Beetroot is a vegetable that always, one way or another, includes our menu. How to keep beets for the winter at home? This issue becomes especially relevant if you are the owner of your own garden or summer cottage. In almost every house you can always find a couple of root vegetables. And if you grow it for sale or harvest it as pet food, the question of the safety of the crop becomes especially relevant. Let's take a closer look at how to store beets at home and how to do it right.
This vegetable is indeed an indispensable product, we use it in the preparation of first courses, salads, side dishes, and preservation.
Peculiarities of storage of beets, by and large, do not differ much from the general safety standards for vegetables. However, there are some nuances, old folk tricks that allow you to save the taste and healthy qualities of this root crop before a new harvest.
Harvest photo:
Beetroot storage, basic rules
Harvest time is no less important than preparing root crops for storage. It should also be borne in mind that each variety has its own individual ripening dates. Thus, early ripe varietal species will be ready for harvesting in 50-80 days from the moment when the first seedlings see the light. Around mid-summer / early August, early beetroot can be removed from the ground.
Mid-ripening varieties are ready for harvest after about 80-100 days from the time of emergence of seedlings, by the middle or end of August it will already be possible to harvest. Sometimes the harvesting time can be delayed until the first days of autumn, this happens if the sowing was carried out in late spring or at the very beginning of summer.
Late varieties ripen the longest, about 100-130 days, the end of September is the best time for harvesting.
When planning storage of beets for the winter, it is important to adhere to these deadlines. By the end of summer, active heat is no longer observed, the drought is "no", root crops are beginning to gain weight and nutrients.
If the root crop is not removed from the earth in time, it can freeze, then there is no need to talk about quality storage. Frozen root crops do not differ in keeping quality, and fragments affected by frost begin to rot. You should know that only healthy, well-harvested, medium-sized vegetables can best withstand winter storage, while preserving their taste and healthy properties.
How to store beets? Immediately after the vegetables have been dug up, they should be dried well. If the day is sunny, then this can be done right on the ground, near the beds. In warm sunny weather, 2-3 hours will be enough. When it rains, root crops should be moved to a dry room with good ventilation, decomposed in one layer and kept for 3-7 days.
It is also worth considering that different varieties of root crops are stored in different ways. There are those that you immediately need to use for their intended purpose, and some can lie for months without losing their qualities. For example, varieties such as Bordeaux 237, Saladnaya, Detroit, Mulatto, Late Winter are best suited for long-term storage. These vegetables have a rather dense skin and a stable immunity to bacteria that provoke the appearance of rot. Or, on the contrary, the Cylinder variety, beloved by many for its taste, is generally not suitable for winter supplies.
The process of extracting root crops from the earth is done using the good old shovel or pitchfork. Everything should be done carefully, not to damage the integrity of vegetables, because “injured” specimens will no longer be suitable for long-term storage.
Another important nuance is to clean the root crop from the ground delicately, you can not hit vegetables against each other, especially since you do not use sharp objects to remove dried lumps. If the root crop has been damaged, even slightly scratched, it should be used as directed as soon as possible.
How to cut the tops of beets for storage? Correct topping is also important. You can’t tear off or manually twist the stems, they must be carefully cut with a sharp knife, leaving about 1 cm. When unscrewing the tops, the vegetable is always damaged. Even if these damage will be minimal - it is unacceptable for storage. The main root can be shortened a little if it exceeds 6-8 cm, and leave the short ones as is. The lateral root processes should also be trimmed.
And finally, one of the most important questions - Do I need to wash beets before storage for the winter? Beets, no matter what variety they are, are never washed before being stored! Not only washing, but even wetting the root crops is extremely undesirable, because the thin coating of the earth on the vegetable works as a kind of shield that contributes to long-term storage. It is enough to put on garden gloves and manually remove large earthen lumps.
Cropped tops, photo:
Summing up the basic requirements and preparation for storage, we conclude that sick, injured, too large, with traces of rotted root crops for wintering will not work. But whole, intact, healthy medium-sized root crops are just right.
How to store beets
Let's look at the most convenient and most commonly used options for storing root crops. Any chosen method depends entirely on your preferences and capabilities. If you have a vegetable storehouse or a cellar - that's great, but if not, then even an ordinary apartment can become a storage place - this is quite feasible.
Storage of beets for the winter in the cellar is the best option of all available. The main requirements for maintaining the keeping quality of root crops are:
• Humidity level - approximately 90%;
• Lack of light;
• Good ventilation;
• Air temperature from 0 to +2 ° C - not higher and not lower than this indicator. The danger of frosts, as well as an increase in temperature to + 4 ° C (root crops begin to germinate in root crops) should be excluded;
• The presence of at least a minimum (10-15 cm) elevation above the floor.
Where to store beets? As for the containers for vegetables or the way they are laid, everything is at the discretion of the owner. Root crops can be stacked in wooden or plastic containers, bags, laid out on shelves or covered with sawdust and sand. To optimize the loose method of storing vegetables, make a wooden wire rack and lay it on the floor. This technique will contribute to a better circulation of air masses, which will have a good effect on your crop. Divide your vegetable stocks into small and large nodules and store them separately. This is much more convenient - you will know where vegetables of the required size are stored.
Sand storage
A fairly common method, while the river sand should be clean, calcined. Use an oven or scorching sun for this. The most important thing here is disinfection, by the time the beets are deepened, the sand should have completely cooled. The tubers should be buried so that they do not touch the barrels. From above, you also need to pour a layer of sand (at least 2-3 cm).
Sanding vegetables, photo:
Potato storage
This method is convenient in that these two vegetables come from the earth, which means they will be comfortable together. How to store beets? This neighborhood is very often practiced by gardeners, beets are laid out on top of potato tubers. Thus, an acceptable level of humidity is created because the potato actively gives it away during storage. For the best effect, you can safely lay on top of the root crops the heads of garlic or onions. These vegetables, as you know, emit disinfectants that cleanse the atmosphere of the storehouse and neutralize harmful bacteria.
Storage in plastic bags
Also a great way to preserve beets, the main thing is not to tie bags, not to restrict air access to vegetables. You can stock up with bulk plastic bags, fill them with tubers of 30 or 40 kg, respectively their size.
Salt storage
How to store beets in the cellar in winter so as to provide them with additional protection? Try a reliable old-fashioned method of storing root crops - salt, which, as you know, has antimicrobial qualities and prevents rotting. If you sprinkle vegetables with it, then they are guaranteed to comfortably tolerate the winter and last until warm. At its low cost, salt nonetheless provides powerful protection for root crops. You can not only pour them with dry salt, but also treat them with a thick saline solution. After drying, such “seasoned” vegetables adequately tolerate long-term storage.
Winter beets - storage in sawdust or ash
Instead of salt for pouring root crops, you can successfully use ordinary ash, previously sifted through a fine sieve. Ash also inhibits rotting, as does salt. Good results are given by pouring vegetables with chalk powder (prevents wilting), peat, tyrsa or sawdust. These dry products of natural origin do not emit harmful substances. They do not contain chemicals and therefore will not harm your crop. Also known cases of shifting vegetables with fern leaves, walnuts, horseradish, wormwood branches. You can safely use those "gifts" of nature that grow in you, plus everything, they have protective properties.
Shedding root crops with sawdust, photo:
Clay storage
This is also an ancient way of storing vegetable stocks, harmless and very effective. Clay is collected (try to choose an environmentally friendly place for this), sifted through a large sieve (you can use a building sieve), diluted with water to obtain a consistency similar to sour cream. Root vegetables fall into this slurry in turn, and after complete drying, covered with such a protective crust, they are sent for further storage. The clay layer prevents decay, the development of diseases.
Clay coating of vegetables, photo:
How to store beets in an apartment?
All of the above methods of storing vegetables are good if you have a basement or vegetable store. But what if you live in an apartment? There is a way out - use a loggia or balcony, best closed or glazed. It is important that in winter the mercury column of the thermometer on the balcony does not fall below zero. For this purpose, a container filled with sand, wooden or plastic, is optimal.
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How to store beets in an apartment? The sand should be clean, sifted and calcined, for these purposes, as mentioned above, you can use the oven. A layer of river sand is poured into the box, root crops are laid (so that they do not contact each other), sand is poured again from above, and then the beets are laid out again. Top vegetables are covered with a final layer of sand. This method will help to keep them for several months. The condition of the vegetables will be excellent.
Filling root crops with sand, photo:
If the balcony is not glazed, then you can equip the so-called "mini-cellar" - a voluminous, tightly knocked down wooden box insulated with foam or polystyrene foam inside. Inside such a “cellar” you can install a small lamp, it will not only add comfort to use, but will also carry out mini-heating of the tank. The main thing is to arrange everything so that the vegetables do not freeze with the onset of frost, otherwise they will become unfit for food, lose their useful qualities.
How to store beets at home, even if there is no balcony?
We take advantage of all the dark places: it can be a pantry, space under beds, wardrobes or under tables. The main condition is that these places should be remote from radiators or heaters. Here you will again need boxes, the sizes of which should comfortably fit all available available apartment spaces. Root crops, again, should be sprinkled with sawdust, sand or chalk, clay solution can also be used.
Make sure that no bright light penetrates there.
In such conditions, vegetables will winter well, will not lose their appearance and nutritional values for at least 4 months. Most importantly, do not forget to periodically sort out stocks, remove spoiled or suspicious root crops.
How to store beets in the refrigerator?
If the volume of the harvest is small, then the lower compartment of the refrigerator is suitable for storage. Tubers can be wrapped with paper or foil. Thus, they can be stored for about a month, but if they lie longer, then they will begin to lose moisture and useful properties. In addition to wrapping paper or foil, you can use plastic bags with holes. Special plastic (food) containers are also suitable for these purposes.
Remember that beets should not be washed before storage!
Beet Freeze
Separately, it is worth mentioning freezing, but this is rather an alternative, extreme method of storing this vegetable, since with this approach it loses a significant part of its useful qualities. Root crops are washed, crushed by hand or using a food processor, laid out in plastic trays or plastic bags, and placed in a freezer.
To summarize, it is worth emphasizing that the key to long-term comfortable storage of beets is initially a well-organized harvest. An important choice is the variety, which is distinguished by good keeping quality.
Now you know how to cut the beets for storage for the winter, as well as what composition is better to choose for pouring vegetables. If there is no cellar - it does not matter, you can equip a vegetable storehouse at home, how to equip a box for tubers - now you also know. With properly organized basement storage, this truly indispensable vegetable can be stored for about 7-8 months. At home in compliance with all the rules, beets comfortably "live" up to 4 months.
Recommendations and tips on how to keep beets for the winter at home will also become relevant for other vegetables, for example - carrots, turnips, rutabaga. Now you can be sure that delicious red borscht, vegetable cutlets, all kinds of salads and side dishes will go well, because healthy beets are always at hand.