Warnings related to storing onions, potatoes and other crops.
The decision to store onions or potatoes is complicated and involves
FINANCIAL RISKS & OPORTUNITIES.
To dry the onions and potatoes.
The process of drying seeks to eliminate the excess moisture as quickly as possible to avoid the development of fungus and or bacterias.
All onions and potatoes can be dried, better said: Must to be dried.
To store onions and potatoes.
The process of storing maintains the product under certain controlled conditions, i.e., specific temperature, specific relative humidity, regular controlled ventilation to evenly spread the required relative humidity and to avoid CO2 build up within the product, etc, and in some occasions the application of Sprout Inhibitors for potatoes.
Not all onions or potatoes are fit for storage.
There is only one singular objective to store onions or potatoes.
The only objective to store onions or potatoes is:
To keep onions and potatoes as long as necessary, to be able to sell them at a later date at a better price without deterioration of quality.
IN other words: If there is no hope for better prices:
DON'T STORE THE PRODUCT.
SELL IT!
The storing of onions and potatoes is a delicate matter where big investments are implicated. Before considering storing your product, we advise you to contact the supplier of your seeds to ascertain that the varieties you cultivate are fit for storage.
The criteria for onions that are fit for storage is reflected at the right. Please take note that there are onions totally unfit for storage, onions fit to store only a relatively short time, (3 to 4 months), and onions that can be stored up to 9 to 12 months.
The most important criteria for onions fit for storage are:
- Compact firm-to hard bulb.
- Slim stem
- Strong and firm skin.
- Low water contents.
To ensure the onions are fit for storage: Do not apply nitrogen during the last 6 weeks in the field but ample lime and potassium. And, of course, a disciplined application scheme of bactericides and fungicides during the whole cultivation period.
Onions fit for storage..
Not all onions and potatoes are fit for storage.
The principle causes of problems during storage are:
- The main perpetrator against successful storage is the fungi that come with the product from the field to the storage facility. The problem with fungi is that they are hardly noticeable during the harvest but once inside the storage facility they can create all kinds of damaging havoc, because they multiply rapidly with all the ominous consequences imagineable.
- Physical damage done to the tuber or bulb during harvesting. These damages are in reality open wounds that are prone to infections.
- Onions or potatoes harvested before having reached maturity will germinate.
- Potatoes are especially prone to germination (sprouting), there for the application of inhibitors is nearly always necessary.
NOTE
Storage Facilities aren NOT HOSPITALS.
ONLY PRODUCTS OF GOOD QUALITY CAN BE STORED.
Better said: Onions or potatoes of a variety fit for storage and which have undergone throughout their cultivation "GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES" are fit for storage.
A product of good quality will leave a storage facility as a product of good quality.
A product of poor quality will leave a storage facility as a product of even poorer quality.
