What Can You Store in a Root Cellar?

Root cellars were once widely used before modern refrigeration to store vegetables and fruits for winter eating, but thanks to renewed interest in gardening, homesteading and food security these underground structures are making a comeback. Here is what can be stored in one:

Root vegetables such as carrots, turnips, beets, onions and leeks tend to hold up well under cold conditions, although some require additional humidity (around 90%) in order to prevent their leaves from drying out too rapidly. Others may require higher temperatures in order to remain crisp and fresh – for optimal results choose root varieties that store well in your climate.

Leafy greens like kale, collards and chard can store for months in a root cellar if handled carefully after harvest. Any slight bump or scuff on their surfaces could allow bacteria to invade and ruin an entire crop; to minimize damage brush off loose dirt and trim off any wilting foliage as soon as possible after harvest. For optimal storage results use shelving where air can circulate.

Root cellar storage conditions can make all the difference when it comes to keeping vegetables for over one year, so you should become acquainted with specific crops’ long-term storage characteristics so as to select and plant only those suitable.

Most vegetables will fare best when harvested at their peak of freshness and stored under cool, dark conditions to slow respiration and prevent deterioration. Some vegetables must first be “cured” under warm, dry conditions – particularly squash and pumpkins which require this process in order to harden their skins and seal any potential leakages of bacteria into them.

Consider these additional details when storing vegetables in a root cellar:

Moisture retention is crucial for most vegetables, particularly those high in water content such as cabbage and kale. Therefore, to preserve these crops’ moisture levels you should store them in a box filled with moist soil instead of leaving them sitting directly on shelves – plus this provides extra insulation from cold temperatures!

Note that even under ideal storage conditions, some vegetables will rot before others do, making regular monitoring essential to avoiding further spread of rot to other vegetables. Also remember to clean your root cellar regularly to remove debris and prevent moisture build-up.

If you are curious to gain more knowledge about root cellars, there are numerous books available to assist you in getting started. One such resource is The Complete Root Cellar Book by Laurie Neverman which was recently revised. Laurie lives in northeast Wisconsin where her family cultivate fruiting trees, shrubs, brambles and vines as well as maintaining an extensive annual garden. In her free time she enjoys ancient history studies, ducklings and lifelong learning.


Posted

in

by

Tags: