What to do to prevent potatoes from sprouting during storage

The appearance of sprouts on the potato tubers indicates that they are ready for planting. This is appropriate in March and April. But how to avoid the appearance of shoots in January and February, when it is still far from sowing, and the tubers themselves are intended for food purposes?

You will learn how to prevent potatoes from sprouting ahead of time from our article.

Where is the best place to store potatoes

The key to the success of long-term storage of potato tubers is the right room. It should be dry, cool, with an air temperature not exceeding + 4 ° C.

Tubers are sensitive to temperature extremes: if the degree drops, they freeze, otherwise they begin to sprout.

To prevent this from happening, place excavated crop in ideal conditions for him. Consider several options for storing vegetables.

In the pantry

It is convenient to store tubers until spring in the closet; in most apartments they are not heated. It is enough to protect the potatoes from light, for example, close them on top with rags. It is better to use containers for storing culture from natural materials, with good ventilation.

In the basement

Ideal for storing crops if the basement is dry.

The main thing is to keep the optimum temperature from + 4 ... 6 ° C, so that there is no frost or too warm air.

If the floor in the basement is concrete, the storage containers are placed on wooden pallets or several sheets of thick cardboard.

Before laying the crop, prepare the room:

1. Treat the place of future storage with a mixture of 2 kg of slaked lime, 1 kg of copper sulfate, 150 g of sodium chloride and 10 liters of water. Do this twice with a break of 20 days.
2. Check the ventilation of the basement, make sure it is working continuously.
3. Ventilate and dry the area thoroughly.

In the cellar

The best option for "wintering" potato tubers is cellar... All year round, it maintains a constant "climate control", about + 4 ... + 6 ° C. It is recommended to lay tubers in the cellar for preservation not in bags, but wooden boxes with holes for air circulation.

Important! Before use, be sure to disinfect all containers with potassium permanganate.

If there are no boxes, use the bulk method. Fill the floor with sawdust or place boards on it. Put the potatoes in a layer of about 1.5 m and cover with burlap on top.

On the balcony

A balcony is perfect for saving small amounts of crops. The storage principles are the same as in the cellar, only in an open balcony, additional insulation will be needed.

The advantages of this method:

• it is possible to constantly monitor the state of potato tubers and regulate storage conditions;
• sudden changes in temperature are excluded;
• the vegetable will lie until mid-spring.

Disadvantages:

• if the balcony is not glazed, night frosts can ruin the harvest;
• lack of ventilation promotes the growth of putrefactive bacteria;
• it is necessary to maintain the humidity level around 40-50%.

In a refrigerator

This storage method is called "emergency". It is not necessary to disinfect the premises.

The potatoes are immediately packed in a paper bag and placed in the desired compartment of the refrigerator. But in this way it will be possible to save only a few kilograms and only for 1-2 weeks.

Then the starch will begin to turn into sugar, which will negatively affect the taste of the potato and its benefits for the body.

In the corridor

A wooden box in the hallway is a forced way to preserve potato tubers. The increased temperature will certainly speed up the process of vegetable germination. If you don't want your crop to sprout within a month, try to avoid this storage method.

Attention! For any storage option, protect the potatoes from light, otherwise it will turn green, and a substance hazardous to health will begin to be produced in it - solanine. Such tubers should not be eaten.

In what containers to store potatoes

So that the potatoes do not sprout ahead of time and winter well in the chosen room, it is important to observe the temperature regime, strictly monitor that the vegetable does not get light and the air exchange is around the clock.

Considering these rules, a suitable container is selected:

1. Wooden boxes. Loosely knocked down boards and an opening top of such a container promote natural air exchange. The boxes are mobile, easy to move, lift and carry. The optimal distance between them is 15 cm, the gap to the wall is at least 30 cm, to the ceiling - at least 50 cm.Do not place the container on a concrete floor, place boards, pour a thick layer of sawdust or a wide sheet of cardboard folded several times.
2. Mesh or linen bags... They allow you to monitor the condition of tubers, sort out damaged, frozen and rotting ones. Such containers require additional light insulation. Be sure to cover them with a thick cloth and then periodically open them for ventilation.
3. Wicker baskets and plastic containers with ventilation holes.

How to store potatoes so they don't sprout

Potatoes consume oxygen, evaporate moisture and use up starch. The warmer it is in the storage, the faster the chemical processes take place in the tuber.

The starch is converted to sugar, which is oxidized to release carbon dioxide and water. As a result, the buds (called "eyes" in potatoes) swell and begin to grow.

Under the prolonged influence of heat, as well as natural or artificial light, the tubers will germinate, therefore for storing potatoes choose a dark place.

Neighborhood with other cultures

Potatoes do not like the neighborhood with other vegetable and fruit crops and prefers to "winter" separately... The only exceptions are beets and radishes.

Beets perfectly absorb excess moisture, which helps them retain their taste for longer. And the potato thereby acquires a protector against decay and germination.

Some gardeners advise in every box put a few apples with potato tubers, it is believed that they also know how to deal with moisture.

Advice! Lavender, rosemary and sage can help prevent early active eye formation. Spread these herbs on top of the potato tabs.

Incorrect temperature and humidity

The best "friends" of potato sprouts are temperature above + 7 ° C and humidity from 50%. Such conditions will lead not only to the formation of sprouts, but also to drying out, and then to rotting and death of the entire crop.

What to do to prevent potatoes from sprouting in the cellar

There are four easy ways to keep your second bread from sprouting early:

1. Store the vegetable in a dry, dark place.
2. Maintain temperature conditions from +2 to + 6 ° C and humidity not more than 50%.
3. Do not stack with other horticultural crops except radish and beetroot.
4. Use mint essential oils to slow down the natural processes occurring in potatoes. To do this, saturate a small piece of cheesecloth with oil and place it in the potato storage area. Renew the gauze 1-2 times a month as needed.

Tips and tricks: how to store potatoes in the basement

Experienced gardeners share the secrets of long-term storage of crops:

1. Early potatoes sprout faster, so eat them first.
2. Provide good ventilation.
3. It is more practical to keep tubers in small containers of 10-15 kg. Install on pallets, covering from above from freezing.
4. Disinfect the vegetable before storing it. Sort your crops monthly. Sick, rotten, damaged and green tubers are thrown away.
5. Potatoes are best stored in boxes with onion skins.

Conclusion

Now you know why potatoes sprout in the basement and how to store them to prevent this from happening. Depending on the variety, tubers form shoots after a maximum of 5 months. To prevent this from happening earlier, monitor the humidity in the storage (no more than 70-80%), as well as the temperature (no higher than + 5 ° C).

Protect potatoes from light and provide air circulation.