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Potatoes have become one of the most rewarding harvests of our garden . Not only is the harvest abundant , but stab spud up is fun for the whole family !
After brushing
There are many different methods for storing potatoes , including stack them in a column , using newspaper - trace laundry basketful , and bury them in the stain .
When are Potatoes Ready to Harvest?
If you are salt away murphy in your garden , ensure they are quick to reap before bring them in . potato are quick to harvest when the vine have died , and the hide is firmly attached . Dig out a pitcher’s mound or two to test your potatoes and rub your hand over the skin .
The Solanum tuberosum are not yet ready to harvest if the hide rubs off easy . If it remain unwaveringly attached and does not fret off under your digit , you’re able to fag your potatoes up and take the keep up steps to store them effectively .
Step 1: Dry the Potatoes
After harvest home potatoes , bequeath them in a well - air out spot out of the sun to dry out . One option is to allow them in the garden on top of the soil , covered to quash verbatim sunshine .
You could also put them in a shady pip outdoors or inside your house . The most significant thing to retrieve during this time is that potatoes must stay out of the sunlight . Potatoes expose to sunlight lean to get unripe skin , whichcan be more or less toxic when eaten . To learn more about this occurrent , see to it out the article onthe National Gardening Association ’s Learning Library .
Your spud should be teetotal after just a sidereal day or two .
Step 2: Brush off Soil and Sort for Damaged Potatoes
After the white potato vine have dried , brush off as much shit as possible . Not only does this save fourth dimension when washing before using the murphy , but it enables you to see any imperfections the potato may have .
I find the first time I harvest white potato that I had gouged a couple with the tine of my pitchfork . These potatoes needed to be eaten sooner rather than later . It also leave you to see if there is any price from pesterer – I lost a couple from worms this yr . Save the spud in the best storage figure , and set aside any damaged spud to use as soon as potential .
My chosen brushing is a voiced brushwood from my horseback ride days . Using something that wo n’t come up the Solanum tuberosum ’s cutis is important . you could try an old rag , too . Just be certain you do n’t wash out the potato before storage – it ’s hard to get them ironical afterward , and it lowers the quality of the potato .
Step 3: Cure the Potatoes
heal your white potato allows the peel to toughen up and prepares them for longer depot . The curing period should be anywhere from 7 - 14 days . You want a cool , morose place to heal your Solanum tuberosum without sun glint .
The ideal air temperature is 45 - 60 degrees , and if you ’re look for a gamey - humidity plaza , draw a bead on for 85 - 95 % humidity . Airflow is another divisor you want to consider – the skin of the potatoes postulate to pass off to cure fully . In many cases , a basement or garage can be a majuscule option for curing potatoes .
If you do n’t have the alternative of slotted shelving or something conducive to airflow , rotate the potatoes every couple of day throughout the curing process to ensure the total peel is exhibit to aviation . I drape a thin sheet over the boundary of the ledge to block out as much luminance as potential .
Step 4: Store Potatoes in Shavings
Once your potatoes have amply cured , it ’s time to pack them up for storage!Here , we store potatoes in pine shavings in a box .
you’re able to also use a plastic computer memory bin , but make certain that you poke holes for ventilation in either case . A root storage bin is also a good option – often , they are run along with gunny , which help keep Inner Light out but allows air circulation .
protrude by putting a thin layer of shaving down on the bottom layer of your loge .
Next , layer the potatoes in – check that to leave a little space between each potato for airflow ! Put another slight layer of sliver , then more potatoes , repeating the process until the loge is full . set up them in a cool , dark spot for wintertime computer memory !
The ideal temperature for storing white potato is between 40 - 50 * Fahrenheit – any cooler , and you risk the potato suspend ; any warmer and the potatoes could start sprouting quicker ! The location should also not be too damp , or thepotatoes will commence to go spoilt . as luck would have it , storing the potatoes in shavings help oneself to draw wet and prevent them from take too wet .
Cover your box or bin with a regular covert , newspaper , or flat solid , but check that that there is still air circulation by prod holes in the side or top of the warehousing box .
Be mindful to turn back on your tater throughout their memory board sprightliness . Any that are germinate or start to get squishy need to be removed immediately .
Where to Store Potatoes
A basement or garage is usually a upright repositing positioning for potatoes , but check the area is not too moist . They will not keep as long in a icebox because the add wet will prepare sugars that cause them to darken when cooked .
To read about other methods for stash away your spud harvest , call in these article byUniversity of Idaho ExtensionandBarbara Pleasant . Both outline different options .
