How to preserve carrots for the winter – basic rules and methods

Preparing carrots for long-term storage is quite a responsible task. The crop itself is capricious. Therefore, under any violation of conditions, it begins to rot quickly, sprout, and lose its taste.

The FoodOboz editorial team will tell you how to properly harvest and store carrots for the winter.

Rules for preparing root vegetables

1. Late-ripening carrot varieties are specially grown for long-term storage.
2. You should only dig up carrots in dry weather. The best time to do this is in the evening because during the day the roots accumulate sugar and use it up in the evening.
3. Never water the carrots before harvesting. This will spoil its juiciness.
4. After digging, you need to dry the crop properly. Then check for mechanical damage or pests.

Rules for storing carrots

• Store carrots in a dark place at a temperature of -2 to +2 degrees and a humidity of 90-95%.
• Prepare the storage room properly: take care of insulation, waterproofing, and protection from groundwater.
• Do not store carrots together with apples. They actively emit ethylene, which leads to spoilage of vegetables.

The main ways to store carrots

• Wooden boxes or cartons. They should be well closed with a lid and stored at a distance of 15 centimeters from each other.
• Onion husks. It should be put in bags together with carrots. This way, the husk will remove excess moisture and protect the roots from rotting and pests.
• Coniferous sawdust. To use this method, you need to sprinkle the roots with sawdust. You need to put them in boxes or crates. In this way, sawdust will protect carrots from diseases and rot.
• Sand and chalk. Mix wet sand and chalk, and then pour the mixture into a box. Put the carrots with the thick end on top and sprinkle with chalk. The chalk will help the carrots stay fresh and still taste delicious.