How and where to properly store potatoes at home: useful tips

Potato

Storing potatoes is essential, as this food crop is the most important after grains. There are thousands of varieties that can be grown in a wide range of climates. To preserve the harvest as long as possible, various methods are chosen: in the entryway, on the balcony, in the garage, etc., but the product is best preserved with a competent approach to arranging the space and following important recommendations.

Harvesting and preparing potatoes for storage

To store potatoes at home, you need to prepare them properly. Only potatoes that have been left in the sun for several hours to dry after being dug up can be successfully stored. Ultraviolet rays can remove fungal and bacterial spores, preventing infection. Each tuber should be thoroughly shaken free of soil.

Important!

Sorting and sorting into fractions. Use the large ones for food, the medium ones for planting next year, and the small ones for livestock feed.

Only healthy potatoes should be stored in the cellar over winter. Remove any diseased vegetables, or better yet, burn them, especially if they are affected by late blight or other fungal diseases.

Adviсe:

Before loading the product into the potato storage chest, thoroughly spray it with biological preparations such as phytosporin, baktofit, etc.
Dry in a dark place.
Fill the container only to the required volume to make it easy to sort and remove damaged tubers later.

Mixing early, mid-season, and late varieties is not recommended. This will result in the former rotting and the latter spoiling.

Storage conditions for potatoes

Potatoes can be stored at temperatures above freezing, but not above +5°C, with air humidity of 80-90%. Therefore, storing potatoes on the balcony in winter is only possible if it is insulated and waterproofed. Otherwise, the vegetables will quickly:

frozen;
will become flabbier;
will sprout.

With the right approach and temperature, potatoes can be stored practically until spring. They will remain firm, whole, and healthy.

Whether you store potatoes in the refrigerator or make your own potato box is a personal choice, but how you store your potato crop depends directly on the location and method.

Room or hallway

You can store potatoes without a cellar this way, but you'll need extra space in your apartment. Use homemade crates for containers. It's best to choose a hallway, as the temperature there is more optimal for storing potatoes in winter than indoors.

Flaws:

temperature changes;
short shelf life;
low security;
conflict with neighbors on the same site.

This method is not bad and will allow you to preserve the product almost until the beginning of spring, without losing its flavor.

Cellar

The cellar temperature for storing potatoes is considered ideal, and this method is often chosen by Russians and other citizens. The advantage is maintaining a constant and required level of humidity and temperature. Exposure to ultraviolet rays, which promote the formation of corned beef, is prevented.

Please note!

Before harvesting, the room must be treated twice with a salt and lime solution.

Use plastic or wooden boxes for storage. The bottom should have 4-6 cm slits to ensure air circulation. The containers should also be treated with a potassium permanganate solution, followed by thorough drying. Vegetables can be stored in boxes without lids, but they should be buried at a depth of 1.5 meters. If the cellar has high humidity, it's best to use beams, floorboards, and sawdust for the floor.

Kitchen or pantry

Storing potatoes in the refrigerator is generally temporary, but if you prepare the kitchen space, you can store a large batch that will be consumed shortly. The microclimate of a living space is unsuitable for such a crop during storage, so a well-ventilated, preferably unheated, and dark pantry is used. There are many design ideas for creating such a functional space in the home without encroaching on the main floor area.

Many people wonder whether it's possible to store potatoes in the refrigerator, especially those who don't have a pantry, garage, or cellar. In this case, only a small amount can be stored, and you'll need:

choose the right container;
ensure competent neighborliness;
Ensure regular inspection to prevent rot and mold formation.

Balcony

Potato storage on the balcony during the winter is acceptable. Similarly, you can make or purchase boxes for this purpose. These boxes come in two styles: nesting dolls, which have a 5-7 cm difference in wall height. Fill the remaining space with:

sawdust;
foam or other material that can absorb moisture.

U The container must have a double, insulated lid to prevent damage to the crop from sudden temperature changes or leaks from neighbors.

Types of containers for storing potatoes

Anyone can store potatoes at home, but you need to prepare the container and inspect the potato storage area. A wooden potato crate is the best option. The planks should be nailed together with gaps between them. A lid is not necessary. The optimal capacity is 10-12 kg.

These containers are easy to transport and sort. A potato storage box on a balcony in winter or in a cellar should be positioned so that there is approximately 35 cm of free space around the sides and bottom. The potato storage container should be spaced 15 cm above the next unit.

Avoid stacking potatoes close to the ceiling; a 60cm gap must be maintained. Mesh bags are the best way to store potatoes and sort them periodically. They:

durable;
breathable.

Please note!

If there's a risk of rodent infestation, replace the potato bin on the balcony with fine-mesh net containers. The bottom should be raised above the floor. In rare cases, the product is stored in metal barrels covered with netting.

How to increase shelf life

To store potatoes over winter, you need to create special conditions and follow expert recommendations. This will help prolong the period of maintaining optimal condition.

Place dried plants, such as ferns or wormwood, between each layer of potatoes.
It is acceptable to make a re-laying using pine and spruce branches.
To reduce the risk of rot, sprinkle the tubers with finely grated garlic. 100 g per 100 kg is sufficient.
The harvest should be stored in a dark place. Constant exposure to light will cause the production of solanine, which, if consumed, can cause severe poisoning or even death.
The optimal temperature is +3 to +5°C. If this temperature is exceeded, potato cellar storage is reduced to 3 months.

If the temperature is too low, the root vegetable will develop a sweet taste and begin to rot from the inside. Low humidity, less than 80%, will cause the root to change structure and become flaky.

Which potato varieties store best?

To store potatoes in an apartment And not only that, you can choose any variety, but they will have different shelf lives. It's acceptable to store mid-early and mid-season potatoes for two months.

Aurora.
Rococo.
Ketsky.
Pyrol.

To store potatoes indoors until spring, choose a mid-late or late-ripening variety. For example:

Gatchina;
Atlas;
Asterix;
Kolobok, etc.

Moreover, how to properly store potatoes in a cellar depends on the climatic conditions of the region, the degree of readiness of the room to accommodate the crop, and its quality.

Possible errors

Storing potatoes indoors during the winter without proper care is simply impossible. The most important thing is choosing the right variety. Early-ripening tubers won't keep perfectly until spring, even if you follow expert recommendations. These vegetables will only last until November, at best. There are a number of mistakes made by those purchasing or preparing large quantities of potatoes for the winter:

Poor-quality raw materials were selected. The product must be healthy, carefully sorted, and dry.
The planting is separate from other vegetable crops. When placed near beets, the latter absorbs moisture, preventing fungus, mold, and rot.
Maintaining specific temperature and humidity levels is essential. Potatoes can withstand temperatures no lower than +2°C.
It's strictly forbidden to skip sorting the produce when preparing it for winter. Tubers affected by disease, fungus, and similar problems must be removed.
It's not advisable to store raw materials in bags. This makes it impossible to constantly sort through the vegetables to detect poor-quality potatoes.

Attention!

When conducting a control sorting, not only affected tubers but also those that came into contact with them must be removed. The formation of a putrid odor and rot attracts small flies.

New potatoes must be stored properly at home. A cool place should be provided to prevent sprouting. The main threat to the harvest is high humidity and temperature, which can lead to fungus, rot, and other harmful effects. Proper adherence to the recommendations above will help avoid such problems.