Beet storage
Your root crops are always better than store-bought ones. We know for sure that they are nitrate-free, they were not watered with pesticides and herbicides. Only now, not everyone manages to keep beets all winter. Let’s find out how to do it right

Beet storage conditions

The main secret of successful storage of beets is that they must be kept in the same place where the potatoes are. They complement each other perfectly! Potatoes have a problem – they become damp during storage. And the beets wither. But if they are nearby, the root crops take on the excess moisture of the tubers. The result – the potatoes do not rot, the beets remain juicy.

For storage, a basement, cellar, underground or refrigerator is suitable.

Beet storage temperature

The optimum storage temperature for beets is around 4°C. Air humidity – 90 – 95% (1).

Humidity in the cellar can be adjusted by improvised means. If the air is too dry, it is enough to put water containers on the floor. When it’s too damp, dry fern leaves should be laid out on the floor and bunches of this plant should be hung on the walls. Of course, you need to prepare them in the summer.

Ways of storing beets

There are several of them, and they are all quite reliable.

Sprinkle over potatoes. It was mentioned above that beets and potatoes are ideally combined during storage. Potatoes in this case are traditionally poured into the barrels, and beets are laid on top in 1 – 2 layers. In this case, the tubers will not rot, and the root crops will not wither.

But the effect of joint storage can be enhanced if you put dried rowan twigs with berries on top of the beets – this will additionally protect the vegetables from rot.

In boxes with sawdust or sand. Everything is very simple here: a layer of dry sawdust or river sand is poured into the bottom of a wooden box, and a row of beets is placed on them. Above – again sawdust or sand with a layer of 1 – 3 cm (2) and another row of beets. And so 2 – 3 layers, depending on the size of the root crops. The top layer is sawdust or sand.

At the same time, sawdust or river sand must be dry – they will absorb all excess moisture into themselves.

In plastic bags. It is important here that the packages are tight, you can use large ones – by 25 – 30 kg (3). They are filled with root crops by 2/3 and tied, but not close to the vegetables – the air should circulate freely. After that, the packages are made up on the cellar floor or put in the refrigerator.

How to store beets in the refrigerator

In packages. Here the same option is suitable as in the cellar – in tight packages. Moreover, in the refrigerator you can store not only whole root crops, but also damaged ones. But here it is important to look after them: as soon as the first signs of damage appear, use them immediately.

The temperature for storing beets in the refrigerator should be set to 4 ° C (6 – 8 ° C is too warm for it).

In the freezer. Frozen beets are stored for the longest time – they can lie quietly until the next harvest.

Before storing, root crops should be thoroughly washed, dried well, cut into slices, put in containers or bags and sent to the freezer. It is best to pack the beets in portions, for example, one serving is for making one borscht.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about beet storage with agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova.

Which beets are suitable for storage?

It has been noticed that root crops with a diameter of 10–12 cm are best stored. Large ones lie worse – they rot faster, and too small ones wither.

What varieties of beets are suitable for winter storage?

Mid-season, mid-late and late varieties of beets are suitable for storage – this information is always indicated on the bag of seeds. They lie for 7-8 months. Early storage is not suitable – these are salad options. But they are few.

Can washed beets be stored?

It is possible, but not longer than a week – such root crops quickly deteriorate. And, of course, in the refrigerator – there is no point in sending them to the cellar.

How to prepare the cellar for storing beets?

The easiest way to get rid of the fungus on the walls is with a blowtorch. Moreover, you can burn it, even when the vegetables are stored. 

Another option is to whitewash the walls and shelving with freshly slaked lime with the addition of copper sulfate (1,5 – 2 kg of lime and 200 g of copper sulfate per 10 liters of water). Whitewashing is carried out twice: first, one layer is applied, and when it dries, the second.

Sources of

  1. Pantielev Ya.Kh. ABC vegetable grower // M .: Kolos, 1992 – 383 p.
  2. Fisenko A.N., Serpukhovitina K.A., Stolyarov A.I. Garden. Handbook // Rostov-on-Don, Rostov University Press, 1994 – 416 p.
  3. Yakubovskaya L.D., Yakubovsky V.N., Rozhkova L.N. ABC of a summer resident // Minsk, OOO “Orakul”, OOO Lazurak, IPKA “Publicity”, 1994 – 415 p.

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