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Storing Carrots

© Vic Ferri

The first thing to remember when it comes to storing carrots is that they'll store for a longer period of time if you dig them up late in the fall after a few days of dry weather and then leave them in the sun for a few hours to dry. Not only will the sun dry the soil on the roots making them easier to clean, it will kill the root hairs and make the carrots dormant. When it comes to actually storing them, the goal is to be able to keep them for at least several months after harvest. To make this possible, they must be stored in a cold, moist atmosphere that will not allow them to freeze or decompose. The ideal temperature for carrots is between 32-40 degrees F, with a 90-95 percent relative humidity. For the home gardener, a cold moist cellar, pit, or refrigerator, would come close to that ideal. Note, that the most important condition of your storage area is a cold even temperature(more so than the actual temperature itself) Just a 5 degree up or down variation can cause new growth to sprout or rotting - not a good thing! To prepare for storage, wipe the carrots clean amd trim the tops to 1/2 inch. Do not include any carrots damaged by insects or disease. They can spoil and the rotting can spread to the other carrots(one bad apple can spoil the bunch!) Also, never snip off the bottom tips of the carrots as this too can lead to rotting. Perforated plastic bags are a good choice as a storage container. The carrots can touch each other, just don't pack them in too tightly. Some moist air must be able to circulate. With a very heavy layer of mulch or snow, carrots may also be overwintered outdoors in the ground(provided you live in an area where you know they won`t freeze). Another storage method is to use a cardboard or wooden box lined on the bottom and sides with a 2 or 3 inch layer of damp peat moss or sawdust. Place a layer of carrots on the bottom, on top of the insulating material, leaving 2 to 3 inches of space near the sides. Cover them with a layer of peat moss or sawdust and alternate layers of carrots with the peat moss\sawdust. Store the box in a cold, but not freezing area, such as a garage, porch, or unheated room.

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