[Homestead] Cool food storage

Gene GeRue genegerue at ruralize.com
Tue Dec 9 13:49:51 EST 2008


On Dec 9, 2008, at 11:23 AM, Leslie wrote:

> Gene,
>
> For storing  potatos / carrots in the soil, does the soil have to  
> remain above freezing?

Yes. That's what the mulch does, keep the soil from freezing. When you  
want potatoes, you pull back mulch and lift the spuds. In good soil  
you can do this with no tool save your hands.

An alternative way is to dig a hole and bury a small barrel or wood  
box (not plastic), fill with potatoes, top with lots of organic  
material: mulch, straw, grass and leaf collection from fall mowing. Do  
not clean the potatoes. Lift them, leave them on the ground until the  
clinging dirt and skins have dried a bit, then store. Handle as gently  
as possible to avoid bruising. Some people make layers of spuds and  
straw.





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