Many experienced gardeners know all the secrets and subtleties of growing cabbage, but not always how to store it correctly. There are many nuances in storing crops that should not be forgotten, writes the author of the Zen channel “Farm Life” (16+).
The key to long-term storage of cabbage for the winter is proper harvesting. Start cutting heads of late varieties from the beginning of October until the beginning of November, weather permitting.
Basic rules:
- Harvest only on a dry, sunny day.
- Clean off the rotten leaves, not forgetting to leave 3-4 cover leaves.
- Sort out small and burst heads of cabbage that are poorly stored. They should be used for food or pickling first.
- Before storing in the cellar, the harvest should be left for at least 3-5 days to dry under a canopy or in a well-ventilated area.
Where to store cabbage in winter?
The best option for storing cabbage in winter is a cellar. As a rule, there is high air humidity, and the temperature does not drop below 0 degrees in winter. You can store the crop in a basement or other unheated room.
Before storing the harvest, prepare the room. To do this, ventilate it well, dry the walls and shelves, treat the room with an antiseptic or whiten it with a solution of quicklime.
It is better to store the harvest in wooden boxes on a pallet. Some summer residents prefer the folk method. To do this, take white paper or newspapers and wrap each head of cabbage in several layers so that the bundles do not touch each other. The disadvantage of this method is that the paper can accumulate moisture and the head of cabbage can rot.
You can store cabbage in a newfangled way, which has justified itself and won the hearts of many gardeners. Take cling film and wrap each head of cabbage tightly in several layers. The moisture resistance of this method is very good, therefore, the harvest will be preserved for a fairly long period.
