One of the most popular root vegetables is carrots. A vegetable has a beneficial and beneficial effect on the entire human body, therefore it is indispensable in the diet of everyone. Carrots can be consumed at any time of the year, as it is perfectly processed and stored. In the article, we will consider whether the indicated root crop can freeze and how to avoid a similar situation.

Is carrots afraid of low temperature?

It is important to know that not all vegetables are afraid of frost. Compared to beets, carrots are considered to be more cold-resistant plants, therefore, its seedlings withstand frosts to –3 ° С. Adult plants are not afraid of short-term frosts up to –4 ° С.

The main causes of freezing

As mentioned above, the vegetable is a fairly frost-resistant crop. But if it turned out to be frozen, you should find out why it happened. There are several main ones:

1. Incorrect storage on the balcony.
2. Carrots are stored in a cold basement or cellar.
3. The crop remained uncleared from the beds during frosts.

The root crop can freeze if the room temperature is in the range from –1.2 ° С to –1.8 ° С.

Important! If the storage temperature is above + 8 ° C, the vegetable will begin to sprout or rot due to an accelerated metabolism.

What to do if carrots are frozen on the balcony?

Most often, a frozen carrot begins to wilt. The reason for this is a decrease in the level of humidity with decreasing temperature. To return freshness to the vegetable, it must be moistened.

If you have a bag or several tens of kilograms of root crops frozen, you can do the following:

1. Take enough wet sand and fill the boxes with a layer of 4-6 cm.
2. Put the root vegetables on the sand so that they less touch each other. Top with sand of the same thickness, and so you need to repeat until the very top of the box.
3. The very next day, the vegetable will be fresher. The required amount should be taken as needed, and let the rest be stored.

Did you know? The tops of carrots are also edible - it can be added to soups, main dishes and salads, and also brew like tea.

Preventive measures

In order for the vegetable in question to please you throughout the winter, you should adhere to such recommendations:

1. Store the vegetable in a warm room or basement. If you live in an apartment, use a balcony or a glazed loggia.
2. The air temperature in the place where the root crop hibernates should be within 0 ° ... + 5 ° C;
3. Humidity should be around 85–95%.

If you follow these recommendations, your stock of root crops will last much longer.

Useful storage tips

You can store carrots in large quantities in sand, sawdust, clay, moss, pots, and onion husks. If the yield of the vegetables in question is small, the best solution is to grate and freeze them in plastic bags. Also a convenient way is to store in containers with sealed lids. Do not forget - before laying carrots for long-term storage, you can not wash it, otherwise it will rot.

Important! Do not rush to throw away all stocks, as even frozen root crops can be used in preparing dressings for the first dishes.

Compliance with all the above recommendations will help you enjoy the stock of the crop of the described root crop throughout the winter.