How to store veggies through the winter?

[KranK]

Hello, do you have any tips on how to store veggies through the witer? I don't have a root cellar and my basement is pretty warm - potatoes "sprout" (thats what i call it?) there and carrots get soft in few days. The non-electric tips would be the best. Could something like this work? Winters in Poland aren't that harsh. In fact during the day temperature is about 5 Celcius Degree (41F?)

 

[Sally PB]

Which vegetables do you need information on? I'm assuming you mean root vegetables, since you mentioned carrots and potatoes.

I have heard of people storing carrots in damp, cool sand for an entire winter. It would probably work for parsnips too.

What you have drawn up looks like it could work. What you want is cool, but above freezing, and some humidity to keep things from drying out. A wooden box might rot, and moles and other pests could chew through it. How about a metal container, or a big plastic tote? If those aren't an option, wrap the box with hardware cloth to keep the critters out.

If you do this, let us know how it works.

 

[KranK]

Which vegetables do you need information on? I'm assuming you mean root vegetables, since you mentioned carrots and potatoes.

I have heard of people storing carrots in damp, cool sand for an entire winter. It would probably work for parsnips too.

What you have drawn up looks like it could work. What you want is cool, but above freezing, and some humidity to keep things from drying out. A wooden box might rot, and moles and other pests could chew through it. How about a metal container, or a big plastic tote? If those aren't an option, wrap the box with hardware cloth to keep the critters out.

If you do this, let us know how it works.

Yeah, i meant root veggies.Storing in sand is a thing but you need a cool place like a basement, which i don't have. Next winter i may try this box thing if i don't forget cuz now winter is ending

 

[KranK]

Well I came up with maybe stupid idea - could storing root veggies in the chicken coop do its job? I mean - it pretty cold in there but not that cold, you could put in a crate with like carrots and damp sand/dirt and just put in in a high spot so chickens couldn't poop in it etc

 

[Sally PB]

If it works, it isn't stupid! As long as the chickens can't get into the veg, it's cool enough, and the crate can't fall on the birds, I'd say it could work.

One thing to consider: be sure your coop has adequate ventilation. Ammonia rises, so you need a way to keep those fumes from your food. If you can't smell the chicken poop smell, it should be fine.

Oh, a brief smell from fresh cecal poop is normal. That's all I ever smell in my coop.