If you love potatoes and plan to stock up on them for the winter, then you need to make every effort to create suitable conditions for storing them in the winter. If this task is simplified for residents of a private house, then for residents of apartment buildings something has to be done. This is especially problematic if you live in an apartment and do not have garage with basement. However, there is a way out. You can make a special box for potato storage on the balcony in winter. In this article we will look at useful tips on how to do it. We hope this material will be useful to you, especially if you are looking for the optimal solution.
Where to start
First of all, you need to decide on a suitable place to build a box for potato storage on the balcony in winter. So, you should decide where it will be installed. First of all, it should not interfere with free movement on the balcony or loggia. It is also not recommended to build a potato storage box close to the outer wall. She will constantly feel cold in winter.
Among other things, you need to decide what size the structure will be for storing potatoes in winter. To do this, you do an analysis, namely how many people are in your family, does everyone like potatoes, what is the size of the balcony, and the like. Of course, you won’t be able to make a box for half of the balcony and store up to 600 kilograms there.
It is also worth considering what shape the container for storing potatoes will be. Some people decide to combine this device, for example by finishing a drawer so that it serves as a seat. Perhaps it will be a built-in structure or a free-standing one that can be moved as needed. Someone would like to collect a container for storing potatoes on the balcony square or rectangular. There are no strict rules in this matter.
It is also worth thinking in advance about what materials will be used when constructing a container for storing potatoes on the balcony in winter. You may need the following materials:
- Boards.
- Plywood.
- Bars.
- Fastening elements.
- Thermal insulation material, etc.
It would be a good idea to design the shape of the future box. Some people make it this way:
- The structure is made with double walls made of wood.
- Thermal insulation material is packed between the walls.
- Additionally, to maintain a positive temperature inside the box on the balcony in winter, an incandescent lamp is installed.
A winter storage box of this type will allow you to maintain an excellent temperature and keep potatoes on the balcony all winter.
Making a box
So, now we’ll take a closer look at the question of how to make a box for storing potatoes in winter with your own hands. So, first of all, decide on the chosen location, as well as the dimensions. The entire process of making a structure for potatoes with your own hands comes down to the following algorithm.
Saw off wooden blocks to the specified dimensions to form the frame of the box. First, the bars are fixed to the floor in a horizontal position, and then in a vertical position.Plywood or other board material is also cut to form the wall. A board or piece of plywood must be attached to the base. This is important to prevent direct contact of the potatoes with the concrete surface.
The next stage is thermal insulation. So, the insulation is attached. For this purpose, polystyrene foam, mineral wool, polystyrene foam or other material can be used. The insulation layer depends on several factors. For example, is your balcony insulated or not, how severe are the winters in your region, and so on. The installed insulation must be covered with a board or the same plywood.
Be sure to provide a cover for storing potatoes on the balcony in winter. It is also made from boards or plywood. The lid must be insulated from the inside. It is important to ensure that a good seal is formed when closed. Therefore, for the convenience of opening and closing it, you can screw a handle to it.
A kind of heating is also provided for storage in winter. Mount a tin pipe inside the box and attach an incandescent lamp inside it. As for the wiring, to avoid direct contact with the wooden structure, it is necessary to place them in a special protective corrugation. An additional switch is installed. It is best to install it inside the apartment. This will allow you to turn on the lamp to increase the temperature inside the potato storage structure without going out onto the balcony in winter.
Ventilation is also organized. Ordinary technological holes at the bottom of the structure can act as ventilation. Remember, the purpose of ventilation is to provide a change of air inside the box.However, some nuances should be taken into account in this matter:
- Ventilation holes are not drilled on all sides of the box. The side that is adjacent to the wall of the balcony should remain intact.
- The holes should not be larger than 3 mm. Otherwise, this may lead to freezing of root crops on the balcony in winter.
- Take your time when drilling holes. Plywood or other facing material should not have cracks. Due to their appearance, the made box will quickly fail.
- Do not drill holes at the bottom of the structure. If there is soil on the potatoes, it will remain inside the container and not spill out.
So, as we have seen, making a container for storing potatoes on the balcony in winter is an excellent solution for many apartment residents. By following these simple instructions, you can do all the work yourself. As for the design of this building, it all depends on your imagination. For example, you can use foam rubber to make soft upholstery. Some additionally secure the backrest for convenience. This will allow you to organize a place to sit on the balcony at any time of the year with a cup of coffee.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a solution to how to store potatoes in winter in city apartments. It's up to you to implement all these ideas. A well-made design will last you a very long time. Even if after a while you change your mind about storing potatoes in it, such an insulated box can be used for other root vegetables. In any case, it will definitely come in handy on the farm. We hope this material has given you some useful food for thought. In addition, we recommend that you watch the video at the end of this article.It will help you consolidate all the theory provided by the real practice of home craftsmen.
