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What to Store in a Root Cellar: Temperature and Humidity Chart
The chart matters more than the cellar. Get temperature and humidity wrong for a crop and it will rot, sprout, or go rubbery.
Direct answer: Store roots, tubers, cabbage, onions, garlic, and winter squash in a root cellar at 32–40°F and 85–95% humidity. Keep apples and pears separate from everything else because their ethylene speeds sprouting and ripening. Do not store tomatoes, berries, leafy greens, or any damaged produce this way.
Storage chart
| Crop | Temp (°F) | Humidity | Storage life | Keep apart from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | 38–40 | 90–95% | 3–6 months | Onions, apples |
| Carrots | 32–35 | 90–95% | 4–6 months | Apples |
| Beets | 32–35 | 90–95% | 3–5 months | — |
| Turnips and rutabaga | 32–35 | 90–95% | 4–5 months | — |
| Cabbage | 32–35 | 90–95% | 3–4 months | Apples, pears |
| Onions (dry) | 32–40 | 65–75% | 4–6 months | Potatoes, moisture |
| Garlic | 32–40 | 60–70% | 4–6 months | Moisture |
| Winter squash | 50–55 | 60–70% | 2–4 months | Cold below 50°F |
| Apples | 30–35 | 90–95% | 2–4 months | Everything else |
| Pears | 30–35 | 90–95% | 2–3 months | Everything else |
Ethylene producers vs sensitive crops
Ethylene is a ripening gas. A single ripe apple can make potatoes sprout and turn lettuce yellow. Producers include apples, pears, ripe tomatoes, melons, and bananas. Sensitive crops include leafy greens, cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage.
In a small cellar, the practical answer is separation by shelf or by sealed crates, plus a little ventilation. Do not rely on "a bit of airflow" to fix a bushel of apples next to your seed potatoes.
Two humidity zones in one cellar
Roots want damp air; onions, garlic, and squash want dry air. If you only have one space, build a dry zone: a slatted crate on a shelf with a small fan, or a separate cupboard. Trying to keep onions in 90% humidity gives you mold within weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I store potatoes and onions together?
No. They prefer different humidity, and onions give off compounds that encourage potatoes to sprout. Keep them in separate zones.
Why do my carrots go rubbery?
Humidity is too low. Carrots need 90–95%. Store them in damp sand or sawdust, or in perforated bags, rather than on an open shelf.
What temperature is too warm?
Above 45°F, sprouting and rot accelerate sharply. Above 50°F, most root crops will not keep for more than a few weeks.
Can winter squash go in a cold cellar?
No. Squash is damaged below about 50°F and stores better in a dry room at 50–55°F.
Build the cellar first: the barrel root cellar guide. Then compare methods in root cellar vs freezer vs canning.
Frequently asked questions
Can I store potatoes and onions together?
No. They prefer different humidity, and onions encourage potatoes to sprout. Keep them in separate zones.
Why do my carrots go rubbery?
Humidity is too low. Carrots need 90–95%, so store them in damp sand or sawdust rather than on an open shelf.
What temperature is too warm?
Above 45°F sprouting and rot accelerate sharply; above 50°F most root crops keep only a few weeks.
Can winter squash go in a cold cellar?
No. Squash is damaged below about 50°F and stores better in a dry room at 50–55°F.