FSBSI “Tatar Science and Research Institute for Agriculture” specialists talking about potato storage

Specialists of the FSBSI “Tatar Science and research Institute for Agriculture” note that small amount of potato can be stored in a self-ventilated root cellar at the temperature from +2 to -4°С and at the humidity of 90-95%.

A root cellar should be self-ventilated, the ventilation system must be made of 2 pipes for cold air to go in from outside and warm wet carbonated air to go out from the cellar. The first pipe is to begin from the floor and to end outside not very high above the ground. The vent-pipe is to begin from the cellar ceiling and end outside under the cellar roof ridge. Both pipes should be situated in 2 different sides of the cellar.

In a small root cellar a little break in a manhole can be left for cold air to go into the cellar and warm wet air to go outside. Self-ventilation is effective at the height of potato bulk not more than 1-1.5 m. Otherwise is necessary to use active electro-ventilation.