Winterizing carrots may not be as difficult as it seems. If you prepare vegetables well and choose the right place for them, they will not spoil for many months. If you want to enjoy the sweet taste of carrots in spring, remember these rules.
Carrot is a very valuable vegetable, rich in vitamins A, C, vitamins of groups B and E, H, K and PP, as well as many other valuable nutrients. Regular consumption of carrots has a positive effect on our body, so it is always worth having them at home and adding them to juices, soups or salads. However, fresh vegetables have a short shelf life and spoil quickly if stored improperly. If you want to overwinter carrots at home, see what you can do to make them suitable for consumption for a few more months.
How to store carrots without a cellar? Remember these rules
Few people know that carrots, like potatoes and onions, can be winterized for many months. All you have to do is prepare the vegetables correctly and they will survive intact until spring. How do you do that? First, separate the hard, good-looking pieces from the soft and damaged ones. The latter should be eaten as soon as possible, if they are still good, or thrown away. Clean the remaining carrots from all lumps of soil, but do not wash them under water. Then cut off the tops. It is also a good idea to air out and dry the vegetables, but do not expose them to direct sunlight, as they spoil faster if exposed to heat. Storage space for carrots is extremely important because, like onions or potatoes, the temperature should be relatively low. It can be around 5 degrees Celsius, but it should not drop below freezing. Keeping carrots in the refrigerator is not a good idea because they hold a lot of moisture. It is best to move the vegetables to a cellar, pantry or other storage area protected from the elements.
What is the best way to store carrots for the winter? Thanks to this, the vegetables last until spring
After preparing the carrots and choosing a suitable room for them, you still need to take care of the storage method. It is best to arrange vegetables in boxes or piles. First, pour a few centimeters of wet sand on the bottom, then put carrots on top, then sand again, and so on until the container is full. To prevent the vegetables from drying out, you can also put a layer of peat moss on the bottom. However, if you prefer to store carrots in plastic bags, line them with sawdust. They prevent wilting and the growth of pathogenic microorganisms such as fungi and mold. A layer of pine needles, garlic or onion skins will also work well. Do not forget to tie the bag so that the vegetables remain fresh throughout the winter.
Potatoes will remain hard and firm until spring. Just put a couple of them in the box
