasticity, wrinkle, and rot. Let's see what FORUMHOUSE members do to keep potatoes fresh until the new harvest.

• What affects the keeping quality of potatoes?
• What varieties of potatoes are suitable for storage.
• At what temperature are potatoes stored?
• At what humidity are potatoes stored?
• How to predict the keeping quality of potatoes: the package method.
• How to increase the shelf life of potatoes at home.

What determines the keeping quality of potatoes?

Keeping quality is the ability of potatoes to be stored without significant weight loss, deterioration in nutritional, marketable and seed qualities. Keeping quality depends on the variety and proper storage conditions, and all these conditions are equally important.

Choosing suitable varieties

Mihkel Member FORUMHOUSE

For each potato variety there is a ripening period, according to which the varieties are divided into early, mid-ripening, late and others. There is no need to dig late-ripening varieties in August, but keep early ones until October. Early varieties are not very shelf-stable. They are mainly suitable for consumption and processing.

Potatoes of early varieties are intended for digging in the summer and eating in the fall. It will not be stored in the cellar, and, no matter how we conjure it, it will lie in best case scenario, until December, and then it will grow sharply. Therefore, the participants of our portal do not plant a lot of early potatoes.

Yoursangel Member of FORUMHOUSE

I liked “Zhukovsky Early” - indeed, it is the earliest, large, healthy and tasty.

In addition to early varieties, there are varieties that require special storage conditions. Thus, the popular and tasty varieties Falensky, Berlichingham, Epron, Northern Rose love the cold and perfectly retain their qualities at a temperature of +1.5 - +2°C.

Skorospelka, Ogonyok, Agrotekhnicheskiy, Temp, Loshitsky, Foran are ideally stored at a temperature of +1.5 - +3°C.

Lorch, Table 19, Boiled, Start prefer heat +3 - +5°C.

Here are the varieties that, according to reviews from FORUMHOUSE participants, do not impose exorbitant demands on the temperature conditions of the potato storage: Lark, Vesna, Lorch, Atlas, Vesnyanka, Naiada (crumbly), Sorcerer, League, Naiad, Scarlet Sail, Luck and others.

What should be the temperature in the cellar?

Scientists have not yet resolved this issue; it is still being debated. A number of researchers insist that the lower the temperature, the better, and ideally, tubers should be stored at zero, at least at +1 -+2 °C. This slows down germination and does not allow harmful microorganisms to run rampant. It’s a paradox, but the results of numerous experiments show that at this ideal temperature, the shelf life of potatoes, on the contrary, decreases: at “near zero” the most aggressive microorganisms that attack the tubers survive in the cellar; In addition, at this temperature, the eyes die and the tissue of the tubers is damaged.

Therefore, for storing most varieties of potatoes, it is still recommended to maintain +2 - +4 °C.

This temperature is maintained until March, until the end of the natural dormancy period, after which it is recommended to lower it to +1°C so that the tubers do not germinate. Before planting, potatoes can be kept at this temperature without reducing their quality.

Sometimes potatoes germinate even with strict adherence to temperature conditions. The fact is that the duration of the dormant period of tubers is influenced by the conditions in which the potatoes grew.

The drier and hotter the summer, the less moisture the potato bushes received, the shorter the dormant period, the worse the tubers will be stored.

The keeping quality of potatoes is also affected by the mineral fertilizers that were used during its cultivation. Thus, excess nitrogen leads to a high content of sugars in tubers, as a result they are stored worse, especially if there are any diseases.

We monitor the quality of tubers

Potato agronomists believe that the quality of tubers has no less influence on the preservation of tubers than the variety.

Tubers to be stored must be:

• undamaged;
• clean;
• unsprouted;
• smooth, approximately identical in shape;
• ripe, with thick skin.

Mihkel

The easiest way to tell if a potato is ripe is to rub the skin with your fingertip. If the skin peels off (flakes), the potato is not yet ripe. If it stays tight, that's it.

You can help potatoes grow skin if you mow the tops 5-7 days before digging. , leaving stumps 15 cm high.

Under no circumstances should tubers affected by phytophotora, as well as any type of rot, be sent for storage. Be careful not to put a frozen tuber in the basement along with the rest of the potatoes - it reduces the keeping quality of the entire crop.

Not only the type of potatoes is important, but also the smell: if pesticides were used during cultivation, and the tubers smell somehow strange, they cannot be stored.

Before storage, the tubers must develop a strong, durable skin. The fact is that microorganisms will not penetrate tubers with intact, strong, undamaged tissues. All micro-wounds of the tuber heal if the dug potatoes are kept for two to three weeks at +12 - +18°C and air humidity 90 - 95%. This period is called the healing period.

Package method: will the potatoes be stored?

Scientists of the All-Russian Research Institute of Potato Farming named after. A.G. Lorch determines how suitable potatoes are for long-term storage using the so-called bag method. The method is simple and easy to apply in home and country settings. To do this, you need to dig up several bushes in a couple of weeks, select healthy-looking tubers, fill them with a large plastic bag and leave them for two weeks at a temperature of +15 - +20°C. The bag creates an ideal microclimate for microorganisms, and if the tubers have even the slightest infection, then phytophotora spots, traces of wet rot and other diseases will appear on them. The more tubers are affected, the worse the crop will be stored. If all the tubers are clean, then your potatoes are healthy.