Detailed instructions: how to make a potato storage box on the balcony
Gardeners grow potatoes in large quantities and save the harvest until spring, and people who do not have plots buy a lot of vegetables for the winter. In both cases, there is a need to somehow store the potatoes. Having a cellar or basement is a good solution to the problem, but not available to everyone.
We'll tell you how to make a box for storing potatoes on your balcony in winter with your own hands.
Rules for storing potatoes
When storing potatoes it is important to maintain air temperature, humidity, ventilation and ensure darkness in the selected space. Potatoes must not only not rot, but also not lose their beneficial properties.
Attention! If the tubers freeze, they will lose their taste and vitamins, and at high temperatures they will wither and rot.
Optimal storage conditions
To ensure that potatoes are preserved for a long time, optimal conditions are created for them.:
air temperature – not lower than +1°С;- maximum temperature – up to +7°C;
- dryness of the room, otherwise there is a high probability of tubers rotting;
- laying tubers in a layer no more than 1 m high;
- darkness so that the tubers do not germinate and retain their beneficial properties.
If the loggia is heated, look for the coolest place away from heating devicesso that the potatoes do not rot.
How and in what to store potatoes in winter at home on the balcony
Ideal storage option potatoes - on a glazed and insulated loggia without heating.
In such a place, vegetables will be preserved better, and various devices will help with this.
Wooden boxes are the best option
Wooden structures are most suitable for storing vegetables. They provide environmental friendliness. But the tree is loved by various insects, so you should regularly inspect the boxes and, if necessary, destroy the pests.
Wooden structures are made in the form:
- chest with top bookmark;
- a cabinet with doors and shelves for separating different products.
These two types are the most popular for storing vegetables on balconies.
Plastic containers - simple and cheap
This is the easiest option. Plastic containers can be purchased at any hardware store. However, these structures will have to be insulated, for example, a cotton blanket.
You can put several wooden sticks under the box to protect it from the cold concrete. Pieces of foam plastic are also used as insulation.
Thermobox – suitable microclimate
A special metal cabinet that is connected to electricity to operate the built-in heater and thermostat.
Such boxes provide the necessary storage conditions, are available in different sizes, but are expensive. It is possible to make it yourself.
Temporary container - for a couple of days
Bags made from various materials are convenient for storing potatoes, but they will not protect them from the cold.
You can keep vegetables in them for no more than 2-3 days, then they will freeze and quickly spoil. Temporary containers are used only for transportation; they are not suitable for storage.
Flexible containers
If you work a little on the temporary container and insulate it, it will preserve the harvest throughout the winter. For colder areas, heating elements are installed between layers of insulation if the temperature drops too low.
The result is a compact container, convenient for storing potatoes. The same designs are sold ready-made in stores.
Shelf life of potatoes on the balcony
To potatoes preserved for a long time, tuber selection rules must be followed:
- plant or buy late or mid-late varieties;
- dry the tubers before storing;
- Do not store rotten potatoes, remove them immediately if discovered;
- choose varieties whose peel is thick and cannot be peeled off when scraped with a fingernail.
If the potatoes are selected correctly and the storage area is equipped in accordance with the recommendations, the tubers will last until early spring.
How to make your own box for storing potatoes in winter on the balcony
To make your own potato storage box you will need some wood and carpentry skills. The easiest way to make a wooden container is that it does not require large financial investments.
What tools and materials will be needed
Start with the box frame, after that proceed to the remaining parts.
Will be required:
- wooden beams up to 5×5 cm thick;
- plywood, chipboards or boards slightly thinner than timber;
- nails;
- hammer;
- hinges for opening the lid;
- corners for easy fastening of drawer parts;
- hacksaw.
Depending on the climatic conditions of the region, insulation may be needed or heating element.
Attention! To ensure ventilation, leave gaps between the boards or drill holes with a drill.
Detailed instructions for assembling a box without insulation
First of all, you need to assemble the frame of the box. For this you need:
- take accurate measurements so that the box fits in the right place;
- cut the beams to size;
- connect 4 beams that form the bottom of the box;
- repeat the process - you will get the upper part of the structure;
- using corners, connect both parts with vertical beams, they form the walls of the box;
- prepare the frame for the lid of the structure by connecting 4 beams according to the size of the box.
Then they start sheathing. For the walls, thinner materials are used - plywood, wooden boards, chipboard sheets. Strong, intact parts of the products are used, all rotten and rotten boards are excluded.
Sheets cover the bottom, walls and lid of the box. Loops are attached to the top to attach the lid.
With insulation
Foam plastic is used to insulate the structure. They line the box around the entire perimeter.
Advice. To prevent the material from crumbling over time, it is covered with plywood, which further strengthens the entire structure.
Sealed to retain heat
To prevent cold from passing into the potato storage container, ensure the box is sealed. To do this, use foam rubber or porous rubber.
The material is glued around the perimeter of the box lid and in the place where it fits. The loops on the reverse side are covered with a strip of felt fabric or leatherette.
Good ventilation
If the balcony is insulated and there is no need to protect the potatoes from frost, there is a problem with providing ventilation. To do this, when assembling the box, the boards are fixed at a distance of up to 3 cm from each other, and when using solid sheets of plywood, holes are drilled in the walls. Their diameter should not exceed 3 cm, and the holes themselves should be located no lower than 10 cm from the bottom of the structure.
Important! It is better to leave those parts of the box that will be adjacent to the outer wall of the balcony intact.
An old refrigerator makes a great potato storage box
An unusual option for storing potatoes is a refrigerator that is out of order. The walls are insulated, the tightness is maintained. It is enough to remove the compressor and place the old device with the door facing up. If necessary, you can add heating if the balcony is not insulated and the frost is severe.
A perforated pipe with a hairdryer or lamp is placed inside the structure as a heater incandescent Using the built-in thermostat, you can maintain the desired temperature.
The most common mistakes
When storing potatoes, mistakes are often made that lead to spoilage of vegetables.:
- Attempts to preserve early or mid-early varieties of potatoes for the winter. Such tubers are not suitable for long-term storage, their skin is thin, and the pulp quickly begins to deteriorate.
- The presence of spoiled tubers among vegetables. Potatoes of poor quality will quickly begin to deteriorate, rot will appear, and all vegetables will suffer, so before storage, potatoes are sorted and only strong and healthy tubers are left in the box.
- Combine potatoes with other vegetables in one box. The only exception can be beets, which eliminate excess moisture.
- Failure to comply with the temperature conditions for storing potatoes.
- Lack of control after adding vegetables. It is necessary to periodically inspect the potatoes and throw away rotten and spoiled tubers.
Conclusion
To preserve the potato harvest, it is important to choose the right container and provide the vegetables with temperature conditions, ventilation, and darkness.
It’s not difficult to make a heated and ventilated box yourself; you just need to spend a little time and materials. You can purchase a finished plastic product in a specialized store.