Potato storage: the best options. How to store potatoes in an apartment How to store potatoes in a city apartment

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 and as a separate dish. So to speak, everyone without exception eats it, regardless of age criteria or social status. It's no secret that the potato harvest in Russia takes place in autumn, 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 let it dry, turn green and do not let shoots. It is about the correct ways to store potatoes that will be discussed in this article.

A bit of history

Peter the Great brought potatoes to decorate flower beds and court lawns. With his appearance, peasants and commoners developed a not cunning belief. After all, potatoes have eyes, respectively, to eat it means to eat the human soul. It is for this reason that he did not gain popularity in those days. Under no pretext did people agree to grow it, let alone cook it as food. The kings of many countries went to different sophistication, offered rewards, gold, medals, land. But nothing could influence the peasants. Only after 1850, this product was tasted, and they began to be massively planted throughout Russia and in other countries.

Potatoes are a finicky product, because if stored incorrectly, they can freeze or flake. If this happens, then you just have to throw it away, because harmful substances and poisons accumulate in it. She is no longer able to produce offspring, that is, unsuitable for landing.

Potato storage outside the home

Based on the above, two ways of storing the product can be distinguished: 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 the optimum air temperature both in winter and in summer - about 4 degrees. But before lowering the potatoes, they should be dried in the fresh air, preferably on the sunny side. This will ensure that it dries out, which subsequently protects it from the rotting process. In this case, vegetables should not be placed in bags, they must breathe. To do this, plank boxes are made, with slots from 4-5 centimeters, or the floor of the cellar is lined with timber, boards, and a thick layer of sawdust. After that, the potatoes fall asleep 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. In no case do not open it earlier, you can ruin the entire product.

How to store potatoes in an apartment?

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

Storage under the sink or kitchen sink

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 is a wicker basket, 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

And here is another way to store vegetables, including potatoes in the 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 the weather, then insulate the box with foam plastic from the inside and old warm clothes - jackets, sheepskin coats, fur coats or a blanket, outside. As you know, the foam does not decompose and does not break down into components from temperature changes, and winter things keep heat inside.

Tip: if you are facing the problem of the appearance of offshoots while storing potatoes, then you can put apples or mint leaves in the container. Joint storage of potatoes and these products ensures their safety for a long time without visible signs of spoilage or germination.

Storing potatoes in the refrigerator

Khrushchev's refrigerator is called a cabinet, which is located under the kitchen window. In winter, the temperature in it varies depending on the weather conditions in your area. It is higher than on the street, but lower than in the apartment. Ideally, if your living space is equipped with this type of “appliance”, then you can introduce a thermometer that will tell you whether it is worth covering and insulating potatoes or, conversely, removing all insulation.

In elite houses or apartments that have been overhauled, the Khrushchev refrigerator is made of plastic with a control hole, in the image and likeness of the neck of a plastic bottle. It’s easier here, a lower temperature is needed - they unscrewed the lid, if a higher one is needed, they screwed it on.

As for the storage itself, the principle is the same as in all previous cases. The only disadvantage of storage 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 one potato.

Storage in the entrance or hallway

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

It should be remembered that if you choose a corridor that enters the living room as a storage method, take care of the optimal moisture content of the product.

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

Potato is the most beloved vegetable in our latitudes, which is also deservedly called the "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 composed of starches, which is why they are quite high in calories. It also contains a complete set of useful trace elements, vitamins and amino acids. Its benefits for 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 germinate. In order for potatoes to be successfully stored at home all winter, temperature conditions and other nuances must be observed.

Modes for potato tubers

1. Treatment period. There is drying and ripening of tubers, healing of cuts and injuries from blows. After digging the potatoes, it is recommended to leave them to lie for 1-2 hours. During this time, it will dry out enough and become covered with a dry crust. It is not worth staying in the sun for a long time, because under the influence of direct sunlight the tubers turn green and can get a “sunburn”. Then the potatoes are harvested 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 to health!

2. cooling period. It consists in a gradual decrease in temperature to + 2 ... + 4o. Lasts 10-15 days. During this period, the tubers enter a dormant period. In normal country conditions, nature itself will help to achieve this effect, since in the autumn period there is a natural cooling of the air.
3. Main period or winter. Lasts until the end of February. For long-term storage, potatoes are transferred to a suitable place for this. In order not to disturb the state of rest, they provide the correct temperature, humidity and light conditions.
4. Spring period. Begins with the onset of warm weather. The temperature in the potato store rises and the tubers begin to germinate. From this point on, potatoes quickly lose their suitability.

Sometimes the first two periods are combined into one post-harvest period. It is a preparatory stage before long-term storage. Failure to comply with it, you are threatened with the loss of a significant part of the crop. Also at this time it is important to protect the potatoes from moisture and rain.

Preparing potatoes for storage at home

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

• If we have harvested our own crop and are planning to plant potatoes next year, then first of all we need to select potatoes for sowing. As a rule, for this 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 potatoes "for eating", seed potatoes are recommended to be left in the sun for several days to "green". Thanks to this, 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 ones that lie until winter maximum. 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 more “hard” varieties that are ideal for frying.
• You can also sort by size. Large tubers lie longer than small ones. In addition, potatoes of approximately the same size form more voids, which provides better ventilation.
• Much attention should be paid to the quality of tubers. In the future, all cuts and poorly healed injuries can cause rot. Such potatoes are selected "for now". Cuts can be treated with wood ash.
• It is recommended to wash potato tubers before storage, since many microbes live in the ground 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 stacked in boxes or bags. You can also remove it during sorting by wearing gloves with a rough surface. Do not wash potatoes immediately after digging.
• After sorting, the potatoes are put into containers and sent for storage.

Important! Do not be lazy to sort the potatoes before storage! A few diseased tubers can infect the rest of the healthy ones, which can lead to the loss of part of the crop.

Of course, the quality of tubers, as well as the quality of the entire crop as a whole, will depend on weather conditions, soil, and fertilizer methods. If summer and autumn were rainy, then there is a high probability of rot developing. Excessive dryness leads to early wilting of tubers. In order to somehow extend the shelf life of an already bad potato, you can treat it with wood ash. For 20 kg, we need only 2–3 handfuls of ash, which needs to be poured over the tubers during laying for storage. Of course, today there are many chemicals 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 the germination of tubers, it is advised to shift with mint and rowan leaves, pine and spruce branches. These plants contain phytoncides that help prolong the "winter hibernation".

Preparing potatoes for long-term storage - photo

Drying potatoes in the sun is an important preparatory step. 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 crates during the winter

How to store a vegetable correctly

• Temperature. The place for storage should be cool - 2-4 ºС heat, at lower temperatures the potatoes lose their taste. The maximum storage temperature is 5–7 ºС. At a temperature of 0 ºС and below, the potato freezes, becomes sweet and unfit for consumption, and soon rots.
• Humidity. Optimum humidity is 85–90%. Low and excessive humidity equally harm the preservation of tubers. If the air is too dry, you can put 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 from the direct rays of the sun.

Not everyone has the right place to store potatoes. Often you have to go to small tricks to ensure optimal conditions and keep potatoes as long as possible. If the room temperature is too high (for example, in the pantry of an ordinary apartment), then you can try to cool 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 outside 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 potatoes in old blankets or jackets, or you can make an insulated storage box with your own hands. For especially frosty nights, in order to surely protect vegetables from freezing, it is better to make a heated box.

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

How to make an insulated box

For the frame you need a wooden beam. The finished frame can be sheathed with plywood, chipboard, fiberboard or OSB using self-tapping screws and a screwdriver. As a heater, sheets of foam or foam plastic, 5 cm thick, are suitable. 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 glued with wide adhesive tape. Insulate the lid in the same way.

You can also create a box according to the principle of nesting dolls. You will need two containers, one of which is slightly smaller. The space between the walls is filled with sawdust, crushed foam or other material, 3–5 cm thick.

A box for potatoes, insulated with polystyrene foam, is a great solution for storing potatoes on the balcony!

An already finished container can be improved with a heating element and an electrical contact thermostat. As a heater, a household hair dryer with a low power or two incandescent lamps of 40–60 W is suitable. The relay will turn the heater on and off automatically, maintaining the desired temperature in the container. At the bottom of the box, you need to put a grate 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 hair dryer is attached to the upper end. Heated air will flow to the bottom of the box, then rise and heat its contents. For uniform heat supply, several holes are made in the lower part of the tube.

Insulated box heated by a household hair dryer

Hairdryer - the device is quite noisy and requires a lot of electricity. You can use incandescent bulbs instead. In this case, you will need a tin pipe into which two light bulbs are inserted. The heat they give off will be enough to warm the potatoes.

Thermal container heated by incandescent lamps

If you are a happy owner of an insulated balcony, then for storing vegetables in the 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 the 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 of wooden planks. They are light, reliable, easy to carry vegetables in, and can be stacked on top of each other to save space. In such a container, it is easier to sort out potatoes, it can be viewed through the cracks for the presence of rotten tubers. Due to the distance between the planks, 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, the length is 50 cm. You will also need triangular wooden blocks for better fastening of the sides. It is best to connect the parts together with nails or self-tapping screws.

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

Potato storage box drawing

Plastic boxes are also bought for storing potatoes, 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; it will not be easy to carry potatoes due to the weight of the boxes themselves.

You can store potatoes in large containers made from pallets or the same wooden planks. They are made angular or rectangular. An ordinary rectangular container can be with a horizontal door at the bottom or a shukhlyad. Thanks to this design, potatoes are easy to pick up.

It is preferable to choose bags from the grid. In such a container, potatoes "breathe" and do not fog up. Strong polypropylene bags are strictly not allowed for long-term storage. They practically do not let air through and are suitable only for harvesting and transporting it.

To date, you can buy a special thermal bag for storing vegetables on the balcony in the winter. The top of the bag is made of dense tent fabric, and the inner warm layer is made of thick durable synthetic winterizer. 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. Also on sale are thermal containers, where the temperature is controlled by a special temperature sensor and never drops below 1ºС. Perhaps the only drawback of such a container is its cost. How to make a heated container with your own hands, we have already told above.

The most common container for storing potatoes - photo

Wooden box - the most common container for storing potatoes Plastic box with mesh bottom and sides Variant of container for storing potatoes in the cellar Storing potatoes in a corner container as an alternative to bin storage You can store potatoes in brightly colored mesh bags. A thermal bag is an excellent solution for storing vegetables at low temperatures.

Ways to store potatoes in the basement or cellar

• in bulk right in the middle of the cellar (bulk method)
• in bulk in the bins (bin method)
• in large ventilated containers (container)
• small boxes and bags
• on the shelves

Bulk and bin methods do not require containers, which means you do not need to spend extra money. Their disadvantages are that potatoes are stored in large volumes, and this makes it difficult to sort and inspect them. Tubers that are at the bottom and in the middle receive less oxygen. Potatoes in the upper layers often fog up, as the moisture evaporates and rises from the bottoms themselves. To prevent fogging, it is recommended to pour a layer of straw on top, which will absorb excess moisture. Straw should be turned over periodically. You can also store beets with potatoes, the excess moisture of which will only benefit. Vermiculite has good hygroscopicity. It is recommended to fill it with a layer of 3–4 cm. To ensure ventilation in the bins, it is recommended to place pallets on the floor.

If the potatoes are stored in wooden or plastic boxes, 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, they 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.

Pretty good way to store potatoes on racks. There it lies in one layer, is well ventilated, does not fog up. It is convenient to inspect and sort out the tubers, in addition, empty glass jars from winter preservation can be placed on empty racks.

How to save the harvest: methods in the photo

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

Where to keep stock

Potatoes can also be stored in heaps, trenches, but such storage methods will be more 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 in 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, in addition, the presence of potatoes reduces their shelf life. Also, potatoes are not stored together with zucchini, pumpkin, peppers, onions, garlic and other vegetables.

Features of different varieties of vegetables

The amount of starch in its composition affects the duration of storage of potatoes. The more starch, the longer it is stored there. The most starchy varieties are Lark, Bullfinch, Adretta, Dawn Kyiv, Charodey, Effect. Such potatoes can lie until spring. Early varieties tend to contain less starch, so they are eaten first. An 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 of a healthy diet will like this variety due to its low starch content.

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

As for the storage temperature, the varieties Epron, Priekulsky early, Northern Rose, Falensky and Berlichingem require a temperature of + 1.5 ... + 2 ° С; varieties Ogonyok, Skorospelka, Agrotechnical, Loshitsky, Temp and Foran are suitable for temperature fluctuations from + 1.5 ° C to + 3 ° C; varieties Start, Lorkh, Razvaristy and Table 19 are best stored at a temperature of +3…+5°C.

As for seed potatoes, they are first sorted, planted 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.

Potato storage errors and related diseases

The most common are the following errors:

• Poor disinfection of the room. Can cause potato moth and its larvae. Tubers are affected by small worms that can destroy the entire crop. Moth pupae can be in the cracks of the floor and walls, so it is important to treat the cellar well before storing vegetables. Fungal diseases of potatoes can also occur. In the event of such troubles, potatoes are treated with a solution of biological products: 2 liters of Lepitocide and 0.5 liters of Planriz are taken per 100 liters of water. Lepitocide is detrimental to moths and their larvae, and Planriz destroys fungi. The tubers are soaked in the solution for 15-20 minutes, dried and sent for storage. You can eat processed potatoes in 2-3 days. You can spray the tubers with a solution of the drug "Entobacterin", they also use smoke bombs "Fas" or "Gamma".
• Use of tight containers. Gray spotting may occur. The tubers develop many bruises from compression, which turn into gray spots. Also, potatoes are "steamed". Control measures will be preventive.
• Not examined for the presence of diseased tubers before storage. A few rotten potatoes can infect healthy ones. Common diseases during storage are blackleg, fusarium dry rot, wet rot and others. It is necessary to eliminate diseased tubers along with neighboring ones. You can also sprinkle potatoes with ash
• Potatoes not dried well. Can lead to massive damage to tubers by bacterial ring rot. The disease is contagious. Control measures: sorting out tubers, maintaining the temperature within 2-4 degrees.
• Too high humidity and lack of ventilation. Potatoes are more often affected by various types of rot. Tuber suffocation is also possible. White loose tubercles form on their surface, which disappear without causing much harm if normal storage conditions are created. If nothing is done, then after a month the potatoes begin to rot.
• Storage of 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 adjacent healthy tubers. Brown sunken spots appear on the potatoes, which eventually become dry, shriveled and rotten. Infection occurs even in the soil, so it is so important to clean the potatoes from dirt. Potatoes are sorted and diseased tubers are removed.
• Storing potatoes near windows. Under the influence of direct sunlight, the tubers turn green. For lack of another place, potatoes should be covered in several layers.
• Storage temperature too high. The tubers begin to germinate and, as a result, wither. Control measures: shoots are removed and provide a lower air temperature.
• Too dry air. Potatoes begin to wilt, become soft. It is necessary to provide normal humidity.

An indispensable product for everyday and festive menus is potatoes. Without this root crop, first courses cannot be prepared, it is often used as a side dish, fried potatoes are the easiest way to feed unexpected guests. Mass harvesting of potatoes occurs in August-October. Summer residents and rural residents usually leave the harvest for the winter in a cool cellar or basement, but where can you store potatoes in an apartment? You need to choose a suitable place so that the crop does not rot, does not freeze, and does not begin to germinate. You can store potatoes in a cool, dark place, be sure to limit natural light from windows.

As soon as the summer resident has harvested the long-awaited potato crop or the city dweller has purchased several grids in order to save money (vegetables become more expensive in winter), the question arises of where to find a place for potatoes in a small apartment. Ideally, if there is a garage with a cellar or a glazed loggia - there are no problems with storing the crop. To keep vegetables intact for the entire winter period, you should maintain the storage temperature of potatoes and carefully prepare them before winter. Preparing potatoes for storage requires the following conditions:

• Drying. It is performed immediately after harvesting - the potatoes are kept in the sun for some time (up to three hours), so that the wet, adherent earth lags behind the tubers. It is recommended to dry the potatoes to reduce the likelihood of rotting. For 3-4 weeks, the harvested crop is left in a dark, dry, ventilated place. During this time, the places damaged during harvesting dry out, the root crops adapt to the processes of decay. The optimum drying temperature is from 12 to 18°C, humidity is not higher than 95%. If the tubers begin to sprout, they should be removed.
• Maintaining the optimum temperature while preparing potatoes for storage is an obstacle to the spread of rot. It has been scientifically proven that tubers can "breathe" - they release water, heat, carbon dioxide. If the room is quite warm, vegetables quickly lose moisture, begin to shrivel, dry out and age. To avoid this, the harvested crop is kept at a temperature of 4-7°C above zero. It is possible to prevent the development of fungi and bacteria that cause rot by wrapping potatoes with fresh leaves of wormwood, mountain ash. The crop is periodically sorted out, spoiled tubers and young sprouts are removed.
• The choice of variety according to the keeping quality of vegetables. If you buy potatoes from the market to keep them all winter, you need to pay attention to the variety. For a couple of months, medium-early and mid-ripening varieties (Rocco, Aurora, Hostess) can be stored without problems. Late-ripening and medium-late varieties (Gatchinsky, Atlant, Slavyanka) have a longer keeping quality. It plays a role, what was the season of growing potatoes, the fertilizers used, the composition of the soil. After a rainy summer, root crops deteriorate faster. If the soil is "fed" with a large amount of nitrogen fertilizers, the tubers do not resist diseases well.

Damaged tubers must be removed, sprouts must be broken off

Before storing potatoes, they need to be sorted - small tubers are separated from large ones, root crops are selected, on which there are traces of a shovel or harvesting equipment. Potatoes with damaged skin should be used for cooking immediately. The rules for storing potatoes are simple - following simple recommendations, it is quite possible to keep the crop until spring.

Optimal storage conditions for potatoes

Seasonal vegetables are available all year round, and many housewives simply buy potatoes as needed in small quantities, store the product on the shelves of the refrigerator, in the pantry or closet. But if you harvest on your own personal plot, where there is no cellar, or buy several nets for storing potatoes in an apartment at once, you need to observe the optimal conditions under which the product does not lose nutritional value and does not deteriorate. If you place the potatoes correctly, the storage time of the tubers increases markedly. It is necessary to maintain the recommended temperature and humidity, store vegetables in a well-ventilated area, periodically check for rot, and remove sprouts. How to keep potatoes for the winter in an apartment for a long time? Ensure optimal storage conditions for vegetables.

Humidity

Storage of potatoes at home in an apartment should be based on maintaining the optimal humidity in the room - 80-90%. High humidity plus heat is a signal for the germination of young shoots that dry out the root crop. How to get the optimal level of humidity:

• Periodically ventilate the storage room.
• Provide vegetables with good air circulation.
• Do not keep potatoes in places where moisture evaporates.
• Do not store drawers against walls where condensation collects.
• To absorb moisture, shift the tubers with sawdust.
• Do not store root vegetables with any other vegetables other than beets.

Failure to comply will result in germination or rotting

If you store potatoes in the kitchen, you need to make sure that the extractor above the stove for cooking works well. When condensation settles on the potato peel, the tubers deteriorate, and young sprouts can start up.

Temperature

Potatoes do not like heat, coolness increases the keeping quality of tubers. Even at the stage of sorting vegetables, it is necessary to separate damaged and small root crops for use in the first place, select large tubers - they will lie until the middle of winter, and leave medium-sized vegetables for long-term storage. The optimal temperature for storing potatoes in winter is 2-3 ° C, but the apartment is much warmer. How to achieve the desired indicator on the thermometer:

• In the fall, potatoes can be stored on the balcony, but avoid light.
• When the temperature drops to -2 degrees Celsius, bring the crop into the room.
• Choose the coolest places indoors, leave the container in the vestibule.
• Do not store tubers near heaters, radiators.
• Periodically check the temperature by leaving a thermometer in the potato box.

So, at what temperature can potatoes be stored? If the tubers are stored in a cool place (balcony, loggia, corridor, entrance), the temperature should be 2-7°C, and when stored in a closed container, 18°C ​​is allowed. Under optimal temperature and humidity conditions, potatoes can be stored for up to six months, otherwise - no more than a few weeks. At temperatures below two degrees Celsius, the product freezes and becomes unsuitable for consumption.

illumination

When preparing potatoes for long-term storage, it is necessary to carry out short-term light treatment in the open air under the sun - no more than three hours. The tubers dry well, excess moisture is removed from them. After that, vegetables should be stored in a dark place. To keep the potatoes in the apartment until spring, you should not allow natural light to hit the tubers.

Tubers with a green tint should not be eaten - there is a risk of serious poisoning with toxins

Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, the toxic substance solanine accumulates in the tubers. Potato turns green, not good for eating. Although seed tubers are deliberately left in the sun longer, solanine does not allow bacteria and rot to spread, as it is a natural defense. If vegetables are kept on a balcony or loggia, you need to cover the containers or boxes with a cloth, additionally shade with a piece of plywood. Harvest can only be stored in a dark place. If the potatoes germinate, you need to pay attention to how to store the potatoes in the apartment so that they do not give young shoots. A constant regime of the same humidity and temperature should be maintained.

Air access

Where to store potatoes in an apartment so that the tubers can easily winter? Choose a room and a place with good air circulation, periodically ventilate the room. This allows you to reduce humidity, eliminate the heat and moisture that the tubers emit. Good air access is guaranteed if vegetables are stored in bags, nylon nets, wooden boxes, containers with holes.

You can not store potatoes in plastic containers - it prevents free access of air, does not provide the required ventilation. As a result, food deteriorates, rots, becomes moldy, and becomes completely unsuitable for eating.

The right mode will protect the crop from spoilage

Ways to store potatoes

The apartment has limited space for long-term storage of a large number of vegetables. This is not about one or two kilograms of potatoes, but about several bags or nets. The most optimal temperature is up to +7 degrees. Additionally, the required humidity level (85-90%) must be observed. Not every room is suitable for placing containers with tubers - hardly anyone wants to keep food in the living room or bedroom.

Therefore, root crops are mainly stored in the kitchen. Well, if there is a spacious pantry. Alternatively, you can place vegetables in the vestibule of the entrance, leave them on the balcony or loggia, use the refrigerator. Each method has its pros and cons - you need to take into account all the nuances so that the tubers are stored for a long time.

Method number 1: On the balcony

A convenient storage option is a glazed balcony. The unheated loggia keeps an acceptable temperature for storing potatoes on the balcony in winter. If the loggia is not glazed, you need to constantly monitor the temperature outside so that the tubers do not freeze. You can use a wooden box insulated with foam, wrap the container with warm winter clothes. Proper storage of potatoes on the balcony implies that:

• Keep vegetables in a wooden box.
• A container with tubers can be wrapped with an old wadded blanket.
• On an uninsulated balcony, boxes with foam are needed.

Options for compact placement of containers for potatoes on the loggia

If the loggia for storing potatoes on the balcony is unglazed in winter, it is convenient to use the two-layer method of filling containers. To do this, take two wooden boxes of different sizes. At the bottom of a larger container, a layer of sawdust is poured and a smaller box filled with potatoes is placed inside. The voids between the walls of the container are filled with sawdust, and the entire structure is covered with an old blanket. It is important that the boxes differ in size by 15-20 cm in length, height and width. Then you can store potatoes on the balcony even with a frost of 10-15 degrees.

Method number 2: In the refrigerator

Storing potatoes in the refrigerator is one option for long-term storage of small stocks of tubers. The temperature can be adjusted to your liking. Products are placed in a plastic bag to protect from odors. According to some advice, it is undesirable to store potatoes in the refrigerator if the temperature in it is below + 5 ... + 6 ° C. In this case, the product loses its nutritional value, is contained without air access, and potato starch breaks down into sugars, the potatoes become sweetish. It should be borne in mind that several kilograms of potatoes can fit on the shelves of the refrigerator, so this option is acceptable, but not the most suitable. It is unlikely that anyone will want to fill all the free shelves with vegetables alone.

The refrigerator is only suitable as an option for temporarily keeping a small amount of potatoes

Another option for storing potatoes in the refrigerator is to use the so-called Khrushchev box located under the kitchen window. It keeps the optimum temperature, especially during not too severe winters. Khrushchev's boxes are being converted to plastic structures with a control hole, with which you can lower or raise the temperature inside such a kind of refrigerator.

Method number 3: At the entrance

Not all apartment owners can boast of a spacious living space or a separate pantry. When there is not enough space, you can store the potato crop in the corridor or porch. The ideal option is a common vestibule for several apartments with a lockable door. So that no one covets the products, they put the container under lock and key, the box itself is screwed to the floor with self-tapping screws or nailed.

The spacious vestibule is also suitable for keeping vegetables in it in winter.

If there is a problem, how to store potatoes in large volumes, you can adapt the corridor for this purpose. The room usually does not have sources of natural light, it is not hot here, the room is periodically ventilated when the front doors are opened. In the hallway, it is easier to choose an empty corner or niche to put a container of potatoes.

Method number 4: In the kitchen

In the cold season, potatoes are stored mainly in the kitchen, especially if there is no loggia, pantry, basement or garage. Here, food will always be at hand for cooking. Where to store potatoes in the kitchen so that the tubers do not deteriorate:

• A dark, relatively cool place will do.
• The temperature in the kitchen should not exceed +18°C.
• The place under the sink is ideal for stocking vegetables.
• Vegetables are poured into a wooden container or a wicker basket.
• Tubers should be in the dark, well ventilated.

Usually an empty space under the sink can be adapted for potatoes

To eliminate excess moisture from the space under the sink and prevent the formation of rot, the potatoes are shifted with sprigs of dry mint, fresh wormwood, mountain ash or goutweed. Alternatively, the potatoes are kept on the lower compartment of the pencil case or table. Special boxes for vegetables are sold with holes for free air access. Functional furniture allows you to neatly store potatoes, while they will always be at hand, and a cabinet drawer completely replaces a chair. A container made of wood material can hold up to 20 kg of potatoes.

Method number 5: In the cellar

The most correct way to store root crops is a basement or cellar. Humidity at the level, optimal temperature, ample space for storing containers with supplies are the main advantages of this wintering option for seasonal vegetables. In some apartments of old houses on the first floors there is a small but spacious basement for potatoes, other vegetables and conservation. Storing potatoes in the cellar allows you to save the nutritional and nutritional value of the tubers until spring and even until the new harvest, subject to temperature conditions and humidity levels.

Tips for summer residents on preparing the basement:

• The cellar is pre-dried, disinfected, well ventilated, treated with lime.
• Shelves, stairs, vents are removed from dust, cobwebs and debris.
• Wooden boxes are prepared - treated with a strong solution of potassium permanganate and aired.
• The cellar must be sufficiently insulated with heat-insulating material, have hoods to remove the resulting condensate.

In the basement - ideal conditions for preserving the potato crop

Root vegetables are best kept in a cellar specially designed for long-term storage. There is enough space to accommodate a container with a large crop of potatoes. For example, boxes can be stacked on top of each other, laying wooden bars or slats between them. An important nuance: if by the spring, when a lot of snow melts, water appears at the bottom of the cellar, boxes with potatoes should be initially placed on some elevation, for example, a brick flooring, when laying.

Types of containers for laying potatoes for storage

Preparing a place and a room for "wintering" vegetables, creating optimal conditions and choosing containers are the main points that need to be taken into account for the proper storage of vegetables. Where to store potatoes in winter:

• Linen bag - well passes air, allows the potatoes to breathe.
• Nylon mesh is an inexpensive, quite suitable container for root crops.
• Most often they use a box made of wooden material - timber, board, shield.
• Container - container with holes, holds a different amount of potatoes.
• Plastic bag - suitable for laying potatoes on the shelves of the refrigerator.
• A wicker basket is a well-ventilated container that prevents food from rotting.

A bag or box is the most common, inexpensive, affordable container that fully meets the requirements for laying potato tubers. With proper processing, wooden boxes successfully serve for several seasons, and the bags practically do not deteriorate.

seed potatoes

After harvesting, summer residents sort it into “edible” potatoes and seed material. For planting next year, undamaged tubers of the same size and variety without signs of disease are selected. For therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, potatoes are left in the sun so that the tubers begin to secrete solanine, which protects the seed from bacteria and rot.

A few rules on how to store planting seed potatoes in an apartment:

• Medium tubers are selected - large root crops may not overwinter, and it is impractical to plant them.
• Before laying, seed potatoes are kept outdoors in daylight for about two weeks.
• Storage temperature - 5-7 ° C, it should be lowered gradually - by one or two degrees a day.
• Until frost, the seed is stored on the balcony. A thin layer of radish or beets is poured into the potato box on top to remove moisture.
• If the temperature is low outside, the seed potatoes are brought inside to the coolest place.

Periodically, potatoes need to be sorted, checked for rotten root crops, otherwise all seed material will deteriorate. If young sprouts quickly appear on the potatoes, they are removed. The storage period for seed potatoes is until planting. Three to four weeks before planting (late February - early March), the seed potatoes are placed in a warm place on purpose, raising the temperature by a couple of degrees every day so that the tubers sprout. The more young shoots, the higher the likelihood of a good harvest.

Although the apartment is not the best place to store potatoes for a long time, you can still find an acceptable way to keep supplies all winter. Useful tips to help you store different amounts of vegetables all year round:

• In summer, it is difficult to keep young potatoes - the tubers dry out from the heat. Near the container, you can put a plastic bottle of water (cut off the neck).
• A small amount of vegetables can be kept under the sink in the kitchen - a wicker basket, a plastic basin or a bucket with holes will do.
• If you put mint leaves or apples on boxes of potatoes, the tubers will not sprout quickly. It is better to store them separately from other vegetables.
• Boxes with potatoes should be placed at a height of 15-20 cm from the floor, without moving them close to the wall.
• Such plants help to keep potatoes longer: ginger root, beetroot, onion peel, elderberry, fern, mint, mountain ash, gout, wormwood.

From all the rules, tips and recommendations, we can conclude that it is quite possible to store potatoes in an apartment in a cool room, limiting the crop from natural and artificial light. It is necessary to constantly maintain the temperature and humidity conditions, provide air access, periodically sort out vegetables.

Potato tubers retain their taste until a new crop appears. Having prepared vegetables in the fall, saving them correctly, you can save the family budget (potatoes are more expensive in winter), enjoying your favorite dishes on weekdays and holidays. The features of storing potatoes in an apartment will be discussed in this review.

Where is the best place to store potatoes in the apartment

Storing potatoes in winter - one of the important issues that residents of apartment buildings have to solve. There are several methods by which you can keep the tubers in good marketable condition until the next harvest.

Before storing, you need to prepare the tubers:

• in appearance: potatoes should be dry, dense, with a healthy skin (without spots and sprouts);
• by size and shelf life: the largest ones are stored for an average period (depending on the variety, up to 4–4.5 months); medium - up to 5–6 months; small, cut during harvesting, with damage, you need to eat before everyone else, having previously taken it into a separate container.

Did you know? The Frenchman Antoine-Auguste Parmentier cunningly spread potatoes among his compatriots: carefully guarding during the day and giving the opportunity to steal a few tubers at night in order to try what kind of secret plant the agronomist protects so much.

In the pantry

The pantry will serve as a good potato storage at home if you properly prepare the room for harvesting:

1. Dry the room by airing or installing a fan heater.
2. Whitewash the walls for disinfection, ventilate after treatment.

It is better to store potatoes in a wicker basket with a lid, in the absence of one. - in a wooden box, a metal container with a lid, having previously made holes for ventilation. Suitable paper and woven bags. The most extreme way is in bulk, but this way the potatoes will spoil faster.

Yes, and access to other products will be inconvenient. The difficulty of storage in the pantry lies in poor ventilation, a possible increase in humidity and temperature, which will lead to damage to tubers, and the rapid spread of rot.

In the hallway or entryway

Technical corridors are less heated, so vegetables are stored better there. The negative point is the possibility of crop theft. If the entrance is guarded, then by equipping a box with potatoes with a strong lock, you can save stocks until spring.

Important! To prevent the potatoes from fogging, you need to cover the top layer with matting or burlap.

On the balcony

A ventilated, less heated room in many apartments has a balcony. Having arranged a mini-refrigerator made of wood or plywood with double walls and insulation, potatoes are stored there all winter.

The downside is that the space is limited, on an unglazed balcony, without additional insulation measures, in severe frosts, vegetables will deteriorate irrevocably.

In a refrigerator

Tubers will be well preserved in the kitchen in the refrigerator, in the vegetable compartment. The problem is in quantity: you can’t fill the entire volume with potatoes. So you can save only a few kilograms.

Important! The best storage temperature for potatoes- +2°С...+4°С.

Types of containers for laying potatoes for storage

How to increase the shelf life of potatoes

To keep the tubers for a long period, there are several tricks:

1. After buying or harvesting, you can not immediately lay the potatoes for storage. "Quarantine" for 10 days will show spoiled tubers that need to be removed from the main quantity.
2. Green potatoes should not be stored: they contain poisonous solanine.
3. By shifting the vegetables with layers of needles, rowan leaves containing phytoncides, they will increase the shelf life and preserve the appearance of the tubers.
4. Dry wormwood, fern and elderberry, filled in bags or boxes, will also protect against the formation of rot.
5. By shifting tubers with mint leaves, they slow down their germination.
6. Ginger, beets feel better next to potatoes, while removing excess moisture, reducing the risk of rotting.

Which varieties keep best

The taste and appearance throughout the winter are preserved by medium and late varieties of potatoes:

• Fun;
• Mriya;
• Nevsky;
• Space;
• Condor;
• Chervona rue;
• Slav.

Suitable for storage early ripe varieties:

• Serpanok;
• Red Scarlet.

To choose the right variety for storage, it is better to consult with experienced vegetable growers.

Possible mistakes

In order for potatoes to be stored all winter, it is important not to make mistakes:

• do not fall asleep tubers without sorting and checking for diseases;
• do not dry the air in the room where the vegetables are stored: ventilate when the humidity rises, place a damp cloth or periodically spray too dry walls;
• do not leave potatoes even in an insulated box on the balcony in cold weather, for this period it must be transferred to the apartment;
• do not store vegetables in a plastic bag for a long time, this will lead to rot.

With proper storage, potatoes will not lose their taste until a new crop appears.

Did you know?Peter the Great handed out the tubers of the potatoes he liked to the governors for planting, without explaining the technology. Having grown the "harvest" in pots and having tasted the fruits, which were caustic and bitter, the officials immediately forgot about the sovereign's whim.

Thus, having prepared in advance for storing a significant amount of potatoes in an apartment and observing simple conditions, you can provide your family with a supply of vegetables for the whole winter and not worry about raising prices for it in winter or about its commercial qualities on the shelves of shops and bazaars in severe frosts .