Root CellarA root cellar is a great place to storeyour potatoes, carrots, and beets. 
Benefits of Cellars Storing Potatoes Storing Carrots Storing Beets Building a Cellar Benefits of CellarsHere are three reasons for having a cellar:
Root cellars are in the ground because root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and beets need to stay Moist & Cool. 
Storing PotatoesPotatoes last all winter in the cellar. When the weather starts warming up, and the pit is not cool, the potatoes will start growing “eyes”.Cut your potatoes up and replant them. Each section that has an eye will become a new potato plant. Look at that! You’ll never have to buy new potato starts again. Just use your old sprouting potatoes. Great money saver!!! Back to Top Storing Carrots
When you dig up your carrots and put them in the cellar, put the larger carrots on the bottom. Use the smaller carrots first because they don’t last as long as the big carrots. Cut off all the green so that the carrots don't start sprouting. They last longer this way.Another way to store your carrots is to leave them in the ground all winter. You can dig up your carrots whenever you need them. Storing carrots this way keeps them tasting really sweet. To keep the ground around your carrots from freezing, cover them with straw or leaves. To keep the rain and snow out, place a tarp on top of the straw and leaves. Use rocks or logs to hold your tarp down. Your carrots will stay fresh all winter. They’ll start to get mushy when the ground begins to thaw in the spring. If you have any left when the ground begins to thaw, dig them up and make carrot juice. Fresh carrot juice is a great source of nutrition, and it's yummy! We’ve tried root cellars and leaving them in the ground. Both methods work. I prefer the vegetable cellar because I don’t have to dig carrots in the middle of the winter. Back to Top 
Storing BeetsBeets will last until February or March in the cellar. When they start to go bad, they’ll get a little moldy and soft. They’re great while they last.
Canning Beets is another way to preserve you beets. I can some and put some in the cellar. Use the fresh beets first. Also see Growing Beets. Building a Cellar
There are many types of root cellars. I’ll teach you how to build a simple cellar that works. We’ve built some that haven’t worked, but I don’t need to go into that story. Click here to download plans for building this simple cellar. If you don’t have the tools, don’t want to gather supplies, dig a hole, and make the box but would like to have a vegetable cellar
contact us. 
If you live in Northern Utah, we can build you one for $525 – Labor & materials included (except for the straw, tarp, and bags of leaves). A travel charge may apply. Return to:Storing Vegetables from Root CellarHow to Store Apples Storing and Preserving Tomatoes Growing and Storing Onions New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read!Leave me a comment in the box below. |
Storing Fresh Vegetables and Fruit
Freezing Food
Other Canning Links
