Storing Root Crops in the Fall

[digitS']

I would like to learn about storing vegetables in the ground. here in Tx. it gets so hot for so long I can't figure out how deep I would have to dig to reach a cooler stable temp that would hold things like carrots.

I have had this picture posted before. It was a good year for carrots and I actually had 2 of these pits, not far from the backdoor that winter. Celeriac and parnsips joined some carrots in the other.

I have a little trouble getting nice carrots to a fall harvest. For one thing, my garden soil isn't very good for growing them. Then, the weather will be hot and dry thru the summer and they tend to split. Whatever can make it out of the ground whole, can go into a pit and be covered with about 8" of soil and a big pile of pine needles. They should be fine until the soil begins to warm in the spring and I can bring a bunch in every now and then thru the winter.

I used to carry buckets of sand and carrots down into the basement every fall. That didn't work very well. There won't be any more of me climbing up or down stairs with buckets of sand!

Lots of people just cover their carrots with mulch for the winter. I'm sure that works okay. Still, I've got them all together where it is handy to get at them.

Steve

 

[lesa]

Steve, I really love that idea. Every time I see that picture, all I can picture is the feast that the mice and voles would have... You have no critter problems?

 

[digitS']

I certain did one year, Lesa!

It wasn't terrible even that time, I don't think it was quite a family that moved in - never found 'em. Instead, it was probably just Dad on a forage.

What I have done since is to wait until we have had some good freezes before planting the veggies in the pit. What I figure is that the mice have all gone to ground with their own stored goodies and, they are gonna stay there!

Steve

 

[baymule]

That looks awesome Steve. But BJ and I would have to dig a mile deep cavern to find cool enough dirt to keep carrots in for the winter. A root cellar with a air conditioner might work. :/

 

[digitS']

After a fall harvest, what do you suppose the soil temperatures are, Bay?

I was in east Texas during January one year.

Of course, I wasn't thinking about soil temperature but my plan to stay a little while was tossed because it was so darn cold! I was there in November/early December at an earlier time and Corpus Christi was very nice .

Steve

 

[Major_Fawcett]

I live in Zone #5 and was wondering if this would work here?

 

[baymule]

After a fall harvest, what do you suppose the soil temperatures are, Bay?

I was in east Texas during January one year.

Of course, I wasn't thinking about soil temperature but my plan to stay a little while was tossed because it was so darn cold! I was there in November/early December at an earlier time and Corpus Christi was very nice .

Steve

We do get some real cold weather, but we also get some real hot weather too. We might be wearing shorts on Christmas and slapping skeeters! It's all over the place. We didn't even get a killing frost last year until December. I think any attempt to dig a hole like you have pictured would only result in some rotted vegetables, but I could be wrong. Maybe I could buy store bought carrots and try a pit like that next fall. That way if bugs ate them or if they rotted, I wouldn't get my feelings hurt.

 

[digitS']

They call these things "clamps" in the UK.

It is just outdoor storage of root crops. Sometimes, straw is used around them and then they are covered with soil.

I have used leaves or pine needles on top of the soil and done this for about 6 or 7 years. Last few years, I've used one of those big, 2-handled tubs over the top of the leaves to keep them dry. That worked well.

I've had carrots out in something like this when there has been a minus 15 winter. They aren't supposed to freeze so I'd guess that about 45 is a little warm but, somewhere in that range must be ideal: 32 to 45.

Steve

 

[Collector]

Always like to see the photo of your clamp. Reminds me that I still want to dig a root barrel in my yard. Problem is when I get the time to dig it my clay is baked rock hard. It's good to have dreams lol...

 

[bj taylor]

pioneers of old had to have figured this out. they didn't have basements. it would be so great to store food like that & just go out there from time to time & pull some out.