storing carrots in sawdust?

[Bubblingbrooks]

Anyone done it? Would you use spruce sawdust?

 

[Marianne]

I've never done it. Would the spruce put out some oil?

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

No oil that I can think of.
We have it in abundance up here, and its free by the truckload.
We just brought home half a truckload yesterday.

I have been reading that layering carrots in damp sawdust in the root cellar is ideal, but
cannot find anything about what kinds of sawdust are best, never mind worst

 

[Britesea]

I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't work. The worst that could happen? You might have to peel the carrots if they pick up an off-taste from the sap. I don't think they would, but?

 

[TanksHill]

I have read about this. I would say leave them in the ground with a topping of straw to overwinter but I don't suppose you can do that up where you are.

I have book around here somewhere I will check if it says what kind of saw dust is best.

g

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

I have read about this. I would say leave them in the ground with a topping of straw to overwinter but I don't suppose you can do that up where you are.

I have book around here somewhere I will check if it says what kind of saw dust is best.

g

Yeah, we get several weeks of -30 and -40. so no in ground storage.

 

[Wannabefree]

My Foxfire books say oak and hickory sawdust specifically and it seems...I'd have to check to be sure...that carrots need a bit of damp sawdust rather than dry sawdust. I'll check later. Niece is ready to start dinner at the moment I think she's hungry.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Yes, the dust has to be wet down and squeezed out prior to layering.

 

[Wannabefree]

Yes, the dust has to be wet down and squeezed out prior to layering.

Okay I thought so. I think it needs to be hardwood sawdust with little oils and smell to it from the sap I'm guessing. The book says hickory and oak, but I have not seen a specific reason for that. I know those trees were common in the region where these books were written though

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Yes, the dust has to be wet down and squeezed out prior to layering.

Okay I thought so. I think it needs to be hardwood sawdust with little oils and smell to it from the sap I'm guessing. The book says hickory and oak, but I have not seen a specific reason for that. I know those trees were common in the region where these books were written though

Hmmm, maybe I will stick a couple in a bag with the wet dust today, and check them in 3 weeks, when we begin harvest.
If they are off, I will do newspaper again.