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Black radish: how to store, when to harvest
When to harvest black radish for the winter?
How to store black radish?
After digging up, not all radish will be suitable for long-term storage. You need to choose only the healthiest specimens, and the rest are suitable for direct consumption.
Can’t be left for storage:
- Small or too large roots.
- Lethargic and soft.
- Frozen.
- Rotten.
- With mechanical damage during collection.
Even a minor defect in the fruit can provoke rapid spoilage and contamination of other vegetables.
An important rule when collecting radish for storage is to get rid of the tops with a sharp knife. This will help the root crop retain the moisture it needs for as long as possible. It is categorically impossible to tear off the tops with your hands, this will lead to wilting of the vegetable.
If the fruits were dug up in rainy weather, then they must be dried for several days in a dry ventilated room or outdoors, avoiding direct sunlight. The maximum period of overexposure of the radish after harvesting before placing it in the cellar is 2 weeks. During this period, it is advisable to sprinkle it with earth, and then sort it again.
You can store black radish in the cellar in any wooden container. A prerequisite is to sprinkle plenty of wet sand on the bottom of the container and each subsequent layer of vegetables. The filled container is also covered with a thick layer on top. As it dries, the sand can be moistened with water.