After gathering potatoes before gardeners there is a task — to keep collected root crops for all winter, not to allow them to sprout or grow mouldy. The issue of the correct storage rises also before those who don't grow up potato on own kitchen garden, but wholesales it during a harvesting season.
What potatoes are suitable for long-term storage
That there were enough stocks of potato till spring, it is necessary to choose the correct grade. Late-ripening root crops not only are better stored, but also have brighter, not watery taste. During maturing, potato manages to save up a sufficient reserve of vitamins and minerals. The nutrition value and advantage of such root crops is much higher, at the same time the caloric content of a product remains moderate.
It is better to dig out potato in a dry, sunny weather. In 7-10 days prior to collecting the tops of vegetable is cut, this simple operation increases concentration of nutritive matters in tubers, the peel is condensed and dries up. Late grades dig out at the beginning of September, but a lot of things depend on weather conditions. Early frosts or incessant rains can ruin a harvest therefore with cleaning it is necessary to hurry.
Tubers dry directly on a boundary, scattering equal ranks. The good portion of ultraviolet will slow down germination of tubers and will prevent formation of a mold. At once after digging potato needs to be touched, rejecting the copies damaged by wreckers, which dried or touched by decay. Surely the root crops affected with a phytophthora, a fungus or bacteria clean up. The tubers which are accidentally punctured with a pitchfork or a shovel need to be eaten at once, they don't suit for long-term storage. After several hours in the sun, potato is picked and moved to a shadow, on the outspread burlap.
Experts note that potato with a yellow peel is stored better. If root crops are wholesaled, it is preferable to choose potatoes of one grade. Upon purchase of tubers of different grades they need to be spread out on separate tanks. Before laying the bought potato is touched, sorted and dried in the open air, it will warn a pozeleneniye and formation of a mold.
Where to store potato: step-by-step instruction
In winter time potatoes and other vegetables store in cellars, subfloors, basements. For convenience it is possible to equip rooms with wall shelves and wooden slats. In such storages it is easy to place large supplies of the vegetables intended for food and future landings.
For convenience potatoes are displayed in usual wooden boxes from leaky podogranny boards. They shouldn't be too deep, the root crops filled in several layers spoil quicker. Placing boxes on shelves, it is necessary to leave the place for ventilation. It isn't necessary to close tanks. Some owners of vegetable storehouses prefer a classical way: scatter root crops directly in pallets, having spread a burlap layer. That tubers didn't freeze, over them cover with felt or old blankets. Any moisture absorbing material will help to protect a harvest from dampness. Categorically it is impossible to use a polyethylene film, it will provoke emergence of a mold.
It is possible to stack potato in the mesh bags allowing to define quickly a condition of tubers and in due time to reject the damaged copies. However such way is suitable only for storages where there are no rodents. The close-meshed metal containers placed by tiers will help to save potato from rats. One more original option of protection — storage in the metal barrels with openings for ventilation closed by a dense grid.
Storage of potato in the apartment: small cunnings
In the conditions of city apartments it is necessary to be limited to more modest amount of potatoes. At home it is possible to hold only couple of kilograms intended plant louses of cooking, the main stocks store on the glazed loggia or the warmed balcony. That potatoes weren't gone, it is impossible to leave it in bags and ordinary boxes. It is necessary to stock up with a special container — for example, the warmed chests processed by anti-fungal impregnation.
The simplest and practical option for house storage — a chest with double walls, the raised trellised bottom and a cover. It it is possible to make with own hands. The space between double walls is filled with heater: sawdust, shaving, polyfoam. Heater changes annually.
Practical option — a ready thermocellar from the dense double fabric reminding tarpaulin. The design is supplied with laying from sintepon and the system of heating. Such container will reliably protect potatoes stocks from frosts and moisture. After the end of a winter season the bag is cleaned from garbage, erased and stored till fall.
Useful tips from experienced gardeners
Important condition — good ventilation. From time to time stocks need to be touched, deleting the wrinkled, dried up or begun to rot copies. Beet will help save potato from decay and a mold, it is scattered an even layer over tubers. With root crops it is possible to put several apples in boxes, they will prevent germination and will keep gustatory qualities of potatoes.
At laying of potato of different grades the boxes or bags with early types place closer to the entrance and use as soon as possible. If a part of an early potato remained unclaimed, it is necessary to touch and leave it on seeds. It concerns also some late potato which dried up, became green or sprouted. Copies with traces of a fungus are immediately destroyed, they aren't suitable for landing.