What is stored on the balcony in winter and how?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

If you live in a high-rise building, then storing vegetables in winter can be a little difficult. An excellent place for potatoes, carrots, apples and zucchini will be boxes on the balcony. You can easily make these yourself by reading this article. It will be much cheaper than buying from the store.

Make storage

The size of the box can be any. It all depends on what is stored on the balcony. For example, if it is cabbage or potatoes, the box should be large, if carrots, onions - smaller. By the way, the storage 1500x800x400 cm in size can hold about five bags of potatoes. However, an ordinary box should be as wide as a balcony and have a height of up to 100 cm.

Mandatory condition - double walls. There should be a distance of about 4 cm between them. First, a wooden frame is made, then a plywood wall is attached to it, which will be outside. Inside the walls should be removable, and it is best to make them from hardboard and make a hole in one of them. Again, it all depends on what is stored on the balcony, butventilation would be nice.

For non-insulated balconies, an ordinary light bulb is built into the storage, which serves as a heater in severe frosts. It is also necessary to make a special casing for it so that the vegetables do not deteriorate. You can insulate the box with a blanket, skin or woolen cloth.

The lid on such a box is attached with hinges, but you can not do this if you do not have time or money.

Cellar

If you do not want to take up precious space on the balcony, you can build a mini cellar. For this you do not need to spend a lot of time and effort. Usually the balcony is lower than the floor level in your home. We will use this.

Again, you need to make a strong frame that would not fail under your weight. The frame should be divided into compartments, but it all depends on what is stored on the balcony. If it is beets, onions, then the sections may be small.

After the floor is divided into sections by the frame, you need to make a cover. The best option here would be 2 removable panels - on one part and on the other. This is done so that it is convenient to get food.

Heating

This method of storage does not provide for heating, but if you still want to protect vegetables from frost, you can do it. To do this, you need to run a sewer pipe made of plastic with holes along the entire length of the cellar. Then bring it out from the edge, just above the floor level. Insert the most ordinary hair dryer into the pipe. The principle of operation is that it drives warm air, which comes out evenly through holes over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe cellar.

But heating -this is not the main thing, besides it, a thermostat is also needed to control it. A thermostat is suitable for this. It can be purchased at any store that sells electrical appliances. With it, you need to connect a hair dryer, and install the sensor in the cellar and adjust the temperature on and off.

Here are some simple tips for heating the cellar.

Vegetables on the balcony in winter

To keep food fresh and prevent spoilage, there are a few things you need to know and follow the storage guidelines we share.

Let's start with the choice of vegetables. For storage, you need to choose only fresh vegetables and fruits, without damage or bruising. They do not need to be washed before preparing for storage. In the case of potatoes, carrots or beets, you can only lightly peel them from the excess layer of earth. The acceptable temperature for storing root crops is from 1 to 5 degrees. Humidity should not exceed 80-90 percent.

Now let's look at the options in more detail. Everything, of course, depends on what is stored on the balcony. Let's start with potatoes. This is the most popular root crop that is purchased for the winter. Potatoes should be stored in a wooden box or a woven bag. One layer should not exceed a height of one meter. When stored on a balcony, direct sunlight should be avoided, as the potatoes may turn green. Such tubers cannot be eaten, but can be used for planting.

Beets, radishes, zucchini and radishes also keep well in boxes or cloth bags.

Carrota little picky. Root crops are stored in boxes with sand, while they should not come into contact with each other. Rotting in carrots usually starts at the top, so leave some tops aside during processing before storage.

Cabbage loves fresh air. It is perfectly preserved in nets, like onions and garlic.