As the cool weather sets in, it’s the perfect time to harvest and store your fall root vegetables for the winter months. Root veggies like carrots, potatoes, and beets are not only hardy crops, but they’re also ideal for cold room storage, allowing you to enjoy your garden’s bounty long after the growing season ends.

Welcome back to Oceans Bliss Portal – Here’s a guide on how to properly store some of the most common root vegetables so they stay fresh and delicious all winter long.

Carrots
Carrots are one of the most versatile root veggies to store. For the best results, harvest them when they’re mature, but before the ground freezes. Avoid washing the carrots before storage, as excess moisture can lead to mold. Instead, gently brush off any dirt.

How to Store Carrots:

Trim the green tops, leaving about an inch of stem.
Layer your carrots in a wooden or plastic crate between damp sand, sawdust, or peat moss to keep them from drying out.
Store them in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated cold room or cellar, ideally between 32-40°F (0-4°C).
Stored this way, carrots can last for up to 6 months, maintaining their sweetness and crunch.

Potatoes
Potatoes need a little extra care to ensure they last for months. When harvesting, be sure to handle them gently to avoid bruising, and let them cure in a warm, dry place (around 60-65°F/15-18°C) for a couple of weeks to toughen their skins and heal any small nicks.

How to Store Potatoes:

Once cured, sort through the potatoes and set aside any that are damaged or bruised—these should be eaten first as they won’t store well.
Store healthy potatoes in a paper bag or burlap sack in a cool, dark place, ideally between 45-55°F (7-13°C). Avoid storing them in temperatures below 40°F, as this can cause the potatoes to become sweet or sprout.
Make sure the storage area is well-ventilated and check on your potatoes regularly to remove any that may have sprouted or rotted.
Potatoes can last up to 6 months when stored properly and are perfect for soups, roasts, and mashes all winter.

Beets
Beets are another fantastic root vegetable to store, as they maintain their earthy sweetness for months in the right conditions. Like carrots, avoid washing beets before storage to prevent excess moisture buildup.

How to Store Beets:

Trim the greens, leaving about an inch of the stem intact, and brush off excess dirt.
Layer beets in a crate or bin between layers of damp sand or sawdust to prevent them from shriveling.
Store in a cold room at 32-40°F (0-4°C), checking periodically for any signs of rot.
Properly stored, beets can stay fresh for 3 to 5 months, perfect for pickling or roasting all winter long.

Bliss Tip: General Storage Conditions

Regardless of the root vegetable, a few general tips will help keep your harvest fresh:

Keep it dark: Light can cause vegetables like potatoes to sprout or turn green. Use opaque containers or cover them with a cloth.
Humidity is key: Too dry, and your veggies will shrivel; too moist, and they’ll rot. Maintain moderate humidity levels (around 85-95%) to keep everything in top condition.

Check regularly: Every few weeks, inspect your stored vegetables and remove any that show signs of sprouting, softening, or rot.
By following these simple storage techniques, you’ll have a steady supply of fresh root veggies from your cold room all winter long. Whether you’re preparing hearty soups or simply roasting them up for a cozy meal, your garden’s bounty will be there to enjoy.

Happy storing!

With Bliss xo