Rules and tips on how to preserve beets and carrots for the winter

Preserving the beneficial properties and taste of carrots and beets is not easy. An incorrectly selected storage location, excessively high or, on the contrary, low temperature contribute to the fact that very quickly vegetables begin to rot, lose juiciness and vitamins.

Recommendations on how to properly preserve a rich harvest of beets and carrots for the winter at home will help you enjoy healthy and tasty vegetables for as long as possible.

Can it be stored together?

In conditions of limited storage space (basement, garage or balcony), a natural question is whether it is possible to store beets and carrots in one container?

It is possible, provided that the required air temperature and humidity level are maintained in the room, and root crops do not come into contact with each other during storage.

You can save storage space for the harvested crop if you scatter beets and carrots on top of the potatoes. This is a great option for long-term storage in the garage or basement.

Evaporation from potatoes will help maintain the juiciness of carrots and beets, which in turn will protect the potatoes from the humid air in the room.

Where is better?

For storing beets and carrots can be used:

• basement,
• cellar,
• garage.

For residents of apartment buildings, the ideal place is an insulated balcony.

Regardless of where the root crops will be stored, it is important that the required level of humidity and air temperature is maintained in the room, there is no direct sunlight, and there is a constant flow of fresh air.

If a basement, cellar or garage is used for storage, the walls of the room must be disinfected (coated with bleach) before storing vegetables.

Read about how to organize the storage of beets and carrots in the cellar Here. You will find all the most important things about storing carrots here.

How to organize storage correctly?

You can preserve a rich harvest of carrots and beets for as long as possible by following certain recommendations.

In order for root vegetables to be stored for a long time, they must be collected correctly:

• seven days before harvest, water and weed the bed;
• three days before cutting off the tops (leaving 1.5-2 cm);
• carefully, trying not to damage the beets or carrots, dig up the crop (it is convenient to use a pitchfork).

After harvesting, the root vegetables are manually cleared of clods of earth and placed in the sun to dry (for no more than twenty-four hours).

Then storage containers are selected. Suitable for such purposes:

• wooden boxes,
• plastic boxes,
• enamel buckets,
• plastic bags.

He will tell you how to store carrots in bags this article.

There are several ways to store vegetables:

1. In sand (storage time up to eight months).The essence of this method is simple: a layer of sand (dry, clean) is poured onto the bottom of a box or box, and a layer of vegetables is laid on top.
2. In the sawdust (storage time up to six months). Sawdust from coniferous trees is ideal for this method (phenolic substances prevent the development of pathogenic microorganisms). They are laid out in a thick layer on the bottom of a box or box, and sorted vegetables are placed on top.
3. In a plastic bag (storage time up to four months). Beets and carrots are placed in a clean bag. Without tying, the package is placed in a row on a pallet.
4. In clay (storage period up to one year). This method is good if vegetables are stored in a damp basement. The essence of the method is simple: each vegetable is individually dipped into clay diluted to a liquid state. Afterwards, the root vegetables are allowed to dry and placed on a shelf for further storage.

Similar actions can be carried out using chalk instead of clay.

Features of preserving vegetables at home

There are several ways to preserve the harvested root crops in an apartment:

1. In a refrigerator in the apartment. Peeled beets and carrots are placed in a bag and stored in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator. In this way, vegetables are stored for one to two months.
2. In the freezer. This method is only good for carrots. It is washed, cleaned, rubbed and, put in a bag, sent for storage in the freezer.

   In this form, carrots will retain their taste for up to ten months. This method is not suitable for beets, since after defrosting the root crop loses its nutritional and taste qualities.

3. At home on the balcony. Provided that the required level of temperature and humidity is maintained on the insulated balcony, the harvested carrots and beets are stored for three to four months.

What not to do and why?

Inexperienced gardeners often make a number of mistakes that affect the storage time of the harvested crop:

1. Last year's sand is used to store beets and carrots. Such savings can cause damage to the freshly harvested crop. This is because pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms settle in the sand during last year’s storage of beets and carrots. The collected vegetables are placed only in fresh, clean, well-dried sand.
2. Place carrots and beets for storage without waiting for the clay or chalk treatment to dry completely. Such a rush can cause rapid spoilage of the root crop.

   This is because not completely dried clay or chalk protection falls off, opening access to pests, bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms.

3. Use wet sawdust to arrange vegetables. In order for wood shavings to absorb excess moisture well, thereby preventing the development of putrefactive processes, it must be well dried in the sun.
4. Store beets and carrots in tied plastic bags. Lack of ventilation leads to a sharp increase in humidity levels and, as a result, the development of rotting processes. To preserve vegetables for as long as possible, bags must be left open.
5. They forget to inspect beets and carrots during storage. If a rotten root crop is not removed in time, it can cause damage to the entire crop.Monitoring the condition of vegetables stored for storage must be carried out at least once a month.
6. Dump the collected beets or carrots into one pile on the floor or shelf. To preserve vegetables for as long as possible, they need to ensure normal air circulation. To do this, the harvested crop is not dumped in one heap in the corner of the basement or garage, but laid out on a wooden grid or placed in wooden boxes with cracks in them.

Recommendations

It is important to adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Before storing, root vegetables must be sorted by size. Small beets and carrots are stored separately and used first.
2. Before placing the root crops in the sand, it must be calcined in the oven or thoroughly dried in the sun. Such actions will help get rid of harmful microorganisms that develop in a humid environment.
3. It is prohibited to store washed, wet root vegetables.

Video on the topic

The method for preparing and storing beets and carrots is presented in the video:

Conclusion

By following simple recommendations for storing beets and carrots, you will be able to enjoy the taste and beneficial properties of vegetables from the moment of harvest until spring.