Foreword

How to store beets in order to use root crops grown on your own plot for food in winter is not only an economic issue, but also a healthy nutritious diet. Indeed, in addition to the fact that purchased vegetables are more expensive until the next harvest, their quality can be very low (for example, they can be sick, spoiled, contain nitrates), and it is also possible to purchase fodder beets instead of table.

Which table beets are suitable for long-term storage?

Of course, as for other vegetables, it is not necessary to lay the entire harvest of beet in a row for long-term storage, but selectively. The fulfillment of this condition is very important, but not the most important. The fact is that not all varieties of this vegetable can be stored for a long time. If you choose the wrong kind of seeds for planting, then all the efforts spent on growing, collecting and storing root crops in the hope that in winter there will be dishes from your beets on the table may be in vain. And even if the vegetables of the resulting harvest are unusually healthy and beautiful, if they are varieties with poor keeping quality, then very soon they will have to either be thrown away or hastily processed and preserved.

The following varieties of beetroot are intended for long-term storage: Renova, Saladnaya, Cold-resistant 19, Mulatka, Red Ball, Boltardi, Podzimnyaya A-474, Flat mushroom A-474, Libero, Detroit, Bravo, Egyptian flat, Incomparable A-463, Nosovskaya flat , Pablo F1, One-sprout, Bordeaux-237.

In terms of keeping quality, these varieties are the best. But first of all, you should pay attention to the local selection of beets. Her varieties will most often be the best option not only for growing a good harvest, but also for its successful and long-term storage.

But, for example, the Cylinder variety, which is very popular and grown in almost every country house, is not suitable for winter storage. Its root crops have excellent taste, but keeping quality is much worse than that of the above varieties.

Rules for preparing beetroot for storage

Regardless of the variety, storage preparation begins with the correct harvest of the beetroot. It must be harvested before the first frost. Beet root crops grow at the very surface of the soil, and their upper part protrudes from the ground at all, so that even in the case of a slight frost, they can freeze and become unsuitable for storage.

For harvesting, it is best to choose a dry and fine, preferably sunny autumn day. And it is more pleasant to work, and this will contribute to the long-term storage of table beets. Harvesting is also necessary not anyhow. It is categorically impossible to pull out the root crops by pulling the tops. Beet skins are more likely to be damaged by the ground and pebbles in them: peeled, scratched, or cut. Such roots will rot shortly after being laid for storage and will not lie for a long time. Moreover, because of them, undamaged healthy beets can begin to deteriorate.

You need to collect root crops using a shovel or a pitchfork:

1. We immerse the bayonet of the tool in the ground next to the beets.
2. By pressing on the handle of the shovel, we slightly raise the root crop along with the soil.
3. Gently pull the vegetable out of the break in the ground by the tops or take it out with your hands.

Immediately it is necessary to clear the roots of the soil. Lumps of soil on the surface of beets during storage will absorb moisture and become a favorable environment for putrefactive bacteria contained in them. But it is also not worth striving at any cost to remove all the land. It is more important, after all, not to damage the vegetables when cleaning. Therefore, it is completely unacceptable to use a chip, a knife and other objects, to press hard on firmly adhering lumps of soil with your hand and beat the beets one against the other. Separately, the root crops must be shaken slightly by the tops, and the remaining soil must be removed with light pressure. thumb brushes. If it didn’t work, it’s better to leave it as it is. There will be less harm from this than from the damaged skin of the root crop.

When harvesting in dry weather, you probably won't have to clean the ground. If the soil is oily and moist, then it will be easy to remove it using the above methods. Problems, as a rule, arise for those who peel vegetables later - after transportation and drying, before storing them.

Then the tops of the beets must be cut off. And not completely, to the very root crop, but leaving a small tail 1–1.5 cm long. It is not recommended to twist or break off the tops by hand - you just need to cut them off.

Then we cut off the side roots. At the same time, we must try not to damage the root crop itself. If the main root is very long and branched, it is allowed to cut it off a little, leaving a tail of 5–7 cm. However, for storing beets, it is better when it remains completely intact - there is less chance of infection.

Then you need to select the beets, which will be laid for long-term storage. We leave only strong, whole and healthy roots. All damaged, sick and rotten vegetables must be set aside separately. They should be used for food shortly. They will not be stored for a long time, moreover, starting or continuing to deteriorate, they will infect healthy beets. It is also desirable that the selected roots are not very large. The best and longest shelf life is beets with a diameter of up to 12 cm, and a large one is poorly stored. Drying is the last step in preparing beets for storage.

It is not necessary to wash the root vegetables either before or after this!

If the harvesting of beets takes place in warm dry weather, then all its preparation for storage can be done right on the garden bed. To dry, lay out the selected root crops, if under the sun - for 2 hours, and in the shade - for about 4 hours. No more need, otherwise the vegetables will start to wither.

When the beets had to be dug out of the wet ground, maybe even in the rain and the weather in the next day does not allow drying them outside, this should be done indoors. It is desirable that it be well ventilated. Spread the roots on the floor in 1 layer. Drying of wet beets indoors takes 2-3 to 7 days.

The best conditions and methods for storing beets

Beets are best stored in sand boxes in a cool, dark place. Conditions that need to be created in it:

• humidity level 95–90%;
• temperature 0 ... +2 o C;
• natural ventilation is desirable.

Under these conditions, root crops can be stored until spring and even longer. The most important thing is to maintain the temperature, especially the first 1-2 months after setting the beets, because if it rises to at least +4 o C, the vegetables will begin to sprout tops, and this will significantly reduce the shelf life. Also, the temperature must not be allowed to drop below 0 ° C, otherwise the roots will freeze. Then, again, they will not be saved for a long time.

It is impossible to create such storage conditions for beets in an apartment - only in the basement or cellar. The sand in the boxes should be clean sifted river, preferably washed and calcined in the oven or dried in the sun. We put it on the bottom of the container with a layer of 8–10 cm. Then we put the vegetables so that they do not touch each other. Sprinkle them with sand on top, making a layer of 2-3 cm above them. So we lay the beets to the very top of the box. The condition of the roots should be checked every month. Those that have begun to deteriorate must be removed, and the overgrown tops must be cut off. Here's how to properly store beets so that they will definitely stay until spring.

• In plastic bags with ventilation holes with a capacity of 35-40 kg. They are hung and not tied tightly for air access.
• In a chest with potatoes. Place the beets on top of the tubers in 1 layer. The potato will give excess moisture to the roots that they need.
• Small pyramids (heaps) on shelves or in small boxes with holes for air circulation. Shelves and drawers must be at least 15 cm above the floor.
• In peat, table salt or sawdust. They, like sand, are poured over root crops, laid in layers in boxes. If in sawdust, then it is advisable to check the condition of the root crops more often than once a month.
• Scattered in a separate chest, the bottom and walls of which are lattice, with cracks.

These methods, if properly performed and maintained in the required conditions, can also save vegetables until spring.

Before storing the beets, it is advisable to powder the sifted wood ash or roll in chalk powder. This will protect the roots from diseases and slow down the spread of spoilage from one to another. It is better to store small vegetables separately from large ones.

Storing beets in the apartment

This option is the least preferable, since it is very difficult to store beets in an apartment in winter. More than you can count on - the roots will lie for 3-4 months. Storage methods are the same as for the cellar. Best of all in low boxes, sprinkled with sand. The entire storage period must be monitored so that the filler remains dry.

The best conditions can be created on an insulated loggia, but there is a high risk of freezing of root crops in severe frost. And if you heat this room, then it is difficult to withstand the required temperature - up to +4 o C. But nevertheless, the conditions there are better than in the rooms. To prevent freezing, root crops can be placed in, which will need to be built. Or they will have to be covered with warm blankets in cold weather.

You can store beets in the rooms of the apartment in a change house, a pantry; under the wardrobe, bed; most importantly, away from batteries and in the dark. In the refrigerator, wrapping each tightly in food foil or parchment paper, beets can be stored for 2-3 months.

Beets, carrots- these are one of the most beloved vegetables in our country, so housewives try to prolong their freshness as long as possible. Long-term storage is often problematic. However, it is enough to know a few secrets. And we will gladly reveal them.

Fresh carrots, fresh beets: storage features

Large root vegetables are well suited for storage. Carrots can be harvested after the first frosts - they tolerate them well, but the beets will have to be harvested before they occur, since the fruits will deteriorate. Root crops must be dug out very carefully, since mechanical damage negatively affects the storage period of vegetables. The dug out fruits should be left in the garden bed under the straight lines. sunbeams so that they dry up and clear of the earth. You cannot wash them! Go through the vegetables, select only good, large roots for storage. Carefully trim the tops of the beets, leaving small "hemp" 1 cm each. Harvested crop spread out in a dry and ventilated place so that they dry completely within a week.

There are several ways to store carrots:

1. Storage in sand. The sand must be loamy. This method is suitable for those who have at their disposal garage pits, undergrounds and cool cellars. The sand prevents moisture evaporation, prevents the formation of putrefactive diseases and maintains the optimum temperature for storage. The sand needs to be moistened. 1 bucket of sand will need 1 liter of water. Prepared sand is poured onto the bottom of the box. Carrot fruits are laid out on it. They should not touch each other.

2. Storage in sawdust. For this method, you need to stock up on boxes and coniferous sawdust. The needles contain phytoncides that prevent bacteria and fungus from entering vegetables.
3. Storage in plastic bags. Carrots are packed in plastic bags that are kept open. The humidity in the bags should be 96-98%. You cannot tie bags so that carbon dioxide did not exceed the oxygen concentration. If this happens, the vegetables will wilt quickly.
4. Storage in clay. Clay is poured into a bucket (up to half), filled with water. The clay that has swollen throughout the day must be thoroughly mixed, and then again filled with water. Line the bottom of the boxes plastic wrap, lay out the carrots and cover with liquid clay. Once the clay layer is dry, lay out the next layer of vegetables and pat dry.

Culinary traditions Slavic peoples offer a large number of recipes from carrots and beets. These root vegetables are attractive not only for their taste, but also for their large amount useful properties... The high demand and economic factor pushes many consumers to purchase them in large quantities or, more often, to grow on household plots... To preserve marketability, you should know how to properly store carrots and beets in the winter at home.

Carrots and beets are important in the diet

Preparatory stage

The first part of the answer to the question of how to store beets and carrots for the winter contains clear recommendations for proper preparation. This process, in turn, is divided into several stages:

1. Strict adherence to collection deadlines. Beetroot is a root vegetable that does not tolerate even minor frosts. For middle latitudes optimal time collection - early October, southern regions - late October, early November. In the event that beets are purchased, knowing these terms allows you to purchase a product that is best left to store for the winter.
2. Drying. Harvesting beets is often done on a sunny day - this allows you to thoroughly dry the crop. But this must be done in the shade. A dry root crop is easier to clean from adhering dirt.
3. Removing roots and tops. The roots of the vegetable are simply cut off, and the tops are trimmed with scissors. In places of breakage, areas of rot can form.

A poorly dried vegetable will not tolerate winter period, starting to rot quickly enough.

As for carrots, they are more likely to rot when stored at home (and not only). Therefore, it should be especially carefully prepared for storage.

Carrots should also be harvested before the first frost. Storing large, small and medium sized root vegetables together is not recommended. It is better to sort out immediately after digging up and inspect for the absence of traces of rot. To keep the vegetable in good presentation (not sluggish, without signs of germination) is helped by double trimming the tops.

Tapping the root vegetable to remove dirt can cause it to crack. It will not be possible to store such carrots in winter either at home or in industrial conditions.

Torn carrots should be transferred to a dark, cool place.

Unlike beets, carrots can be washed with regular warm water... It is recommended to do this on the day of collection. Be sure to dry it in the fresh air and keep it at a temperature of 10-14 ° C in a ventilated room for 10 days.

Knowledge of all the rules for collecting and preparing vegetables is useful not only for those who grow them. A simple consumer with their help will be able to choose a really high-quality product. Consider how to properly store carrots and beets at home.

Each of the vegetables has its own rules for storing in winter. Therefore, the storage features should be considered separately.

Beet storage

It is optimal to store the root crop in winter in a storage intended for this purpose - for large farms, and at home - in a basement or cellar. Here it is easier to maintain the required humidity level - up to 90%, and the temperature regime is not higher than + 2 ° С. If these requirements are violated, tops are formed on the root crops, they begin to wither, deteriorate and will not lie all winter.

The conditions of most apartments do not imply the organization of a cellar or basement. What to do in such a home environment? There are some tips:

• Put the roots neatly in a polyethylene bag (you cannot tie it) and place them at the door leading from the balcony.
• Can be stored directly on the balcony in winter. The main thing is that it has glazing. The beets are placed in a wooden box, sprinkling each layer with sand, sawdust or shavings (choose one of the materials). The overfill must necessarily form a layer that protects the roots from contact with each other.
• Also on the balcony you can store beets in the same bag with potatoes in winter. This method is suitable for cramped home environments. In addition, this kind of neighborhood is useful for both types of vegetables.

Collected and dried beets are placed in a bucket and sprinkled with sawdust or sand

You can also store beets in the refrigerator at home during the winter. However, it should be remembered that this option is not very good for those who are thinking about how to store beets in winter for more than a month.

By collecting good harvest or just by doing large stock, the consumer wonders how best to store carrots in winter so that they do not lose their presentation and taste.

Experienced vegetable growers have developed several ways of how to properly store carrots in winter at home.

Method one

You will need loamy sand, always dry. This option can be used for storing carrots in winter in underground floors, pits, cellars with low temperatures. Sand, forming a breathable pillow, copes with the fumes emitted by vegetables and the development of harmful microorganisms.

Sand is poured into the box in layers. It must be moistened with water. With this method of storage at home, the carrots should not touch each other. Layer height - no more than 4 cm.

Method two

This option for storing carrots in winter at home is similar to the previous one. Only sand should be replaced with sawdust. Another difference is that the material cannot be wetted. Thanks to its natural properties sawdust can form a reliable shield that protects carrots from wilting and the development of microorganisms.

Carrots are dipped into the moistened sand with the thin end down

When deciding where it is best to store carrots in winter, it is proposed to consider such an option as a cellar. You will need plastic bags. You should also strictly monitor the level of humidity in the room. The indicator should not exceed the level of 98%. Violation of the rule will lead to the fact that the root crops will begin to wilt. Overly tight tying of the bag will lead to the same. Condensation is an indication of increased humidity. It can be reduced by sprinkling fluff lime around the bags.

When deciding how to store carrots and beets in winter, the consumer should pay great attention to the temperature regime, as well as the level of humidity. The room must be thoroughly ventilated. In the absence of a natural influx of fresh air, boxes with root crops are placed on an elevation. A universal home storage method for both root crops is the use of sand.

The storage of all root crops (potatoes, beets, carrots, celery, parsley and their other relatives) has a lot in common. However, unlike potatoes, they spoil much less from too much low temperatures... As a rule, in winter they are kept in basements, cellars or other unheated or poorly heated rooms at temperatures from 0 to 2 ° C (potatoes need a little more heat), but for long-term storage of beets, in addition to good ventilation, you need to maintain a temperature of 4 ° C to -1 ° C, relative humidity air 90-95% and normal ventilation.

The most favorable conditions for storing carrots and similar root crops- constant air temperature of 1 ° C, while air access to root crops should be limited (moderate ventilation is required).

For storage, root crops are usually stacked in rows in a stack up to 0.75 m high, up to 1 m wide, or in boxes and baskets, but there are options related to their species specificity.

Before storing, the roots are slightly air-dried, having previously cut the tops flush with the head to prevent possible bud germination.

In carrots and parsley, it is advisable not to cut them off during harvesting, but to twist the tops by hand (while it will release more phytoncides) and leave a small stalk about 1 cm long, but in a sufficiently macerated form.

When stored in a cellar, these and roots similar to them in shape and structure (scorzonera, oat root, etc.) are laid in rows and must be layered with wet sand (the desired degree of moisture can be determined by squeezing the sand in your hand - a pronounced lump should form from it ). Also, storage conditions are improved when mixing sand with chalk or dry slaked lime - in this case, an alkaline environment is created that prevents the development of unwanted microflora. For 10 kg of sand, it is enough to add 200 g of chalk. True, in this case, root crops will need to be washed longer and more thoroughly before use.

It is better to choose boxes with dense walls and lids, and their capacity should not exceed 20 kg. They must be placed on stands. At the bottom of the box or bin, sand should be poured in a layer 2-3 cm thick, then lay out a row of fruits, fill in sand, the layer thickness of which between the rows should be 1-1.5 cm, and again lay out a layer of root crops. In general, the stacking height should not exceed half a meter, and the roots should not touch each other. On next year this sand will definitely need to be replaced - it cannot be reused.

Salt helps preserve root crops even more efficiently than sand. Unfortunately, for many gardeners, this tool seems expensive (especially if the harvest of root crops is large enough). Its consumption can be reduced by mixing salt with the same sand and / or processing these vegetables before storing. brine.

How to store carrots properly

In addition to the previously listed storage methods, carrots can be stored in clay. Compared to other storage methods, this one gives the least amount of waste.

Small amounts of carrots can also be stored in three-liter glass jars. To do this, in well-washed and dried jars, carrots are folded with tails to the neck, and the jar is turned upside down and placed on the floor in the cellar. In this form, it can last almost until the next harvest.

If there are relatively few carrots, they can be packed in large plastic bags along with the fern leaves. In this form, it can safely lie until spring without decay (this requires a fern - without it, carrots can begin to rot, especially if the temperature in the cellar is above normal) and without losing juiciness. You cannot tie the bags - the air must pass freely enough inside.

How to store horseradish correctly

Storing horseradish is somewhat different from storing carrots and parsley. To increase its keeping quality, a layer of dry (and not wet, as is the case with carrots!) Sand 3-4 cm thick is poured into the box.Then the horseradish roots are laid on the sand in rows so that they do not touch, and they are covered with a thinner layer , then repeating all the actions in the same sequence. Most upper layer sand should be again thick - up to 5 cm thick (or four fingers).

How to store beets properly

Beets, parsnips, rutabagas, turnips are usually stored in bulk, however, if possible, they should also be sprinkled with salt or "bought back" in a saline solution. To save space, beets can also be placed in boxes with small air holes. These boxes are stacked on supports 15-20 cm high. You cannot move them close to the wall.

After processing with a solution, the roots must be dried well.

Fern leaves or other plants containing a lot of phytoncides can be laid under and on top of the roots.

Beets have long been an indispensable vegetable for preparing not only first courses and salads, but also great as side dishes and preservation. The agricultural technology of this root crop is no different special requirements and therefore all gardeners are trying to grow it on their plots in sufficient quantity. Therefore, it is so important to familiarize yourself with the storage conditions of beets in winter in order to always have stocks of this healthy vegetable.

An important factor is the selection of beets for winter storage. It is best to give preference to late varieties, since they tend to retain their qualities over a long period of time. The later the harvest is carried out, the better it is suitable for storage.

In order for the beets to be well stored in the winter at home, they must first be prepared before being put on for a long period. Initially, it should be collected in advance before the onset of frost, since a sharp decrease in temperature will significantly affect the shelf life. Therefore, for the regions of the middle lane, it is best to harvest beets in early October, and in the southern regions in late October or early November.

Vegetables should be dug out on a sunny, clear day, after which they must be laid out to dry in the shade for several hours. In case the weather is not so ideal, the harvested beets must be dried indoors for several days.

Advice! Before storage, vegetables should be carefully cleaned of dirt, without damaging their integrity, but in no case washed, otherwise the beets will not be stored for a long time.

Cut off the root and tops with scissors or a knife within 3 cm of the root crop. It is better not to tear off the tops with your hands, as this may later cause it to rot. Then it is also necessary to carefully cut off the lateral roots and shorten the main one to 5 cm.

After that, the beets are placed in a dry, dark room for several weeks. After this period, only undamaged and strong fruits that are suitable for further storage are sorted out and deposited, and then transferred to a permanent place.

The most optimal storage options

Storing beets at home is possible in several ways, which depend on individual capabilities and preferences. For these purposes, boxes, boxes, plastic bags, vacuum containers, sand, chalk, table salt and even fern are used.

In a special box

You can store beets in an apartment in a wooden box, which is ideal for potatoes and beets at the same time. At the bottom of it, a pallet is placed in the form of a lattice, which contributes to free air circulation.

Moreover, both root crops will benefit from such a neighborhood, this is due to the fact that the beets will take in excess moisture, and thereby protect the potatoes from its negative effects.

It is best to place such a container on glazed balcony, and with a significant drop in air temperature, the box is additionally covered with old blankets.

Advice! It is best to stack medium and small root crops down the container, since they are stored much longer than large ones.

In boxes

Storing beets at home, like other vegetables, takes place in baskets or boxes, pre-sprinkling it with layers of river sand or table salt. This method will help protect vegetables from excess moisture, which contributes to the development of fungal diseases.

For winter storage, it is better to use wooden boxes, in which beets are laid in layers, sprinkling with a thick layer of river sand or sawdust, but so that the fruits do not come into contact with each other. It is best to place the prepared container on the balcony and, in severe frosts, additionally insulate it on top.

Often you can hear or read on the forums the phrase: "I keep beets, shifting them with fern leaves." This method also helps preserve vegetables. long time as the leaves of this plant prevent the development of bacteria due to their fungicidal properties.

Vegetables sprinkled with chalk powder or wood ash retain their useful and taste qualities well, this helps to significantly increase their shelf life and protect them from the occurrence of fungal diseases.

Features of storage in packages

Another way to store in an apartment is to put the beets in plastic bags, but do not tie them, this promotes air circulation. Place vegetables in a cool place:

• on the balcony;
• near the outer door.

You can store about 30 kg of beets in one bag, sometimes it is necessary to sort it out in order to sort out the fruits that are starting to deteriorate. When condensation appears on the walls, the vegetables are taken out and dried.

Important! Beetroot stock for the winter at home should be kept away from heating appliances as this will help to significantly increase the shelf life of the vegetables.

In clay solution

In the absence of a balcony in an apartment, beets should be stored in the winter, having previously moistened them in a solution of clay, this can save them from loss of moisture and useful qualities, and also significantly increase their shelf life.

To prepare the required mixture, you will need water and clay. These two components must be mixed until a homogeneous mass and sour cream consistency is obtained. Then each root vegetable is dipped in the resulting solution and allowed to dry for several hours. The dried fruits are placed in a prepared container and stored in the coolest place in the apartment.

In fridge

With the same success, you can store this root vegetable in the refrigerator, but not more than 1 month. Since after this time, the beets begin to lose their useful qualities and moisture, which makes it unsuitable for further use. It is best to pick fruits 10-15 cm in diameter, as they lose less moisture and are less susceptible to fungal diseases. Compliance will also be required certain rules and storage conditions.

1. When using plastic bags for storage, you should put the peeled but unwashed beets in them and at the same time make additional holes in the bags in advance for air circulation.
2. Also used for storing root crops vacuum bags... In this case, the beets must be washed and all residues of the foliage must be removed. Then each vegetable should be dipped in a strong saline solution and placed in a bag. In this way, you can save beets for a month or even more without losing their beneficial and taste qualities.
3. Often, root vegetables in the refrigerator are placed in vacuum containers, in which, when tightly closed, you can store vegetables for 1 month.
4. You can also use foil for storage, in which the beets are wrapped individually. This helps the fruits not to come into contact with each other, and also to retain moisture and beneficial properties for 3 months, because this method avoids direct contact of vegetables with air, but at the same time they continue to breathe.
5. For longer storage, you can grate or dice the beets and freeze them in the freezer. But with this method, vegetables lose some of their vitamins and useful qualities, but their shelf life increases to 3-4 months.

Storing root vegetables in the refrigerator is not the best option, but they are always at hand, which is very convenient.

You can see more clearly how to choose and save this vegetable correctly from the proposed video, many of the author's tips will help to save the harvest of root crops in the winter season:

Conclusion

Keeping beets in the house will not be difficult, but will require adherence to temperature, humidity and storage conditions. It is also necessary to remove spoiled or sluggish fruits on time. Compliance with these rules will help preserve the crop and extend its shelf life.

Good day!

In about a month in the Urals, it will be time to harvest root crops for storage for the winter. What is the best way to prepare and preserve your harvest in winter? How to preserve vegetables in a city apartment? All gardeners will soon have to solve these questions.

Terms of harvesting root crops

In order for our vegetables to be well stored, they need to be removed on time. Optimal time in the Urals and the central part of the country - the second half of September. At the beginning of the month, root crops are still growing, gaining Weight Limit... And then it makes no sense to leave them in the ground. It is better not to wait for frost and clean vegetables before them.

Harvesting root crops

It is better to dig up vegetables in dry weather, without rain. Do not leave in the sun for a long time to dry. Otherwise, the carrots may wither. We carefully dig out the vegetables, being careful not to damage them. Then let it dry a little and cut off the tops. We leave 1 centimeter for the carrots, and cut the beets by the shoulders. Leave a couple of centimeters of stems for seed plants. After digging up, you need to remove the roots for storage as soon as possible, without leaving them warm.

Never wash vegetables before storing them, otherwise they will quickly start to deteriorate and rot. Wash them immediately before use.

It is better to grate small carrots right away and put them in the freezer in plastic bags. In winter, it is convenient to add when cooking in different dishes.

Winter storage methods for carrots and beets

You can simply pollinate the roots with chalk and pour in a bunch in the cellar, but this will shorten their storage time. Better to put in small portions in boxes of 10-15 kg. So it is more convenient to lower them into the cellar.

Sand storage

This is the most known way storage of root crops. Carrots and beets are stacked in boxes. Separately from each other. First, sand is poured onto the bottom, then a layer of vegetables, then again covered with sand. So you can lay out several rows, be sure to pour a layer of sand on top. It should be slightly damp.

Boxes with carrots and beets are removed to a cellar or other cool room that does not freeze in winter. The best temperature is around 0 ° + 3 ° C.

Storage in plastic bags

Carrots and beets are well preserved in bags. You just need to check each root crop so that you do not get sick or damaged. The bag is filled and not tied, then cuts or punctures are carefully made across the entire surface so that the vegetables breathe. Just be careful not to damage these very vegetables. In this way, they can be stored for up to 4-5 months also in a cool place, but it is also possible at + 5-10 ° C.

Storage in a clay "shirt"

This method keeps the roots from drying out well. A clay chatterbox is made. To do this, clay is bred in half with water. The night stands, then a little more water is added (usually half of the original volume). In this clay talker dip the carrots and then dry them. In such a shirt, carrots retain their juiciness well. This method is used mainly for carrots. Since it is more delicate and loses moisture faster during storage.

Storage in sawdust, newspapers

This method is similar to storage in sand. Root crops are stacked in layers and covered with dry sawdust or covered with newspapers. Then you also need to store it in the cellar at + 2-5 ° C.

Storing root vegetables in an apartment

In an apartment, it is more difficult to create conditions for preserving the harvest of root crops. Better to remove them on closed balcony or a loggia. In boxes filled with sand or sawdust. In severe frosts, cover with a blanket so as not to freeze.

Carrots are perfectly stored in bags in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartments. But you can't put much in there.

All the methods described are well suited not only for beets, but also for radishes.

If you have potatoes in your cellar, then you can pour the beets on top. They keep well together.

The main purpose of basements and cellars is to store vegetables in winter. Among the rating of the most popular vegetable crops (potatoes, carrots), beets are in third place. It grows well in harsh climatic regions and does not need special complex care. In canning, it is practically not used, but in boiled and fresh used in many dishes of Russian and Ukrainian cuisine.

The cellar is considered the best place for storing beets, because it is easiest to create a suitable microclimate for this vegetable. In this article, we will look at the main stages of storing beets in the cellar, from harvesting to the methods of storing the vegetable.

How to store beets in a cellar in winter

Beets are considered to be a fairly unpretentious vegetable in terms of storage. It is much easier to keep it fresh than, for example, cabbage or apples. But at the same time, one should not think that this culture does not require any special conditions... First of all, you need to properly harvest and prepare the crop.

After harvesting, it is advisable to leave it in the garden for a short time (it is recommended to dig out the crop in dry, cool weather) so that the culture dries up a little and is better cleared of the soil. Upon completion of drying, it must be carefully sorted out and left for winter storage only those fruits that do not have mechanical damage or signs of disease, and look healthy (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Placing root crops in the cellar

The tops are carefully cut with scissors or sharp knife, in this case, "hemp" of 1 cm should remain. It is not recommended to remove the leaves with your hands and touch the tails of the vegetable, which can lead to instant damage to the root crop.

Preparing beets for winter storage

Sorted, cleaned of soil and tops, the root crop should be laid out in a dry room (it should be well ventilated, there is no direct sunlight) so that the culture dries out completely within a week. Then you can move the root crop to the cellar for the winter.

Note: Store beets in basement or a cellar is recommended at a humidity of no more than 90% and a temperature of 0-2 degrees. At a higher temperature, the process of wilting, decay and the development of diseases can begin. The culture will be most sensitive to elevated temperatures at the beginning of the storage period; at a level of +4 degrees, the vegetable begins to sprout tops.

It is important to remember that heat storage air contributes to the rapid development of fungal diseases that can affect the entire crop. There are times when the signs of some diseases during sorting of the excavated crop will be outwardly completely invisible.

During storage, air circulation in the cellar is of no small importance, therefore natural ventilation should be arranged in the basement. Bins for root crops must be arranged at a height of 15 cm from the floor level, which will create good conditions for air exchange and uniform cooling of the crop, and does not allow it to sweat.

Correct collection of beets

Long-term storage of this root crop causes problems for many. However, it is difficult to imagine Russian cuisine without this vegetable. At the same time, the use of beets with the approach of spring has great benefits for the body and big number medicinal properties.

In fact, storing beets shouldn't be too much of a hassle, as they are a table root vegetable that has a much better keeping quality than carrots or potatoes. With the knowledge of the correct storage and bookmarking of suitable copies in the repository, it will be possible to save it until the onset of spring.

Successful storage of root crops will be possible with the following factors:

1. Security suitable conditions in room;
2. Grow correctly, carefully collect and sort the crop;
3. Choose varieties that have the best keeping quality and cold resistance.

Before starting the cultivation of this culture, you need to remember that the highest quality seed will grow best on fertile loamy or sandy loam soil. When planted in acidic soil, it can be affected by common scab, which will contribute to the formation of warts, cracks and roughness on the skin. In the cracks that have arisen, other diseases will develop, which will negatively affect keeping quality.

For growing on personal plots, the following varieties with high keeping quality are suitable:

• Bravo
• Red ball
• Incomparable
• Bordeaux 237
• One-sprout
• Winter
• Nosovskaya

Figure 2. Correct collection harvest

Harvesting root crops should start earlier than harvesting carrots, since beets can freeze during the first frost. Try to dig up roots very carefully to prevent mechanical damage that will cause viral and fungal diseases in them (Figure 2).

Diseases that reduce the keeping quality of the culture:

1. Overfed root crops with phosphorus and nitrogen become susceptible to white rot.
2. Gray rot most often develops on frozen or damaged beets.
3. With stuck soil on the root crop, gray or white rot can be brought into the cellar.
4. V summer period the culture is very often affected by fomoz and fusarium, which begin to actively develop in winter and form black spots and voids on root crops.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that during a wet spring and dry summer, there is a lack of boron salts in the soil, which causes the development of root rot, which penetrates from the head of the vegetable and at the same time forms voids in it. Such roots rot at the very beginning of the storage period.

Preparing crops for storage in the cellar

It is recommended to choose a dry sunny day for harvesting. In the root crop, most of the "body" is above the soil surface, and it does not tolerate night frosts. If you allow freezing of root crops, then their keeping quality will be very poor. The frozen part quickly deteriorates and will soon begin to rot (Figure 3).

Note: For this reason, the time for digging the crop must be chosen correctly. For example, in the middle lane, root crops are harvested in October, and in the southern regions in late October or early November.

If the harvest fell on rainy weather, then the root crops will be needed in mandatory dry. The presence of moisture contributes to the active development of pathogens and fungi that damage root crops and the occurrence of rot, mold formation. From the soil, the beets must be carefully poured in with a shovel or pitchfork, being careful not to damage the skin. Any damage (scratches, cracks) will make storage problematic, as it will leave the vegetables weakened for bacteria.

At the end of the harvest, it is necessary to carry out a number of manipulations. First, you need to peel the root vegetables. Secondly, you should gently shake off and clean off the adhering soil from the vegetable.

Figure 3. Preparing root crops for storage

It is recommended to clean the harvested crop with gardening gloves or with a rag. It is better not to use a spatula or knife, since you can easily damage vegetables with sharp objects. Also, you do not need to beat root crops against each other or on hard surfaces to get rid of adhering soil. Upon completion of cleaning from the soil, it is necessary to cut off the roots, while the thin side roots are removed completely, and the central root is shortened to 6-7 cm. All manipulations with the roots are carried out by hand. If you need to cut a very thick root, you can use scissors or pruning shears for this.

Next, you should remove the tops from the root crops and for this the leaves are collected in a bunch and cut to a height of half a centimeter. It is not worth trimming the tops very shortly, as this can damage the crop. After pruning, you need to dry the vegetables and spread them out on a mat (you can do it outdoors, if weather conditions permit) or sprinkle it in an even layer in one vegetable in a dry, well-ventilated area. If the harvest took place in the rain, then the vegetables must be dried for at least a week. Further, the peeled and dried root crops should be sorted by size, for ideal storage medium-sized vegetables are suitable, firm and round.

Note: For example, root vegetables that are very large and very small are much worse stored. These vegetables are best placed in the refrigerator to be used or processed first.

Upon completion of all the preparation of the beets, they can be moved to the cellar. However, it is necessary to create all the conditions for storing root crops, properly prepare the place and take a number of preventive measures.

How to properly store beets in the cellar

The basis for storing beets in winter is not much different from storing potatoes or carrots. The harvested crop of root crops can be stored in bulk on the floor or bins with a wall height of up to 1 meter can be made and a wooden grate can be provided at their bottom, which will improve the ventilation of vegetables. The bins should be located at a distance of about 10 cm from the walls of the cellar or basement. You also need to make sure that the gaps between the boards are no more than five centimeters, otherwise the roots will fall into them (Figure 4).

Methods for storing beets in the cellar and basement:

1. The most common way is to store over potatoes. With this method, the beets will absorb the moisture they need, and the potatoes will be protected from excess moisture.
2. You can store beets in boxes filled with sun-dried river sand. With this method, you will need to check the sand so that it does not become wet.
3. Sprinkle the roots with sand or dust with sifted ash.
4. In boxes, the root vegetable can be well stored if it is pre-treated with brine or sprinkled with salt. When using a saline solution, the vegetables must be thoroughly dried.

Figure 4. Storage methods in the basement: 1 - on top of potatoes, 2 - in boxes, 3 - in sand, 4 - in salt

In addition, fern leaves or other plants rich in phytoncides can be laid under and on top of the beets. They will prevent the development of fungus and protect the vegetable from mold.

Temperature regime

In the matter of preserving the harvest, it is necessary to take into account a large number of nuances and recommendations for the correct storage of root crops in the cellar. In a well-built cellar or basement, protected from moisture and cold, such conditions are easy to comply with.

However, to achieve minimum loss harvest and maximum keeping quality of vegetables, then you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Check the cellar for availability high degree and the fact of free movement of cool air around the entire perimeter.
2. For better weathering of the stored crop, it is worth installing bins for root crops at a level of 10-15 cm from the floor.
3. The walls and floor must be cleaned and dried from excess debris without fail.

Also, a solution of bleach is used to whitewash the walls and ceiling, which will help to disinfect and sterilize the room.

Humidity

The best preservation of beets will be in the presence of humidity at around 90%, which is a very high indicator in comparison with other vegetables. Also, good ventilation in the room is of no small importance, since the air must circulate. The occurrence of stagnant air will cause the rapid formation of rot on the fruits.

Before you lower the crop into the cellar for storage, you need to prepare it for this (make racks or shelves). It is not recommended to put boxes with root vegetables on clay and concrete floors, and also to lean them against the walls of the room. The simplest solution to this issue will be the device of a flooring made of boards, on which it will be possible to put boxes with beets. The distance from the floor to the floor should be at least 15 centimeters, which will provide good ventilation for the vegetables. It is also worth checking the presence of ventilation holes in the drawers, and in the case of storing vegetables in trellised vegetable containers, check the distance between open spaces (should not be more than 5 centimeters). If the gaps between the boards in the boxes are more than 5 cm, then the smallest roots will fall out of them. Beets can be stored in special bins, about 1 meter high.

Before the immediate laying of the crop, it is necessary to clean the cellar, dry the room and process the walls with lime. Such a complex of cellar preparation will help to keep the precious harvest from mold and various microorganisms. If rodents are found in the room, it is necessary to immediately begin the fight to evict them from the vegetable store.

Storage bookmark methods

Each vegetable has its own storage conditions that will be favorable for keeping quality, and in general, such rules are similar to most root crops. In practice, it has already been proven that beets are much easier to store than potatoes or beets (Figure 5).

Among the main ways of laying beets for storage are:

1. Joint storage with potatoes: Spread the beets in an even layer over the potatoes in the box, which will create favorable conditions for both vegetables. Potatoes prefer dryness and can spoil quickly in a humid environment. At the same time, beets need a little more moisture than most crops. Under such conditions, the burgundy root crop will feel good, but it will also take away excess moisture from the potato, which is harmful to it.
2. Storing beets in boxes with holes: burgundy root vegetable is poured into small wooden or plastic boxes. Covering the boxes is not recommended as the vegetables must be ventilated.
3. Pyramids on the shelves: storage of beets can be carried out by placing them on the shelves of the rack or in the shelves of the cellar, while laying out the vegetables in pyramids. Previously, the shelves need to be covered with straw or burlap. During storage, root vegetables should not come into contact with the walls of the room and upper shelves.
4. Ash or sand: beets are put in wooden boxes and sprinkled with sand or wood ash. If you decide to use sand for storing vegetables, then you can completely bury the precious harvest in it. However, the sand must be pre-calcined in order to disinfect it. River sand is best suited for storing this vegetable.
5. Sprinkle with salt: this storage method is similar to the previous one, but table salt is used as an adsorbent. Using salt, you need to salt the root vegetables generously in boxes, or soak each vegetable in a strong saline solution, and then dry. Once the beets are dry, they can be stored.
6. Storing beets mixed with leaves: root crops are shifted with leaves of mountain ash, fern or wormwood. These plants interfere with the active reproduction of pathogenic microflora, since they emit volatile substances of phytoncides.
7. Immersion of root crops in clay: dilute a solution of fatty clay with water. In such a solution, the density should resemble the consistency of sour cream. You can also add a small amount of chalk. Each vegetable must be soaked in the prepared solution separately and allowed to dry. The procedure will need to be repeated, and only after the second processing of the root crops can they be stored, but after they have completely dried.

Figure 5. Popular ways of laying root crops in the basement (from left to right): pyramid, in ash and clay

You can also store beets in large plastic bags. This method storage is suitable for basements with a small area, since it is required to save space. Bagged burgundy root vegetables will be stored in wooden coasters or bricks. Try not to put more than 40 kilograms of beets in the bag.

Storing beets with other vegetables

Let's take a look at storing carrots and beets in a cellar or basement, without harming vegetables. Both varieties of root crops are not very fond of high humidity and vulnerable to freezing. For example, beets can be stored in the same box with potatoes, then carrots must be kept separately and in a slightly different environment.

For carrots, it is best to make a "layering", successively changing the layers of sand and carrots in the container. Sand for carrots should be soaked in moisture by 20-35%. On rare occasions, a liquid clay treatment can be applied to give vegetables an extra layer of protection. If the beets are treated with ash or chalk crumbs, they will receive another layer of protection.

A proven method of storing beets in a cellar is shown in the video.

Beets are a common vegetable crop. Having gathered a rich harvest, people try to preserve it for the winter months. To do this, you need to know how to properly store beets in the winter in a cellar or other home storage.

The best varieties for storage

Beets of medium early and early varieties survive the winter worse. They are intended for conservation, eating fresh root vegetables, preparing salads and other dishes. Late varieties are used for long-term storage.

Beets of the following varieties are taken for storage:

• Renova;
• Mulatto;
• Gribovskaya;
• Libero;
• Bordeaux;
• Egyptian flat;
• Incomparable;
• Salad.

Seeds for sowing are selected taking into account their place of origin. It is best to use seed varieties that have been harvested in your area. They are optimally suited to local climate and weather conditions. For example, Matryona's beets are perfectly stored in the Urals.

Preparing beets for storage in the cellar

In order to properly prepare the crop for storage in the cellar, it should be brought in accordance with the recommended parameters and correctly performed:

• ventilation;
• sterilization;
• temperature;
• humidity.

The cellar must be well ventilated. Cool air must move freely throughout the room. To ensure sufficient oxygen levels, vegetables are stored in prepared bins. The floor of the room, like other surfaces, must be kept clean and dry.

Attention! It is recommended to use bleach to sterilize the storage.

Beets are carefully selected and dried before storage. On examination, attention is paid to the presence of diseases (rot, mold), general defects and dents, softness and shoots. If a damaged vegetable is found, it is isolated from the rest. The found shoots are removed.

How to store beets in the cellar in winter

There are various technologies for storing beets in the cellar. It can be stored with potatoes, placed in wooden or plastic boxes with or without fillers, placed in plastic bags or on shelves. All of these methods are popular with gardeners.

Together with potatoes

To store beets in the potato cellar during the cold season, you need to use a large box. First, pour a layer of potatoes into it. Lay the beets on top. Due to the natural compatibility of these vegetables this method considered one of the best for storage. Potatoes love dryness. Beets in the cellar require high humidity... During storage, the potatoes give up moisture, which is immediately transferred to the beets and absorbed by them. This ensures optimal conditions for keeping the crop in storage.

In boxes

You can store vegetables in boxes in 4 ways. The first storage option is to place the beets in a box with holes for adequate air circulation. No more than two kilograms of vegetables are put in one package.

Another method of storing beets is to put the harvested and dried root vegetables in a wooden box and sprinkle with regular salt. You can do it differently: each fruit is dipped in a salt solution and, after drying, is placed in a box. Salt is considered not only an excellent absorbent, but also an excellent crop protector against the appearance of mold and mildew.

In the third case, the root crop can be stored in boxes with plant leaves (mountain ash, wormwood, fern, tansy, runny), emitting protective substances - phytoncides. They counteract the growth of pathogenic bacteria and the development of fungal diseases, thereby keeping the fruit from rotting. Plant leaves are placed on the bottom of the container and between the beets.

In the last storage option, vegetables are contained in wooden box without holes. Dry ash or river sand is poured onto the bottom. The crop is laid in layers. Sand or ash is again poured on top, on which the next layer of beets is laid. The sand is preliminarily disinfected.

In bags

In a small cellar, beets are well stored in plastic bags. To preserve the roots, the filled bag is suspended, small holes are punched from below. At regular intervals during storage, the bags are opened for ventilation.

On racks

On the shelves, root crops are laid out close to each other. Each layer is covered with sand with the addition of chalk and dry hydrated lime (proportion of sand and chalk 50/1 kg). Such a mixture is a good prophylactic agent against rot, mold and other diseases. Instead of sand, you can take sawdust.

Attention! The humidity in the storage room should not exceed 15 percent. Due to disinfecting properties essential oils contained in sawdust, the root crop does not lose its beneficial properties and does not shrink, forming wrinkles.

In clay glaze

To store beets in clay glaze, you first need to prepare a mixture of clay and water. For 1 kg of clay there is 0.3 kg of water. After preparing the glaze, well-dried roots are dipped in the composition and dried. The processed beets are covered with a protective coating that protects against diseases. After drying, the beets prepared for storage are placed in boxes or boxes and left in the cellar.

Why do beets wither in the cellar

Before laying root crops on winter storage they need to be dried in the cellar. It is better to do this in a draft. Containers must have holes, mesh or lattice. Shoots must be completely removed. The cellar must be equipped with a hood, to ensure a low humidity level and a positive temperature. The safety of vegetables should be monitored and their bulkhead should be done at least twice a month.

In most cases, decay begins due to the fact that vegetable growers violate storage rules, or root crops are affected by diseases. The main diseases are gray and white rot, phimosis with fusarium and rot of the heart. Gray rot appears on damaged vegetables or those that have been laid in a frozen state.

The appearance of white rot, phimosis and fusarium is associated with improper cultivation culture. In the first case, a lot of fertilizers were used, in the last two, proper prevention of fungal diseases was not carried out.

The disease associated with rot of the core of the fruit is a consequence of insufficient moisture in the soil during cultivation. Most often seen during hot dry summers.

Optimal storage conditions

The best conditions for storage in a cellar are:

1. Placing root crops in a room with a constant temperature from 0 to 2 degrees Celsius and humidity up to 90%.
2. Sufficient natural air circulation or exhaust ventilation.

The optimal storage regime for vegetables in the cellar is maintained throughout the entire period, since with an increase in temperature and humidity, they begin to grow overgrown with shoots and gradually lose their useful qualities and appearance. When placed in containers or on racks, root crops must be at least 15 cm above the ground.

Conclusion

By applying the tips above, you can store your beets in your cellar over the winter until your next harvest. Great importance at the same time, it has a thorough preparation of vegetables for storage. Compliance with the conditions will allow vegetable growers at any time of the year to enjoy their favorite and mouth-watering beetroot dishes: borscht, salads, kvass.

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Growing a good harvest of root crops is great, honorable and enjoyable. But the same sun, air and water, which helped us achieve such success in the summer, in the winter may well translate victory into complete defeat. Therefore, it is very important to arm yourself with the knowledge that will help preserve all the beets that we have grown on summer cottage, without annoying mistakes and offensive losses.

Growing a good harvest of beets is great, honorable and pleasant

We have already discussed, but how to do it - let's talk now.

We select varieties suitable for long-term storage

Not all beet varieties are suitable for long-term storage. In order not to be mistaken, you need to know what kind of longevity they have. Because, no matter how healthy and beautiful the roots are, if they are not intended for long-term storage, they will not be stored. And as a result - disappointed hopes, rotten fruits and disappointment.

Well, why do we need these troubles, isn't it better to know in advance what we can expect from the variety that we grow? The following varieties are distinguished by high indicators of keeping quality:

• "Renova"
• "Mulatto"
• "Late winter A-474"
• "Libero"
• "Egyptian flat"
• "Bordeaux-237"
• "Salad"
• "One-sprout"
• "Incomparable А463"
• "Pablo F1"
• "Cold resistant 19"
• "Detroit"
• Boltardi
• "Gribovskaya flat A473"

But the variety "Cylinder", which is grown in almost every country house, although its fruits are distinguished by excellent taste, is not suitable for long-term storage, because its keeping quality is lower than that of the listed varieties. But it is precisely the "Cylinder" that is often put in storage!

Variety "Cylinder"

Particular attention should be paid to local varieties- they will most often be the best option for growing and successful storage harvest.

Rules for preparing beets for storage

Often, summer residents harm themselves catastrophically by improperly processing the newly dug crop. After all, it is enough to inaccurately pull the root crops out of the ground, walk over them in boots, cut them with a knife during cleaning, and that's it, the infection process has started ... Wait for diseases, rot and the loss of a good half of the harvest ... simple, but very important points.

Harvesting beets

You say: “What could be simpler: pulled the tops - the beets and pulled out of the soil!”. But no, with this method, we risk damaging the skin of the root crop on dry ground and pebbles - scratching, tearing or cutting. And thereby significantly shorten the life of the crop ...

And rightly so: dig up the roots with a shovel or pitchfork, slightly lifting them with the soil. And then it is already easy and neat to pull out by the leaves or pick with your hands.

It is best to pick a fine, dry autumn day for cleaning. And harvesting is more pleasant, and useful for future safety. It will be necessary to follow the weather forecast very carefully: the beets must be removed before frost, because the part of the root crops protruding from the ground will freeze even with a slight frost and they will no longer be suitable for storage.

Before storage it is necessary dry all root vegetables.

• If the beets are dry warm weather- you can dry it right here, in the garden... Two to four hours will be enough. If the beets remain outdoors for a long time, they will begin to lose moisture and wither.

• If root crops have to be taken out of wet soil, and even in the rain, they will need to be dried already in room, preferably well ventilated, scattering the beets in one layer. Indoors, drying takes much longer: from 2-3 days or even up to a week.

First processing

It is carried out immediately after the beets are dug up and air-dried. At the same time adhere to following rules and the sequence of actions:

• Slightly clean root crops from excess soil (clay, mud). At the same time, it is completely unacceptable to beat root crops against each other or clean off lumps of dirt with a knife, wood chips, and other objects. Any, even a very tiny damage to the skin is a gateway for infection, and, believe me, she will not miss the chance and will certainly penetrate into a healthy root crop. Oh, something, but there are enough harmful microorganisms in the soil.

• Cut off the tops, but not cleanly, right up to the root crop, but leaving a "tail" up to 1 cm in size. A common mistake is breaking (twisting) the tops by hand. This is not recommended.

• Remove side roots, trying not to damage the root crop itself.

• Main root it is allowed to cut, leaving the tail up to 5-7 cm.But, if it is not very long and branched, better keep his fully- there will be less chance of infection.

• Roots do not wash!

By and large, this is not even sorting, but a preventive examination and rejection: sick, damaged, rotten roots are removed, and only healthy, strong, not damaged and not very large... Large fruits are coarser, poorly stored and cook for a long time. Heads up to 10-12 cm in diameter are stored best.

On examination, you can "clean up" the roots from the remnants of dirt (it is best to do this with your hands in fabric gloves, and this usually happens during sorting). But here you need to take into account: "super cleaning" for beets is just not needed, because thin layer the adhering earth even helps storage... You need to clean only lumps of earth, which can damage neighboring fruits, and looser lumps of soil crumble themselves.

Beet storage

Peeled, dried and sorted root vegetables are ready for storage for a long time. What method you choose for this, in what container you will store it, what mode you can provide - depends only on your conditions. We will advise different ways and options from which you can choose the most suitable.

For storing beets, traditional methods, tried and tested for centuries, are used:

• outdoors: in trenches and holes;
• in room: in a cellar, basement, underground, dark room, balcony or refrigerator.

In what form and in what container to store beets is the owner's choice, but there is plenty to choose from. Beetroot with equal success can be stored:

• in bulk, in piles or bins;

• in boxes and baskets - in an open way;
• pyramids on shelves or racks;
• in a closed way - in boxes with sand;
• on potatoes - in boxes or bags.

Beet storage conditions

The most Better conditions for storing beets - this is, of course, a basement or cellar, where:

• dark;

• the temperature is maintained from 0 ºС to + 2 ºС;
• humidity level is observed within 90-92%;
• there is natural air circulation;
• the possibility of freezing is excluded.

It is especially important to observe such storage conditions in the first 1-2 months, because at a temperature of + 4 ° C, beets begin to sprout tops, and this will significantly reduce the shelf life. To maintain natural air circulation, stored roots must be at a height at least 15 cm from the floor Beets, if there is no mechanical damage and they are not infected with diseases, are well stored even in a simple mound. But “for fidelity”, summer residents have in store quite a few tricks that significantly increase the safety of root crops during long-term storage.

• Beets keep well with . In this case, the roots are stacked on top of the potatoes in one layer. Potatoes give excess moisture to the beets, which just need it.

• A great way to store beets is in sand... But it must be either calcined in the sun, or fried in the oven for disinfection (some summer residents advise even to rinse the sand before calcining). When stacking in boxes, sprinkle the beets with sand so that the fruits do not touch each other, and the top layer of sand is at least 2 cm.

A great way to store beets is in the sand

• It has proven itself well as a bulk material salt... Now this method is finding more and more adherents. There are even tips to treat the beets with a strong saline solution and dry them well, but still more summer residents for the dry method from start to finish).

• You can also powder the beets with wood ash. The ash is pre-sieved.

• There is also a lot of data that nice results gives the transfer of beets with fern leaves.

• Reliably protects beets from diseases during storage. chalk powder before packing in boxes.

• Can store beets in peat, sawdust or shavings.

• Beets are well stored in plastic bags with a capacity of up to 35-40 kg. In this case, the bags are not tied for free air access.

• If there are a lot of beets, you can make p polyethylene liners, which will separate the root vegetables from each other in containers.

• When storing beets in a placer The best option would be to install a wooden grate on the floor for air circulation, and leave gaps in the walls of the pile.

• Small roots are best stored separate from the large ones.

And in the next video, Olga Platonova offers a very interesting way storing vegetables with clay:

If the dacha is far outside the city, and there is no basement, you can quite successfully store root crops in the apartment. Of course, in these conditions, one should not expect that all of them will survive until spring, but you can safely count on 3-4 months.

• If you have balcony protected from frost, and the temperature on it does not drop to minus indicators, the beets will feel great there until spring. Put it in sand box and prepare blankets just in case.

• If there is a risk of freezing, then you can on the balcony erect homemade cellar, insulating the box of the required size from the inside with foam and holding a small-watt light bulb inside the box for heating.

• Beets can be stored in a shed in a box of sand... The main thing is to make sure that the sand remains dry.

• You can even store it in the room, in a dark place (under the bed, closet), away from radiators and heating appliances. In low boxes, sprinkled with sand, sawdust or dipped in clay solution and dried beets can be stored for 4 months, and this, you see, is a lot!

• Beets are well stored and in fridge, v parchment paper or food foil (each beet must be wrapped tightly!). In such vestments, it will be stored for up to 3 months, without fading and retaining all the taste.

• You can find interesting tips in the article as well.

It turns out that the appearance of beets on the counter can tell you what advantages or disadvantages you will encounter when you bring your purchase home. Therefore, if you are not a summer resident practitioner, these tips can be very useful.

In the following video, you will learn how to choose beets in a store or vegetable market and save them correctly:

Summarizing what has been said, we can say: if you have taken into account all the beet "wishes", your harvest will calmly lie "in good health" for 7-8 months, that is, right until next year's harvest.

And all winter, useful and delicious dishes with beets - and, and, and invigorating. And we really hope that our advice will help you with this)