Advantages and disadvantages of storing carrots in sand, step-by-step instructions

Carrot storage in the sand is popular among summer residents. The sand medium, due to its structure, regulates the air exchange process and compliance with the temperature regime in the storage container. Using raw sand will help maintain the juiciness and elasticity of the root crop due to the optimal level of humidity.

From the article you will learn how to properly prepare a sand mixture and how to store root crops.

Is it possible to store carrots in sand?

Preserving carrots in winter is difficult due to their high water content and thin skin.

Storage in sand - traditional way, which retains the original appearance of the crop for more than six months. The sandy environment ensures minimal loss of nutrients and the crop itself.

Points for and against

Traditionally, root vegetables in sand are stored in a basement or cellar. Sometimes a balcony is used.

Important! Place the container with sand and carrots away from the heating system.

Benefits of keeping carrots in sand:

• it maintains temperature;
• maintains humidity;
• processes carbon dioxide;
• extends the shelf life of vegetables.

Flaws:

• contamination of root crops and the need for washing before further use;
• the cost of time and effort to prepare the mixture, storage space.

Which sand to use - wet or dry

When choosing between wet and dry sand, look at the humidity level in the room. If it is high, more than 95%, and the temperature is low - 0...+2°C, then use dry sand.If the basement is warm with low humidity levels, then water is added to the sand mixture.

Raw sand allows you to maintain the elasticity of the vegetable throughout the entire period of storage.

Wet sand mixture is used for the following reasons:

• it regulates the level of humidity during storage;
• prevents the peel from drying out.

To moisten the sand mixture, take 1 liter of water per 10 liters of material. If the sand does not crumble when squeezed and does not flow out with water, then it is ready for use.

How to store carrots in sand correctly

The vegetable is stored in a cool place with a temperature of +0...+3°C, maintaining a humidity level of 90-95%. The room is ventilated, but drafts should be avoided. It should be completely dark - in such conditions the processes of growth and development of the vegetable stop. A basement or cellar.

Important! At a temperature of +5°C and above, the root crop begins to germinate.

Characteristics of carrots suitable for storage:

• mature;
• without signs of rot, disease or other defects;
• not too juicy and tender - the coarser the carrots, the better they are stored, vitamin tender varieties It's better to eat first.

Preparatory stage

A wooden box, barrel, bucket or containers are suitable as containers in which carrots will be kept in winter. The sand used is clay or loam. The volume is calculated as follows: for 1 kg of vegetables, take 0.5 m3 of sand.

Keeping them in sand prevents carrots from rotting. Before storing, vegetables are prepared. To do this you should:

1. Dig the root crop out of the soil, without shaking or tapping it. Such methods will lead to microcracks, which will subsequently begin to rot. Carrots are harvested when 80% of the tops begin to wither. This happens at the end of August-September.
2. Cut off the tops using a sharp knife. Do not tear it off with your hands - this will injure the vegetable.
3. Rinse. This process is not necessary, but if the summer was rainy, then there is a high probability of rotting the root crops. During washing, it is easier to examine and remove diseased specimens.
4. Trim the carrots. Take a sharp knife and make a cut 2 cm below the level of the head. If the cut level is not at an insufficient height, the development processes will not stop and the root crop will germinate.
5. Rejection of sick and crooked specimens. Straight, smooth, healthy carrots without cracks or signs of rotting are sent for storage.
6. Dry in a ventilated place for three hours. Avoid direct sunlight.
7. Send to quarantine for 10 days at a temperature of +12°C. This is done to strengthen the peel and to identify signs of disease.
8. Discard diseased carrots if necessary.

Stages of preparing storage space:

1. Clean and ventilate the basement.
2. Wash and dry storage containers.
3. Disinfect the container and the room in which the vegetables will be located.

Sand preparation steps:

1. Clean and sift the sand mixture, removing all foreign elements from it.
2. Moisten it so that it does not crumble or leak from your palms.
3. Sand humidity should not exceed 65%.

River sand is not used to keep carrots.

Storage instructions

Carrots prepared for winter storage are taken to the basement.

To store carrots in sand, you need to:

• pour the sand mixture into a layer of 1-2 cm at the bottom of the container;
• when using a box, first line the bottom with cardboard or a bag;
• place the carrots horizontally so that they do not touch each other or the walls of the container;
• cover a layer of carrots with sand 10 mm thick;
• repeat layers one after another until the container is full.

When storing vertically, increase the first layer of sand to 10 cm. Carrots are placed with the tops up. Cover with a layer of sand and repeat the layers. The main thing is that the root vegetables do not come into contact with each other.

Important! Place the container with root vegetables at a distance of 10 cm from the wall and, if possible, raise it above the floor. This will increase air exchange.

Shelf life of carrots in sand

Under properly organized conditions, the shelf life of root crops in sand is 6-8 months.

To extend the shelf life to 12 months, the following measures are taken:

• sort the crop during storage in order to cull diseased specimens;
• cut off the overgrown tops;
• First of all, small root vegetables are used; they have a short shelf life;
• do not place the container in a draft or near radiators;
• Late varieties of carrots are used for storage.

To ensure a healthy harvest, chalk or well-slaked lime is mixed into the sand mixture as a preventive measure. This will give the environment antiseptic properties and prevent pathogens from developing. It is enough to add 2% of the material from the total volume of the sand mixture.

Adviсe

If the harvest is small, then the question arises: how to preserve it for a long time without losing quality?

Experienced summer residents recommend:

1. Do not use waterlogged sand - it will cause carrot diseases.
2. Sort through and remove spoiled root vegetables in a timely manner - this will extend the shelf life.
3. Maintain proportions in fertilizers. Increased doses of nitrogen and organic fertilizers will have a bad effect on carrot storage.
4. Store the vegetable in a cool place with high humidity.
5. Follow cleaning deadlines and rules trimming a vegetable - all this will extend the shelf life.

Conclusion

Now you know what kind of sand to cover carrots with for the winter. During the period of its preservation in a sandy environment, the optimal conditions are an ambient temperature of +2°C, a humidity level of at least 90%.

To increase their shelf life, root crops are regularly inspected to prevent spoilage, and overgrown shoots are cut off. Carrying out these measures will allow you to preserve a high-quality harvest for a long time.