Root Cellar Storage

Root cellars can help extend the productivity of your garden. By purchasing produce that would otherwise be out-of-season or too costly to buy during their season, root cellars allow for increased garden productivity while saving on energy bills through no longer needing refrigeration systems to store food.

Root cellars should ideally be located underground for maximum insulation; however, you can create indoor or outdoor cellars using walls made of earth-covered cinder blocks or insulated concrete walls. As for indoor root cellars, straw bales or repurposing basement corners with doors and venting work well as well. However, underground is usually best as its climate changes depending on latitude and running underground water flow rates, making a hydrology map essential when choosing an ideal site for your cellar.

Root cellars must also provide adequate air circulation and humidity regulation to reduce mold growth and keep ethylene gas emissions from certain fruits and vegetables from stagnating and spoiling other varieties of produce. You can improve air circulation by opening vents for some hours each week while taking steps such as lifting the cover for several hours at once and opening its valves.

Excess moisture promotes mildew growth, so to minimize mildew growth when storing produce it is wise not to wash before placing it into storage. Regular inspection should be carried out; any vegetable showing signs of decay should be removed immediately as it’s impossible to restore spoiled food back into good condition. Keep in mind that not all varieties are best-suited for root cellar storage so when selecting varieties to grow for this method you must choose varieties which thrive under such conditions.

Curing is necessary to hardening their skins and protect them from rotting. This process is especially crucial when it comes to root vegetables and winter squash which need to be stored in a deep trench in the ground with straw surrounding them and then covered by a weighted tarp for maximum effect. In order to guarantee your produce has been adequately cured, make sure that handling occurs safely so as to not cause bruises or breaks when handling foods in your root cellar.

An advantage of owning a root cellar for those who enjoy eating fresh-picked vegetables year round is independence from grocery stores that often carry less-than-fresh produce or shut altogether during bad weather. Furthermore, as no expensive refrigeration system is needed to store produce in your cellar compared to purchasing it in stores; just ensure your cellar is adequately stocked and has enough room for all the produce that needs preserving!


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