Sweet, Crunchy Winter Carrots

Create this mini root cellar to preserve your root vegetables.

By Chriss Stutzman
October/November 2010

mini root cellar
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To make a nifty, mini root cellar right in the garden, simply bury a bucket and cover it with a straw bale.
ILLUSTRATION: KRISTIN HURLIN
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For sweet, crisp carrots all winter, we always left them in the ground under a thick layer of leaves or straw to keep them from freezing. But going out in midwinter to dig carrots was not my idea of fun.

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I wanted a better way to store the carrots, so I made a miniature root cellar right in the garden. First, I cut the bottom from a 5-gallon bucket. Then I dug a hole in the ground just big enough to hold the bucket with the top of it flush with the ground. I filled the bucket with just-dug carrots, placed the lid on the bucket and plopped a bale of straw on top for insulation.

The carrots stay sweet and crisp all winter — just as they did in the ground.

Chriss Stutzman
Navarre, Ohio

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  • Michele 12/28/2010 11:39:08 AM

    Article: Sweet, Crunch Winter Carrots Oct/Nov 2010 pg. 54

    Why do you cut the bottom from a 5-gallon bucket before placing in the ground? Is this for cold to reach the carrots? What about ground dwelling insects and such getting into the carrots while they are in the ground? King of confused on this issue. Help.

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