A root cellar can prolong the life of your vegetables and a trash can style model is cheap and easy to do. Here's the nitty gritty...
🛠A trash can (galvanized steel) cellar can be placed into the ground. Dig hole. Line with gravel. Drill holes in can. Place can in hole leaving opening 4 inches above ground. Fill can with produce (vegetables) by type in layers, separate layers with straw. Top with lid. Cover lid with 1ft of straw. Cover straw with weighted tarp.
👌TIP: Equip your root cellar with a hygrometer and thermometer to track humidity and temperature. Check both daily.
📙Temperature
To work properly, a root cellar should stay between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Harmful bacteria thrive in the warmth, so keeping your cellar cool helps crops stay fresh and safe for longer. A good root cellar is designed to borrow cold from the cool ground or soil, but it will also not freeze your produce in winter weather.
📙Humidity
Humidity levels inside your cellar should be between 85 and 95% to prevent the cellar from losing moisture through evaporation and to keep produce from withering. If your cellar is above ground, you can achieve the right humidity level by simply having a dirt floor, since soil naturally has a good amount of moisture. If your cellar is below ground, you shouldn’t have to take special measures to maintain the proper humidity.
📙Ventilation
Since warm air rises, you’ll need to ensure proper ventilation to prevent moisture build-up, which can lead to moldy produce.
📙Darkness
Light can cause freshly picked crops to continue sprouting. So, you’ll want to keep the cellar as dim as possible.
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