storing potatoes

hello all

Ive just emptied my first bag of potatoes and have LOADS! (well considering how small that bag was it seems like laods!!) :D:D:D

What a fabulous feeling digging around in the earth and pulling out potatoe after potatoe after potatoe! :D so pleased in case you hadnt guessed! :o

but... (theres always a but isnt there!) Im off on holiday this weekend and no way Im gonna be able to eat all those potatoes in 2 days!

Whats the best way of storing them so they last as long as possible?

I still have another bag of pots growing which is much bigger than this one so not sure how Im gonna cope with all those potatoes too!!

Thx

 

Great that your getting a good crop.

Most farmers these days store them in thick brown paper sacks (or hessian sacks) but make sure they are open a little at the top to let out condensation...its important to keep them away from light and stored in a damp free coolish environment like a garage or outbuilding or shed.

If you have an old fashioned stone pantry, then that's ideal. You must make sure the spuds have had a couple of hours sunshine out of the ground, just to harden up the skin a little. Wipe off any excess soil and check for hole's etc. Put them in a sack, but tip them out every month so you can check for any rotting off as those will contaminate the good one's. 5 - 10 degrees centigrade is ideal, but never let them freeze.

There is a very old fashioned way of storing vegetables over winter using a clamp, but I presume you want the easiest and most convenient way.:thumb:

 

You can also store them in boxes using DRY peat or sand.:thumb:

 

I suppose David thats the modern equivalent of the clamp method. That's what I do with my geraniums and pelagoniums over the winter. Don't bother keeping them going it pots, just remove growth (for taking cuttings) but the main plant, store in peat. Never tried sand though, I suppose it's more environmentally acceptable??

Have experimented with your suggested method with carrots and spuds and beetroot...interesting results I may add.:thumb:

 

It`s a method which used to be used for storing new potatoes. You put about an inch of dried peat or sand, in the bottom of a box. Add a layer of potatoes, so they are not touching. Cover with a layer of the peat or sand and so on until the box is full. Put in a cool, dark place, and use as required. :thumb:

 

Sounds fine mate.

Erm what kind of sand? As there is loads on the beaches near us, but I suspect it is the wrong sort...unless sand dune sand can be used???

 

If it`s really dry, Tweaky, I don`t think it matters. Though peat is the best thing to use.:thumb:

 

Was just wondering about the salt content, whether this would remove all the moisture from the root crops etc?:thumb: