We put this graphic together yesterday with some pictures Margaret took through the 2015 growing season.
- Seeding
- First Growth
- Full Growth
- Mow Down Greens
- Dig Roots
- Put Roots in Tote Bags
From here, we use the tractor to put the tote bags into refrigerated storage for the Winter-Spring Produce CSA Shares. The roots get taken out of storage and cleaned up just before CSA Shares are delivered. The root vegetables will store in prime condition, unwashed, for months. With the correct storage temperature and humidity, the unwashed roots continue to live in a dormant state in storage until they are distributed. They think they’re still in the ground!
This is the same basic process we use for: Carrots, Potatoes, Beets, Daikon, Watermelon Radish, Black Radish, Turnips, Rutabagas, and more.
Not all roots can be treated like this, however. One notable exception is Sweet Potatoes. Sweet Potatoes would rot very quickly in the high humidity and chilly storage conditions preferred by the above list of root crops. Sweet Potatoes need a high level of air circulation, a warmer temperature, and very low humidity. Maybe I’ll do another post later about our Sweet Potato and Winter Squash production system.
