Proven ways to keep cabbage fresh on the balcony in winter
White cabbage is one of the most popular and indispensable vegetables in cooking, which housewives use all year round. Owners of their own houses solve the problem of long-term storage of crops with the help of cellars. The most suitable place in the apartment is the balcony. How to keep cabbage in winter on a balcony or loggia - further in the article.
The content of the article
Is it possible to store cabbage on the balcony in winter
One or two heads of cabbage easily fit in the refrigerator, and a large amount of blanks are placed on the balcony. Vegetables retain their beneficial properties and vitamin composition even at low temperatures and light frosts - down to -1 ... -2 ° C.
With a further decrease in temperature, the leaves become soft, lose their elasticity, the taste of the product deteriorates significantly. Therefore for storage insulated rooms are suitable, protected from rain and snow.
Suitable varieties
Until next harvest are kept only late and mid-late varieties.
The shelf life of early maturing cabbage does not exceed 1-2 months, it lasts a maximum of until the new year.
Ideal options for winter storage:
- Aggressor F1;
- Amager 611;
- Valentine F1;
- Snow White;
- Kolobok;
- Languadeaker;
- Mom F1;
- Moscow late;
- Wintering 1474;
- Turkiz;
- Present.
These varieties and hybrids are stored for 7-8 months without spoilage and rot in the conditions of a vegetable store or prepared cellars... They do not lose their taste and retain their impeccable appearance.
Preparatory stage
Before being sent for winter storage, the cabbage is prepared and sorted. Rotten and spoiled vegetables are thrown away, damaged ones are used for food within 2-3 weeks - they will not lie for a long time.
Choosing and preparing cabbage
For laying on the balcony, heads of cabbage are chosen of medium size, elastic and tight, with a dense and well-formed deciduous mass, preferably slightly flattened. Vegetables are inspected for slugs and mold - they significantly reduce the period of winter keeping.
Features of harvesting
The order of harvest is important. Cabbage is removed from the garden on a warm, dry and sunny day. The heads of cabbage are pulled out carefully, trying not to damage the stump, along with the root. The rest of the soil is shaken off, the upper leaves are removed. After harvesting, the crop is laid out on the veranda for several days, preventing moisture from entering.
Then the cabbage is transferred to a cool pantry for 10-12 days. In such conditions, the culture dries up from excess moisture and prepares for a long winter on the balcony.
Important! During the preparation of the heads of cabbage, make sure that rodents do not appear. In closets and cellars, they often spoil a quality crop.
Balcony preparation
The storage room for cabbage must meet certain conditions. The temperature on the balcony is not allowed below -2 ° С and above + 5 ° С.
The optimum humidity is within 80%. Before harvesting, they make shelves or boxes, equip a separate place, depending on the chosen storage method.
Storage methods
The placement of cabbage on the balcony is determined by the size of the room. It is important to consider proximity to other cultures and ease of access.
Hanging
For tying, use ropes made of bandages or cut gauze. After removing the upper leaves, the heads of cabbage are tied around the root part and stump. They hang vegetables in any accessible place - on equipped racks or cabinets.
In boxes
One of the simplest methods is to place vegetables in wooden boxes. It is allowed to place the forks in no more than two layers. Choose boxes with openings for air inlet. This method has a drawback: from close contact, the heads of cabbage quickly deteriorate and rot. The forks are periodically checked and inverted.
In clay
Clay promotes long-term preservation of cabbage and other vegetables, prevents spoilage and decay.
The method is laborious and time-consuming, but the result will please. Clay is diluted with cool water until puree.
Each head of cabbage is coated with a thick layer and left to dry completely. After that, they are folded onto the balcony on the shelves.
In sand
With this method of storage, the stump is not cut off, the roots are also left. The heads of cabbage, cleared of the remnants of the earth, are tamped down in dry sand.
The root part deepens completely. For preservation in the sand, plastic containers or wooden boxes are used, which are conveniently installed on the balcony.
In paper
Ordinary newspapers are used to wrap the forks, but if they are not available, white office paper is also suitable. First, withered or dry leaves are removed from the heads of cabbage, the stump is not cut off.
Each copy is individually wrapped in two layers and laid out so that the stump is at the bottom. This layout option is allowed on potato mounds, as well as on cans with blanks. Placing the forks without touching each other extends the shelf life.
In the chalk
This method requires chalk or slaked lime. Cut, peeled and matured heads of cabbage for several days are powdered with a dense chalk layer. Such a crop is protected from rotting, wilting and cracking.
Storage periods
Unlike indoor conditions, where cabbage lasts no more than 7-8 days, it lasts up to 5 months on the balcony. Temperatures below -2 ° C, as well as sharp drops, are not allowed.
When wrapped in film, vegetables are periodically inspected for condensation, which also shortens the wintering period.
It is interesting:
Proven ways to store Brussels sprouts fresh, frozen and canned for the winter.
Conclusion
Storing cabbage on the balcony in an apartment is an easy and affordable way to save your harvest for the whole winter. Subject to the temperature regime and the permissible humidity, vegetables lie until spring and retain their freshness, crunch, elasticity and useful properties.
Thanks to simple and affordable tools and materials, the wintering period is significantly extended.