Storage problems

Potatoes are the most popular crop in Russia. It grows in every vegetable garden, and with the arrival of autumn it is removed to cellars for long-term storage. But, unfortunately, it happens that the potato tubers begin to turn black. The most common reason for this process is improper storage. Let's figure out why this is happening and what to do if the seedlings had time to freeze.

Even healthy looking vegetables can have black spots. Why this happens is often a secret. If this problem has spread to most of the crop, urgent action is needed.

What varieties can be stored in winter

There are about 380 varieties of potatoes. All differ in the color of the peel, pulp, taste, size of the root crop, and ripening times. When choosing potatoes for long-term storage, you need to be guided by another indicator - its keeping quality.

The storage of potatoes is directly affected by the selected variety based on the ripening time. The most unsuitable variety is early maturing, such a vegetable is intended for use in food in summer and at the beginning of autumn maximum. Medium to late ripening varieties are suitable for long-term storage.

When choosing a term, you need to watch that the technical maturity of the root crop reaches 100-130 days... Such potatoes form a thick peel, copes well with diseases, and contains a large amount of tannins.

Late varieties for long storage the most suitable... They contain a large amount of trace elements and will last until spring without any problems. Popular late varieties: "Picasso", "Zhuravinka", "Lorkh", "Atlant", "Vesnyanka".

The right temperature and humidity for potatoes

Store the vegetable at a temperature +2 +6 degrees, and the humidity should be at the level 80-90%... The most suitable storage space is a cellar or basement.

Ventilation of the room is desirable. At a temperature of 0-1 degrees, the potatoes do not rot, but they become sweetish, and the flesh darkens. At a temperature of 7-12 degrees, the tubers begin to sprout, become soft, spots appear on the pulp.

Why does potatoes turn black inside during storage

Darkening can occur due to a disease - gray spot.

The main causes of darkening:

• the culture does not like fresh organic matter, as excess nitrogen is released, which contributes to the growth of fungi. This contributes to the browning of the potatoes;
• at the origin of the root crop, there is a shortage or excess of moisture;
• the harvest is harvested ahead of time, the pulp darkens in unripe potatoes. Overripe potatoes, during the heat, may deteriorate if stored in an overheated room;
• if the harvest is done late during the frost period, the tubers may overheat and the pulp may darken. At a soil temperature of -2 degrees and frost, the tubers begin to rot;
• poor-quality transportation: shocks, pressure;
• improper storage conditions over a long period. The temperature is higher or lower than 2-6 degrees;
• tubers contain a high percentage of starch;
• disease defeat - blackleg... It is transmitted through the planting material, the lesion continues with disease and blackness during storage.

Why does it turn black in spring

It happens that a vegetable has survived the winter well, and with the arrival of spring it begins to turn black. The reason may be in poor ventilation.

Potatoes begin to grind with the arrival of warming and in the spring they germinate, the flesh darkens, it becomes lethargic and soft. There is a sharp temperature drop in the storage. Moisture is released and this again contributes to the discussion.

What can and should be done so that the vegetable does not darken

Install pallets and move away from walls by 20 cm... Thanks to this, you can avoid: getting wet and freezing.

During the winter, it is recommended to sort out the potatoes at least once and remove the sprouted, soft, rotten tubers. It is recommended to cover the crops that are stored in the apartment on the balcony with a warm blanket.

After harvesting, you need within 20 days leave the potatoes to air out in the fresh air. It is forbidden to store the root vegetable with vegetables other than beets.

During the frost period

Sometimes it happens that a vegetable gets frozen. It is not entirely dangerous if the potatoes have not sprouted. But if sprouts have appeared, then the arrival of frosts can affect the quality of the future harvest and beat it.

Are the cold weather terrible for culture?

Spring frosts terrible for the harvest potatoes. This is especially true for the regions of Siberia. Young potato sprouts are afraid of frost and are especially sensitive to spring frosts, and any temperature from 0 and below can kill the crop.

Will the potatoes go away by themselves after freezing

If the young sprouts are frozen over, this may affect the future harvest, although the potatoes will continue to grow as it warms. Older plants are not strongly affected by the cold.

How to save after frost

If frost is promised, you need it urgently huddle seedlings culture, and after frost to release the bushes then the ridges.

To avoid freezing and give the potatoes a chance to survive if they managed to freeze, you can insulate the vegetable by covering the plantings with grass. Some gardeners make fires from straw, shavings along the edges of arable land and thereby insulate the soil. To increase the smoke mass, it is recommended to drop mineral oils or coal tar inside the fire. You can also cover the beds with foil.

If the frosts have passed, and the vegetable has already managed to freeze, you need to give the bushes an opportunity to restore themselves on their own. Damaged bushes are able to recover, albeit with great effort. To help the crop, you need to feed it with nitrogen fertilizers.

The reasons that the potatoes in the garden are frozen

If the air temperature drops below zero degrees, or night frosts begin in spring, the potatoes begin to freeze and may freeze. This affects the sprouts, they turn black and wither... In the future, even if the plants continue to grow and "move away", the pulp of the fruit may begin to turn black.

What to do if the seedlings and tops had time to freeze

If the frost began unexpectedly and the seedlings froze, then you need darken them before dawn using: newspapers, dark film, rags.

How to feed

Affected crop needs treatment nitrogen, as well as it is necessary to make top dressing: nitrophoska 5 gr. for 1 sq. m.

Foliar top dressing with 20 g of urea per 10 liters of water is also useful.To make the frozen tops come to life, you need to spray it "Epinom Extra».

If frosts began when the crop has bloomed, but it has not yet been harvested, then you can feed it with ash or potassium preparations. After the cold weather, it is forbidden to dig up potatoes, you need to wait for warming.

First actions if frost hit after planting

If, after planting, they grabbed and hit the frosts, the vegetable managed to freeze, then in order to save it, it is urgently necessary to reanimate and treat with special means.

Ways to save the harvest if frost portends:

• hilling... After frost, sprouts suffer, so you should spud the crop so that the tops are completely under the ridge;
• mulching... Warm the crop with a thick layer of straw, hay or sawdust;
• covering the crop with a film. Only the film should not press on young shoots. Pegs should be installed around the perimeter and the film should be pulled;
• sprinkling... The crop should be watered abundantly when t is 0. The water will begin to evaporate and protect the plant;
• smoke warming... This frost protection method was mentioned above. It is necessary to light a fire on both sides of the crop so that the smoke poured over the entire area. To create a smoke screen, you need to light a fire so that the fire burns 50-70 cm in height. To do this, you can burn straw, firewood, manure. The fire should burn for 3-4 hours in the morning. The method is effective only in windy weather;
• strengthening of culture immunity... Even before planting the crop, it is necessary to strengthen the planting material with the help of preparations of growth regulators. They help young sprouts to cope with any weather conditions. The most popular are Silk, Biostim, Epin Extra.

To provide yourself and your family with potatoes for the whole winter, you need to choose the most "tenacious" potato variety, as well as follow the rules for storing root crops. I wish you a rich harvest!