|
Post by tendingmygarden on Feb 11, 2020 13:16:15 GMT -5
James, long ago you wrote about how you stored your potatoes, carrots, etc in a bucket in the ground for winter use. I noted it at the time, but can't find my notes. (Seems to be a common problem to all.)
Anyway -- I want to follow your example this coming winter and use your method for beets, carrots, and potatoes.
Would you please give the details again about what you did.
What size bucket?
Buried to the rim?
Holes in the bottom?
Anything to keep veggies from touching the bottom should water collect? What to use as a cover? And what to use on top of the cover -- for example a foot of straw?
How long did your veggies keep this way? What do you think about storing a few cabbages this way?
Thanks so much James!
Your sharing of your knowledge is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!
Theresa
|
|
|
Post by James on Feb 13, 2020 11:25:01 GMT -5
I am sorry. I have CRS disease. "Can't Remember Stuff"
|
|
|
Post by tendingmygarden on Feb 13, 2020 14:57:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply James. Guess I'll have to reinvent the wheel. (Hope I'll get lucky.) Theresa
|
|
|
Post by reuben on Feb 13, 2020 16:57:27 GMT -5
James, I found a couple of posts where you mentioned your dad digging potatos and then putting them in a pit for the winter. Does that ring a bell?
|
|
|
Post by tendingmygarden on Feb 13, 2020 18:20:53 GMT -5
reuben , tendingmygarden , James , Reuben - I was so surprised to see your posting. It was so nice of you to even look back to see if you could find something that might ring a bell with James. I think his comments about the winter storage might pre-date this forum --- so I doubt you will find anything. THANK YOU SO MUCH for caring enough to look! Theresa
|
|
|
Post by reuben on Feb 13, 2020 18:48:13 GMT -5
One thing to consider is that a simple pit could work where James lives - high and dry. In wetter areas such as where I live they'd likely just rot.
|
|
|
Post by Wheelgarden on Feb 13, 2020 18:56:40 GMT -5
All I can offer here: My father recalled that his grandmother stored potatoes in a pit, lined all around with hay --- top, sides, and bottom, sprinkled with lime, and covered with soil. They had to rinse them well in order to use, but it worked. Dad always prodded me to try it, but I haven't grown potatoes...yet.
|
|
|
Post by tendingmygarden on Feb 13, 2020 20:45:51 GMT -5
reuben, Wheelgarden, Reuben - that’s my thought exactly — so I know I will have to adjust from what James did. Wheelgarden — I know the method you mentioned works. Over the years I’ve heard of its use many times. I just don’t want to use lime on my gorgeous potatoes. Theresa
|
|
|
Post by James on Feb 15, 2020 13:24:09 GMT -5
Out in the old place there was a room under the back room of the house. Dad would put potatoes down there just in a corner laid out on the ground.
If you are going to make a pit you gotta make it deep enough that the potatoes will be below the level that the ground freezes. If the ground freezes where your potatoes are they will freeze too.
|
|
|
Post by tendingmygarden on Feb 15, 2020 19:08:50 GMT -5
James, So glad you joined the conversation again James. Thanks for your tip. I enjoyed hearing about the room under the back room of the house where your Dad would put potatoes. Theresa
|
|
|
Post by James on Feb 16, 2020 10:45:08 GMT -5
Dig a pit deep enough to hold a 5 gallon bucket . The top of the bucket should be about ten inches below ground level when in the pit. Put the potatoes in the bucket, cover it up with straw then a tarp. Some cinder blocks on the corners of the tarp so the wind don't blow it away. No lime nor any other additives, just potatoes. Have fun!
Yes, carrots and beets may be stored this way too.
|
|
|
Post by tendingmygarden on Feb 16, 2020 13:36:55 GMT -5
James, THANK YOU James!!!!!! This is exactly what I remember your saying many years ago. I'm gonna try it. I'll work on digging the pit come fall. When I have potatoes in January, I'll have you to thank for it. Thank you again. Theresa
|
|
|
Post by James on Feb 17, 2020 11:54:13 GMT -5
25 degrees, clear blue skies, calm. 8 inches of snow on the ground. Looks a lot like winter out there. Nothing growing but ice. So I go out and feed the cats, take the wild birds some seeds, and grab a can of Coke and come play on the computer. Hope you are having a great day.
|
|
|
Post by tendingmygarden on Feb 17, 2020 12:53:04 GMT -5
James, your report let's me know how lucky I am to have bright sun and above freezing temperatures today. So I should indeed have a great day. Hope you do too in spite of the cold! Theresa
|
|
|
Post by ecsoehng on Feb 17, 2020 15:02:14 GMT -5
I think that method would not work at all here. Too wet underground and the ground rarely freezes more than an inch down temporarily. I think a bucket of soil or sand in the garage might work here? I do hear of people storing carrots that way but I never have more than a few carrots.
|
|