How to process potatoes for storage 

For many, potatoes are a staple food throughout the winter. Also, this vegetable occupies a leading position in the world in the food industry. There are more than one thousand of its varieties. This is explained by the fact that potatoes are adapted to different climatic conditions. However, growing potatoes is one thing, it is quite another to store them properly so that the vegetable does not wither and deteriorate during the winter. For this reason, it is important to know how to properly prepare potatoes before storage. This article will consider the advice of many summer residents who have considerable experience in this area. Of course, the way potatoes are stored in different regions of the country will be different. But we will consider the main tips that relate specifically to the preparatory work.

Preparing for storage

The process of preparing potatoes begins from the moment they are harvested. Immediately after cleaning, do the following:

• For several hours, the potatoes get enough sleep in the sun. This is necessary to dry it. This is important, because ultraviolet rays kill a large number of fungal and bacterial infections.
• Next, thoroughly shake off the tubers from the existing soil. Then sorted by size. For example, large for eating. The middle fraction is suitable for future reproduction, and the small one is for pet food (if there are any on the farm).
• If you find a sick potato, then set it aside separately. Especially if the vegetable is affected by late blight, fungus, cancer or other similar diseases, then it must be destroyed.
• At the next stage, all sorted potatoes are treated with an antifungal compound, for example, baktofit, phytosporin or another biological product. After that, the vegetable is dried in the shade.
• After drying, the potatoes are put in a storage container.

Do I need to wash potatoes before storing?

Among gardeners, opinions differ on whether it is necessary to wash potatoes when preparing them for the winter. For example, some argue that preparing potatoes for storage should exclude this process, as the vegetable will rot very quickly. On the other hand, others claim that washing it will keep the potatoes better in winter. And everyone has their own arguments.

However, it is important to grasp one truth here. Whether the potatoes are washed or not washed, it is important to ensure that they are completely dry when preparing them for the winter. It is in the dry state that it will be stored for a very long time. Moreover, the quality of its savings is directly affected by the storage temperature. For example, a temperature of no more than 5 degrees Celsius is allowed. Also, the room should be dark with a humidity level of up to 91%. Plus, ventilation of the room or place where potatoes will be stored in winter should be organized. Moreover, the vegetable spoils very quickly if its layer exceeds one meter. And with all this, it does not matter at all whether you washed it first or not. If you carefully prepare the chosen storage place for the winter, then everything will be fine.

So, consider the positive aspects of washed potatoes:

• When preparing for the winter, you can immediately assess the quality of the tubers. When the peel is clean, all existing defects are visible on it. As a result, at the stage of preparing potatoes for the winter, you will immediately weed out everything spoiled.
• If preparation for the winter is carried out for sale, then such a vegetable will have a much better presentation. Plus, working with such products is much more pleasant.
• After winter, cleaning the cellar or other storage area will be much faster.

For the sake of objectivity, we highlight the disadvantages of this venture:

• If it is badly dried at the stage of preparing potatoes, then it can quickly deteriorate.
• The process of preparing potatoes for the winter will be much longer. It may be necessary to involve the whole family in this work.
• A lot of water is needed, especially if you have a good harvest.
• There must be enough space for drying.
• It is desirable that there was sunny weather, so everything dries quickly.

Storage conditions

An important role is played by the preparation of not the vegetable itself, but the place where it will be stored for the whole winter, and autumn can also be added. Therefore, the choice and preparation of the premises should be approached responsibly. As already mentioned, the preferred temperature is up to 5°C, and to be specific, from +2°C to +4°C. This is the temperature that will provide absolute peace of mind to the product. With her, potatoes do not germinate and do not freeze. If the place is not carefully prepared for winter and the temperature drops, this can lead to the process of forming starch into sugar. If the temperature rises, then this provokes the appearance of roots.

The bottom of the vault should be filled with sand or other material that absorbs moisture. The bottom must not be covered with the following materials:

• Smooth slate.
• Floor board.
• Linoleum.
• cement and more.

All this can provoke the formation of mold and fungi. When preparing the room for winter, you should also make sure that it will not be exposed to ultraviolet rays for a long time. Moreover, the presence of artificial light for a long time is not recommended.

So, the repository should be:

• Isolated from the penetration of various pests, such as slugs, mice and rats.
• Must be treated for fungal and bacterial infections.

Storage method

It is equally important to carefully prepare the storage for storing potatoes in winter. It is good if you have a cellar, basement, vegetable pit, underground or other storage prepared. Be sure to have shelves in them, and to install containers with products on the floor, you can put pallets.

If you live in a city in an apartment, then the process of preparing potatoes for winter becomes more complicated. Store in nets, bags is not the best solution. For this reason, it is necessary to prepare a special storage facility for the winter. You can make a special box on the balcony. But here it is important to think carefully. After all, even well-prepared potatoes for the winter (processed, dried, etc.) will deteriorate if you have not prepared the chosen place. First of all, the box must have good ventilation. It is necessary to create conditions for maintaining sufficient temperature.

What to store

Preparing potatoes for winter also includes preparing containers for storing them. A large number of summer residents store it in wooden boxes. The only condition is that the boards in it should not be knocked down completely, and there should be gaps between them. This will ensure good air circulation. The capacity of such containers can be up to 12 kilograms. This weight is enough, because if there is more, it will be difficult to move the boxes.

In the prepared storage, the installation of the boxes must also be carried out correctly. For example, between the walls and the box itself there should be an empty space of at least 300 mm. So, from the floor the distance is up to 200 mm, from the ceiling up to 600 mm. If boxes are installed side by side, then there must also be an interval of at least 150 mm between them.

There is also another option, for example, to store in a metal barrel in which small holes are drilled for air exchange.

Preparation errors

So, as you can see, the process of preparing potatoes for winter is complex. It is necessary to prepare not only the product itself, but also the room where it will be stored all winter. Of course, no one wants to make mistakes, because of which all your efforts will come to naught. For this reason, we will now look at errors that should be avoided.

So, there are a number of recommendations that boil down to drying the tubers after digging at a temperature of + 15 ° C in a dark and well-ventilated room. After that, the vegetable goes down to the cellar and is brought to a temperature of + 5 ° C. It is important to understand what is wrong with this.

So, many summer residents, listening to this advice, dry potatoes in the shade, in the veranda, under a canopy for a long time. However, all this does not give the desired result, moreover, it can be negative. The scattered light of the sun’s rays will constantly penetrate the product. Because of this, it can begin to turn green and accumulate solanine. Solanine refers to a strong poison that is toxic in small doses. Determining its presence is very simple. If the potato is bitter, it means that there is solanine in it, and this is dangerous for health.

For this reason, it is best to organize pitch darkness and away from sunlight for drying potatoes. Given all this, the conclusion is: does it make sense to take all these actions if the dug potatoes can be dried immediately in the field, and then sent to a prepared place for storage in the winter? So, minimal effort is required.

Conclusion

So, here we have examined with you all the features of how to prepare potatoes well for storage in winter, as well as how to properly prepare a storage place. Of course, you know other ways and tips in this matter. You may even disagree with something. And this is not surprising, because the way you prepare for winter storage can vary depending on the region where you live. You can share your experience and observations in this matter by leaving comments at the end of this article. Perhaps your method of preparation will be more effective, and our readers will be able to use it. We also invite you to watch an interesting video and how the preparation process is carried out.