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For years I've tried different methods of storing vegetables without a great deal of success. This year I decided to adapt an age old storing principle........a Clamp!!!
The Olde Worlde way of doing this was to put a bed of straw down, pile the root veg on top, cover with more straw and take soil from a trench formed around the perimeter of the clamp and pile it on top, with a little wisp of straw to allow it to breath.
I had heard stories of rats digging at the side of these to get at the veg within so decided to adapt it a bit.
My version is an old wooden childs wardrobe with the doors removed and the back taken out. This leaves a 5 foot by 4 foot by 1 foot high surround. Chip board would be useless as it would absorb water so it has to be real wood!
I placed it in a reasonably dry corner of my lottie and dug a shallow (6" deep) depression out of the bottom. The soil from this depression was used to cap the top after applying straw to the bottom and sides, filling with tatties and covering with straw.
This was all achieved about one month ago and today has been the first time I've had to take spuds from the clamp to use at home. After forcing my hand in through the soil and the straw to the tatties, I was surprised to find that the straw and the tatties were bone dry! I took enough for a couple of days use and replaced everything as it was. First impression is that it has been a success ie no rats, dry spuds in good condition. The straw must work the same as a thatched roof, shedding water and insulating spuds within.
I intend growing about twice as many spuds next year so already have designs on a full size wardrobe which I could use as it is, lying on it's back with the door intact.
Problem is, I'll have to find somewhere to put my clothes then!
PS This whole scheme cost me the princely sum of one pound, which I paid for the bale of straw from a local farmer. I only used half of it and the rest has been used as a mulch round my strawberries
The Olde Worlde way of doing this was to put a bed of straw down, pile the root veg on top, cover with more straw and take soil from a trench formed around the perimeter of the clamp and pile it on top, with a little wisp of straw to allow it to breath.
I had heard stories of rats digging at the side of these to get at the veg within so decided to adapt it a bit.
My version is an old wooden childs wardrobe with the doors removed and the back taken out. This leaves a 5 foot by 4 foot by 1 foot high surround. Chip board would be useless as it would absorb water so it has to be real wood!
I placed it in a reasonably dry corner of my lottie and dug a shallow (6" deep) depression out of the bottom. The soil from this depression was used to cap the top after applying straw to the bottom and sides, filling with tatties and covering with straw.
This was all achieved about one month ago and today has been the first time I've had to take spuds from the clamp to use at home. After forcing my hand in through the soil and the straw to the tatties, I was surprised to find that the straw and the tatties were bone dry! I took enough for a couple of days use and replaced everything as it was. First impression is that it has been a success ie no rats, dry spuds in good condition. The straw must work the same as a thatched roof, shedding water and insulating spuds within.
I intend growing about twice as many spuds next year so already have designs on a full size wardrobe which I could use as it is, lying on it's back with the door intact.
Problem is, I'll have to find somewhere to put my clothes then!
PS This whole scheme cost me the princely sum of one pound, which I paid for the bale of straw from a local farmer. I only used half of it and the rest has been used as a mulch round my strawberries
They are in seed trays and with the recent cold spell I've had to put newspaper over them to stop them getting frosted!
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