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Most gardeners grow potatoes on their plots. And is it possible to imagine a Russian table without an excellent potato dish? It seems that the answer is obvious. But in order to enjoy dishes from this vegetable, it must be preserved until the new harvest.
Each person has his own secrets for storing root vegetables. Some are sure that he is unwashed potatoes store better, while others argue that it needs to be washed, otherwise it will become a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. Which of these statements is true? This article will answer the question of whether to wash potatoes before storing.
Advantages and disadvantages of washed potatoes
To have an objective look at this issue, this article will look at both the advantages and disadvantages of storing washed potatoes. One thing is clear - potatoes must be stored dry. Whether the root crop was washed or not does not matter. An important role is played by the air temperature in the room in which the potato tubers are stored and the air humidity. So, the temperature should not be higher than +5ºС and not lower than +2 ºС. Air humidity should be between 80–91%. To achieve these indicators, you need to install supply and exhaust ventilation in the cellar.
Advantages of storing washed potatoes
Each storage method has its advantages. Therefore, we invite you to consider the advantages of storing washed potatoes:
- Flaws are immediately visible on washed potatoes. So, you can immediately remove infected and damaged tubers, which will protect the rest of the potatoes from spoilage. That is, thanks to washing, it is possible to carry out better sorting of potatoes.
- If you wash the potatoes, they will have a marketable appearance. It is more pleasant to work with it during cooking.
- It takes much less time to clean the cellar after storing washed potatoes in it.
- After washing the tubers, they can be treated with a solution of copper sulfate or slaked lime to prevent spoilage of the vegetables.
but on the other hand
Every storage method has a downside, and for the sake of fairness, we need to discuss that too:
- If the peel is damaged during the washing process and the tubers are not dried enough, they will naturally spoil faster.
- If we wash the potatoes before bringing them into the cellar, then the process of preparing the tubers for storage will take longer.
- In order to wash potatoes before storing, you need to spend a lot of water.
- To dry washed potatoes, you need to allocate enough space, and this is not always possible.
- If the potatoes have been washed, you will have to spend more time drying. This is important, because otherwise the tubers will rot from excess moisture. During the drying process, potatoes should be turned over from time to time so that they dry evenly.
- Some gardeners believe that when washing tubers, the natural layer that protects vegetables from spoilage is violated.
How to wash potatoes
A bathtub or large pan can serve as a container for washing potato tubers. It is advisable that the container used for washing potatoes is not previously used for other household needs, especially for washing.
Then you need to pour the potatoes into the bath and fill it with water at room temperature. Each potato tuber is thoroughly washed without disturbing the integrity of the peel. During the washing process, injured and diseased potatoes are rejected. In addition, at this stage you can sort the tubers - large ones for eating and small ones - for planting next year.
If you wash potatoes in a container, you need to change the water several times until it becomes clear. Or, as an option, you can wash the potato tubers under running water. On a pre-prepared surface, you need to lay out the washed vegetables in one or maximum two layers. A metal sheet, boards, polyethylene or fabric can serve as a substrate for drying potatoes on the ground. The point is that the tubers do not come into contact with damp soil.
If the weather is hot, then 3 hours will be enough to dry the tubers. In this case, you need to turn the potatoes at least three times. In cooler temperatures it may take up to 8 hours to dry. There is no specific time, it is important that the potatoes become dry. It can then be folded into boxes and take it to a dark place.
After 10–14 days, tuber culling should be repeated. After this, the dry and washed potatoes can be taken to the cellar. It is better to store potato tubers in wooden boxes or bags made of natural burlap.
Features of the tuber storage box
You don't have to buy boxes. You can make them yourself from shields or wooden boards. To store potatoes better, the boxes should be double, that is, the smaller one is inserted into the larger one. In this case, you can be 100% sure that the tubers will not come into contact with the ground. The bottom and lid of the box should be double. The voids between the drawers can be filled with sawdust or foam.
The outside of the box needs to be upholstered. This can be done with a piece of galvanized steel, linoleum, plastic, or by painting wooden elements. All of these steps will help you protect your potatoes from moisture.
Thermal container
If you live in an apartment and the only place to store potatoes is the balcony, then if you cannot build a box yourself, you can purchase a special thermal container.
This design is essentially a double bag that is made from durable tent fabric. Durable padding polyester is used as insulation. This thermal container also has electric heating, which ensures a constant temperature inside it, varying between +1+7 ºС. This device will fit very well into the balcony interior, as it has an attractive appearance. In addition, this way you can protect your potatoes from freezing even in the most severe frosts.
Some useful tips
The following tips will help you preserve potatoes until spring without much effort:
- If you mix potato tubers with dry wormwood or common wormwood, you can protect the potatoes from rotting.
- Plants that secrete phytoncides extend the shelf life of potatoes. Many summer residents replant tubers with spruce or pine branches or rowan leaves.
- If you put ferns or elderberries in boxes with potatoes, they will rot less, which means they will last until the next harvest.
- Mint delays the process of potato ringing. If you transfer the tubers with it, the rings will appear on them much later.
- You can store potatoes in an apartment at room temperature for 2–3 weeks if you put them in a plastic bag and tie them tightly.
So, whether or not to wash potatoes before storing is up to you. The method has both pros and cons. An objective look at this issue was provided in the article, but in order to expand your knowledge, we invite you to additionally watch the video:
I washed the potatoes this year too