How to make a box for storing vegetables on the balcony: detailed instructions for making

How to make a box for storing potatoes in winter with your own hands?

Got a secured collection of potatoes at your own summer cottage? Don't know where to store it? Why not make an ordinary and very convenient design - a box for storing vegetables? To do this, it is not at all necessary to have special abilities or great experience, the main thing is desire and little effort. In this article, we will see how to make potato storage box on the balcony in winter

do it yourself.

DIY storage box for potatoes on the balcony in winter

Content

Conditions for proper storage

How to store vegetables on the balcony

What should be a storage box

We collect the box with our own hands

We insulate the structure for storage

Useful Tips

In a private house, there is always a suitable place where you can place the crops harvested from the beds. In a high-rise apartment, everything is much more complicated. There is too little free space. But even if this can be dealt with, it remains difficult to ensure the right conditions. The best solution to this problem is considered a box for storing vegetables on the balcony. Let's figure out how to properly equip it.

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Even the smallest balcony has space for the vegetable box

Preparing potatoes for wintering

Any crop is easy to save if the material is properly prepared and optimal storage conditions are created. It is not easy to do this in a city apartment, but it is possible. The room is too warm, so it is better to keep the potatoes on the balcony in winter.

Several recommendations on how to properly store potatoes on the balcony in winter:

1. It is preferable to store late varieties, for example: "Nevsky", "Sineglazka", "Success". Early ripe varieties deteriorate faster than others, lose useful properties and taste. It is impractical to store them on the balcony in winter. Mid-ripening varieties are good for growing in central Russia, suitable for storage in the same way as late-ripening ones.
2. Prepare the potatoes: carefully sort and sort by quality and size. Large tubers go into the kitchen first. They do not tolerate long-term lying, voids form inside, the quality of vegetables deteriorates. Damaged potatoes are separated from healthy ones, stored separately, and consumed first.
3. The crop is prepared for winter storage already during harvesting. First of all, they dry well: first a few hours in the sun, then indoors for about a week. Tubers are cleared of excess soil. Spread in a thin layer on a litter; it is undesirable for the potatoes to lie on the ground or on concrete. The room should be dry and warm enough. You can do this on the balcony or on the loggia.
4. To wash potatoes or not? There is no consensus on this, the main thing is that it is sent to the chest for storage absolutely dry.
5. Another open question is whether to treat sorted and dried potatoes with antifungal biologicals? Experienced gardeners note the benefits of such an operation, but of course it's up to you to decide.

Different varieties of potatoes

Conditions for the correct storage of different products

To prevent vitamin reserves from deteriorating over the long winter, you need to try to provide them with optimal conditions.There is no universal solution, they will all be different:

• Potatoes. Does not deteriorate at temperatures from +1 to +5 C. High humidity is unacceptable, it provokes the development of rot. Tubers are folded into boxes, trays or even nets with a layer not higher than 100 cm. An important point: darkening is mandatory, otherwise the potatoes will begin to sprout.
• Root vegetables (carrots, beets, etc.). The optimum temperature for them will be from 0 to +2 C. Their skin dries very quickly, so it is best to put food in storage and sprinkle it with wet sand or sawdust.
• Red or white cabbage. It is well preserved from +2 to -1 C, if you put it on the shelves up with stumps. Broccoli or cauliflower are not stored like this. They only need to be frozen, after cutting them into inflorescences.
• Garlic or onions. They are completely dried and hung or stacked in bulk. In the first version, the heads are woven into a kind of pigtails or folded into a net. The best temperature is from -2 to 0 C.

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A box made of natural wood works well for storing vegetables.

Tips and tricks for increasing the shelf life of potatoes

The folk experience accumulated over many years of practice of storing potatoes on the balcony can suggest several life hacks on this topic:

Hay scattered at the bottom of the box or even on the balcony floor will help create the right microclimate in the storage;

In addition to all this, it should be remembered that even dried and whole potatoes must be sorted out from time to time, looking for and separating sprouted or rotten tubers. This will allow not only airing the vegetables in the box, but also protecting the entire batch from the spread of rot and fungus.

How to store vegetables on the balcony

There are quite a few options. You can determine the best one based on climatic conditions. So, if in the coldest time the thermometer shows 0 C or slightly higher, you can safely store the products in trays or in a chest. But this will not be enough where snow already falls in the middle of autumn, and frosts are fierce in winter. Insulated containers are indispensable here, you may have to equip heating (we will tell you how to do this below).

The condition of the loggia is also important. On fully glazed, and even more so insulated, products are stored better. Various types of storage can be used to maintain optimal temperature and humidity:

• Chest. This is a box with a lid, the design of which can be different. If there is no threat of freezing of the crop, it is performed with ventilation holes. Or it is additionally insulated. For example, double walls are installed. Insulation fits between them. For more convenient storage, it can be divided into sections.
• Cellar. The system with side doors or shelves can be assembled from containers of different volume and shape. Metal, plastic, wood products can be used. A convenient storage is selected for each type of vegetables.If necessary, it can be additionally insulated.
• Thermal cabinet. A metal box with a lid, into which a heater and a thermostat are built. Thanks to this, an optimal microclimate is maintained inside. They can have a very different volume and dimensions. The main disadvantages are the need to connect to electricity and the rather high price. Manufactured at the factory, but self-assembly is also possible.
• Flexible container. Fabric bag with several layers of insulation. A heating element is located between them, which, if necessary, raises the temperature inside the container. Compact and handy enough. Of the minuses, it should be noted the difficulties in dividing products into compartments and the need to connect the device to the network.

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If you insulate the walls and lid of the storage box, vegetables will be preserved even in cold weather.

How to make storage

The storage, which will ensure the reliable storage of potatoes on the balcony, can be arranged by yourself. Let's consider several options. If you plan to store potatoes on the balcony in winter over the next years, then you can use wooden blocks and lining to make the box. Cover the inside of the box with foil or other reflective material. Buy Styrofoam as a heat insulator. The use of these materials will ensure reliable storage of potatoes in severe winter frosts.

It is important to avoid direct contact of potatoes with concrete, brick and other similar surfaces. Because of this, it can begin to blacken and rot. Therefore, the bottom shelf is necessarily equipped in the manufactured box. It turns out that you should have a space between the floor and the bottom shelf.

The storage box for potatoes on the balcony in winter can be made top-loading. This is very practical especially for those with a small balcony. For example, a box might be narrow but tall. Taking this into account, the lid will be arranged on top. The lid must also be insulated. Additionally, it can be covered with a sturdy blanket.

If the balcony or loggia is spacious, then the box for storing potatoes on the balcony in winter can be combined with a sitting place. For example, make a rectangular box, fix the back to it, and fill the lid with soft foam rubber from the top side. Thus, you will immediately have two useful things on the balcony - a box for storing potatoes in winter and a place to rest.

Another option is to make a heated chamber. Especially such a decision will please those whose balcony is not insulated, and you live in a region of Russia where strong and prolonged frosts are felt. In this case, the manufacture of the same box is meant, only with heating. To do this, you need to make 2 boxes of different sizes, one larger, the other smaller. This is necessary in order to make the outer and inner cameras. A heat insulator will be placed between them, for example, construction foam, polystyrene, and the like. Sawdust is poured into the pallet, which does not allow the potatoes to have direct contact with the base, cardboard, foam or rags are placed. A wire must be wound inside the box to connect an ordinary light bulb. For one day, the light turns on to heat the potatoes for 5 hours.

Advice! The arrangement of the light bulb should be done so that you can turn it off in the apartment without going to the balcony.

With this method of electricity, you will not spend much, but your potatoes will be dry and in a warm place in winter. Some home craftsmen have adapted a hairdryer instead of ordinary bulbs. A jet of warm air will quickly build up the required temperature.

For winter storage, you can also use plastic or wooden boxes. You stack boxes of potatoes one on top of the other.Their advantage is that they are breathable. To protect against frost, cover the boxes with vegetables with a warm cotton blanket on top.

Advice! You can put the box in the balcony on cardboard, wood or other material. Direct contact with concrete and other surfaces is inadmissible.

Using wooden or plastic crates is the easiest solution. Plus, it is the most expensive one. Also, you do not need to waste time on their manufacture, because the boxes can be bought ready-made. However, this method is least effective if there is severe frost in your area. A simple cotton blanket will not be able to protect the potatoes from frost. For this reason, before choosing a particular storage method, consider the following points:

• Consider not only your financial capabilities, but also climatic conditions.
• Also, be sure to consider the size of the balcony or loggia. This will allow you to determine in advance how much potatoes can be stored during the winter season.
• Available materials and insulation material.
• Is it possible to organize heating in your balcony.
• How well the balcony is insulated.

What should be a box for vegetables on the balcony

Almost always, a box or chest is chosen to preserve the harvest. You can make it yourself, it is not at all time consuming and not expensive. There are two types of structures:

• With a vertical type of bookmark. The lid is located on top, the box can be divided into small compartments.
• With side doors. Such systems are called cellars. Shelves are installed inside. Ideal for placing different products that can be isolated from each other.

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Universal model of a balcony box. The cover can be used as a seat

Any design can be placed on your loggia. It is important that it is as spacious and functional as possible. In addition, the following requirements must be met:

• Protection against excess moisture. The box should not let water through. Especially if it is installed outdoors.
• Adequate ventilation. During storage, it is necessary to ventilate the contents of the container from time to time. The easiest way to do this is through the vents. They need to be equipped during the manufacturing process.
• Maintaining optimal temperature. If required, the chest is insulated or even a heating system is installed in it.
• Environmental friendliness. Only safe materials are chosen for the manufacture of the structure. It can be wood, metal, plastic, or wood-based panels.

You can make a chest or a cellar yourself or buy ready-made furniture. Suitable containers are also used as storage. For example, containers made of plastic, metal mesh, or old cupboards from the kitchen.

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Uninsulated box for vegetables. Gaps between the boards provide adequate ventilation.

Potato storage errors

It remains to find out if it is possible to store potatoes in the winter on an open balcony or loggia. The answer is unequivocal - it is impossible. A sharp wind, high humidity, constant temperature drops are unsuitable conditions for placing any vegetables. The equipment will also not be able to function correctly in an unsuitable place, moreover, it is risky to use electrical appliances in an open area. Any room that plays the role of a warehouse for fresh vegetables needs insulation.

Advice! If there are no conditions for placing large volumes of vegetables, buy them in limited quantities and store them in the kitchen, but not next to the heating radiator. Potatoes will not change their nutritional qualities within 3-4 weeks.

Try to avoid the following mistakes:

• load potatoes into boxes without going over them;
• ignore ventilation of cabinets and drawers;
• use a dirty room, boxes or containers;
• store under-dried vegetables;
• leave trimming tubers.

In addition, trying to keep the potatoes in good condition, do not forget about the interior if the balcony is used as a living room.

Nice bench with a soft seat, inside of which there is a small storage for potatoes

A useful recommendation in the end: find a permanent and reliable supplier of potatoes and other vegetables that can deliver products in small and inexpensive batches, and the question of using the balcony as a pantry will be removed.

We collect a box for vegetables with our own hands

We will analyze how to independently make a universal version. This is a chest, a lid on top. We will need bars to assemble the frame, sheet material for sheathing: plywood, chipboard, etc. You can take suitable boards. We work in the following sequence:

1. We measure the free space on the loggia. We determine the size of the future structure. It is important that it is as spacious as possible and at the same time it is convenient for them to use. If necessary, we build a design drawing.
2. We put the frame. We start with the floor. We lay and fix the four bars. This will be the foundation. We install racks on it. Then we equip the upper part of the frame. We collect the base from the bars for the future cover.
3. We sew the bottom. If subsequent insulation is not expected, you can fill the boards with small gaps. You will get a kind of ventilation system that will save the reserves from excess moisture. Otherwise, we collect a solid bottom. In this case, it is advisable to put a sheet of insulation, for example, foam plastic, on the floor before sheathing.
4. We sheathe the walls of the structure with boards or fix plates cut from sheet material on them. If necessary, we put a partition or several to divide the chest into compartments.
5. We trim the cover frame. It can be hinged or left removable.

This is how a box for storing potatoes and other vegetables on the balcony is made with your own hands. The product can be painted, varnished, etc. If you put a foam seat on the lid, you get a comfortable sofa.

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The lid of the vegetable drawer can be removable or, as shown in the photo, it can be attached with hinges

We insulate the structure for storage

So that our harvest does not freeze in frost, the chest needs to be insulated. The easiest way is to make double walls, fill the space between them with a heat insulator:

1. After making the frame from sheet material, we cut out the plates of the required size for sheathing the bottom and walls. In each case, we prepare two elements: internal and external. The first should be smaller.
2. We sheathe the bottom from the outside, put in thermal insulation, close it with a second sheet. We sheathe the walls from the outside and from the inside.
3. Pour sawdust or mineral wool into the resulting cavities between the sheets. You can put a foam plate or any other insulator. We do the same with the lid.

Scheme of arrangement of a heating cabinet

If this is clearly not enough, you can equip heating for the box on the balcony with your own hands. The simplest option involves the use of one or two incandescent bulbs. In this case, a small groove is made in the lid through which the wire is wound inside the structure. The lamp is placed in a container so that it does not touch the food, and is connected through an extension cord. Include it as needed.

If the volume of the vegetable store is large, use two lamps. Sometimes they take a hairdryer instead. It raises the temperature inside the container much faster, as a result, the power consumption will not be too high. If you have the skills to work with electricity, you can make an analogue of an oven with the installation of a heater and thermostat.

Is it possible to store potatoes in plastic boxes. My secret to keeping fresh potatoes all winter

I keep the potatoes on the balcony. We have it glazed, of course, but on frosty days the temperature drops there below zero, potatoes will not survive in such conditions, if not one of my secrets ...

Again, thanks to my neighbor in the country, it was she who shared with me advice on how to properly store potatoes so that they do not sprout, spoil, and freeze. Indeed, now, even closer to spring, last year's potatoes are fresh and strong.

Therefore, I also decided to share this secret with you so that you know how to properly store potatoes. In fact, there are two secrets: the first is in the special design of the box, and the second in the special ingredient that I put in the box.

First of all, I note that before storing the potatoes for storage, I carefully sort them out and leave only healthy, even, undamaged fruits. For the first couple of weeks I store potatoes in the country and watch how it behaves: some people may develop previously unnoticed sores, I put such fruits away for food. The rest - I put them in special boxes

Secret # 1 - special boxes

I build the storage boxes for potatoes myself. I take two boxes, one should be 10-15 cm larger than the other in all respects: length, width, height. I put sawdust on the bottom of the large box and put the small one; I also pour sawdust into the space between the walls. I cover everything with a thick cloth. The box is ready!

Thus, the potatoes will always be warm and dark. The second point is also important, because if sunlight hits the potato, it will sprout and turn green. And green potatoes, as you know, are poisonous. In addition, the sawdust will absorb excess moisture. They can be changed periodically.

Secret # 2 - a special ingredient

To prevent potatoes from sprouting, put dry mint leaves in the box. This advice can also be used by those who store potatoes in bags in the cellar, or anywhere: dried mint very well prevents the germination of tubers.

RESULTS

These are the two secrets of storing potatoes I have. They are simple and easy to implement. Therefore, remember them and be sure to use them after harvesting. Potatoes will stay fresh and unsprouted until spring or more!