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Beets have long been an indispensable vegetable for preparing not only first courses and salads, but also great as side dishes and preservation. The agricultural technology of this root crop does not have any special requirements and therefore all gardeners try to grow it in sufficient quantities on their plots. That's why it's so important to read the terms and conditions beet storage in winter to always have supplies of this healthy vegetable.
Selection and preparation of beets for long-term storage
An important factor is the choice of beets for winter storage. It is best to give preference to late varieties, since they tend to retain their qualities over a long period of time. The later the harvest is, the better it is suitable for storage.
In order for beets to be stored well in the winter at home, they must first be prepared before being stored for a long period. Initially, it should be collected in advance before the onset of frost, since a sharp drop in temperature will significantly affect the shelf life. Therefore, it is best for the regions of the central zone to harvest beets at the beginning of October, and for the southern regions - at the end of October or at the beginning of November.
Vegetables should be dug up on a sunny, clear day, after which they should be laid out to dry in the shade for several hours. If the weather is not so ideal, the harvested beets should be dried indoors for several days.
The root and tops should be cut off using scissors or a knife within 3 cm of the root crop. It is better not to tear off the tops with your hands, as this may cause them to rot in the future. Then you also need to carefully cut off the side roots and shorten the main one to 5 cm.
After this, the beets are placed in a dry, dark room for several weeks. After this period, only intact and strong fruits that are suitable for further storage are sorted and set aside, and then transferred to a permanent place.
The most optimal storage options
Storing beets at home is possible in several ways, which depend on individual capabilities and preferences. For these purposes, boxes, boxes, plastic bags, vacuum containers, sand, chalk, table salt and even ferns are used.
In a special box
You can store beets in your apartment in a wooden box, which is ideal for potatoes and beets at the same time. At the bottom there is a tray in the form of a grid, which promotes free air circulation.
Moreover, both root crops will benefit from such a neighborhood, this is explained by the fact that the beets will absorb excess moisture, thereby protecting the potatoes from its negative effects.
It is best to place such a container on a glazed balcony, and if the air temperature drops significantly, the box is additionally covered with old blankets.
In boxes
Beets are stored at home, like other vegetables, in baskets or boxes, first sprinkled with layers of river sand or table salt. This method will help protect vegetables from excess moisture, which contributes to the development of fungal diseases.
For winter storage, it is better to use wooden boxes in which beets are placed in layers, sprinkled with a thick layer of river sand or sawdust, but so that the fruits do not come into contact with each other. It is best to place the prepared container on the balcony and, in severe frosts, additionally insulate it on top.
You can often hear or read on forums the phrase: “I store beets by layering them with fern leaves.” This method also helps preserve vegetables for a long time, as the leaves of this plant prevent the development of bacteria due to its fungicidal properties.
Vegetables sprinkled with chalk powder or wood ash retain their beneficial and tasty qualities well; this helps to significantly increase their shelf life and protect them from the occurrence of fungal diseases.
Features of storage in bags
Another way to store beets in an apartment is to place beets in plastic bags, but do not tie them, this promotes air circulation. Place vegetables in a cool place:
- on the balcony;
- near the outer door.
You can store about 30 kg of beets in one bag; sometimes you need to sort through them to sort out the fruits that are starting to spoil. When condensation appears on the walls, remove the vegetables and dry them.
In clay solution
If there is no balcony in the apartment, beets should be stored in winter, having previously been moistened in a clay solution, this can protect them from loss of moisture and beneficial qualities, and will also significantly increase their shelf life.
To prepare the necessary mixture you will need water and clay. These two components must be mixed until a homogeneous mass and the consistency of sour cream are obtained. Then each root vegetable is dipped in the resulting solution and allowed to dry for several hours. The dried fruits are placed in a prepared container and stored in the coolest place in the apartment.
In a refrigerator
With the same success, you can store this root vegetable in the refrigerator, but no more than 1 month. Since after this time, the beets begin to lose their beneficial qualities and moisture, which makes them unsuitable for further use. It is best to select fruits 10-15 cm in diameter, as they lose less moisture and are not so susceptible to fungal diseases. You will also need to comply with certain rules and storage conditions.
- When using plastic storage bags, place cleaned but unwashed beets in them and make additional holes in the bags in advance to allow air circulation.
- Vacuum bags are also used for storing root vegetables.In this case, the beets must be washed and all remaining tops removed. Then each vegetable should be dipped in a strong saline solution and placed in a bag. In this way, you can preserve beets for a month or even more without losing their beneficial and taste qualities.
- Often, root vegetables in the refrigerator are placed in vacuum containers, in which, if tightly closed, vegetables can be stored for 1 month.
- You can also use foil for storage, in which the beets are wrapped individually. This helps the fruits not to come into contact with each other, as well as retain moisture and beneficial properties for 3 months, because this method avoids direct contact of vegetables with air, but at the same time they continue to breathe.
- For longer storage, you can grate or cut the beets into cubes and then freeze them in the freezer. But with this method, vegetables lose some of their vitamins and beneficial qualities, but their shelf life increases to 3-4 months.
Cold storage root vegetables are not the best option, but they are always on hand, which is very convenient.
You can see more clearly how to choose and preserve this vegetable correctly from the proposed video; many of the author’s tips will help protect the harvest of root vegetables in the winter:
Conclusion
Preserving beets in the house will not be difficult, but it will require compliance with temperature, humidity and storage conditions. It is also necessary to promptly remove spoiled or limp fruits. Compliance with these rules will help protect the crop and extend its shelf life.
